The Second Chapter of Jenny Jones' Occupy Phoenix Experience
It was a cool, rainy day, as my husband and I made our way down to Cesar Chavez Plaza, in downtown Phoenix. The Reverend Jesse Jackson, who was in town for another event that day, came down and led a March for Economic Justice, through a several block area of downtown Phoenix. Armed with our signs, and chanting slogans, we embarked on our journey through the streets of downtown Phoenix. We chanted. “WHO’S street?. . . OUR street!”
The first stop was Wells Fargo Bank. Even though I had been prepared to expect a police presence, it really did not sink in, until I saw the police lined across the front of the building in their riot gear. Standing stoically, in their black uniforms with riot shields and full face masks, they appeared across the front of the building like so many Darth Vaders. I wondered if they were thankful for all the overtime they are getting to defend the targeted businesses and Phoenix from these horrible people with signs. These “terrorists”, chanting slogans as they walk the streets. Chanting “terrorists “ -- “Banks got Bailed Out. . . We got Sold Out”!
I also wondered whatever happened to my friend, Suzanna. Suzanna worked for the predecessor to Wells Fargo, First Interstate Bank, which was gobbled up by Wells Fargo, many years ago. Does she still work in their IT department in Phoenix (do they still have an IT department in Phoenix)? Is she sitting in her office, wondering who these crazy people are, holding signs and chanting outside of her building? Or has she moved back to Mexico City, where she was born and raised? Did she ever become a full fledged American citizen, or was she forced back to Mexico after 9-11?
Chanting “WE are the 99% . . . YOU are the 99%”, we traveled on to our next stop. A local news station. Again, we stood outside chanting, as the Darth Vaders guarded the entrance to the building. Ready to pepper spray and/or arrest anyone who stepped out of line.
Again, I wondered if another friend, who works for this same local TV station was inside thinking “Why are these silly people creating havoc at my workplace?” Is she thinking “They should take a bath and get a job, and work for a living?” Does she know that most of these people have jobs and take baths, and work for a living? And the ones who don’t are fighting for a chance to do just that? Does she know that we are fighting for the future of the middle class? Does she realize or care that we are fighting for her future, and her children’s and grandchildren’s future? Or does she believe the right wing media and politicians, who demonize the Occupy protestors as dirty hippies who don’t want to work for a living? Does she know that we are not “jealous” of her for what she has? That we just want future generations to have the same chance we had at the American Dream and economic justice for all?
Time to move.
Jenny Jones is a wife, mother, grandmother, full time job working citizen and a fabulous friend.
It was a cool, rainy day, as my husband and I made our way down to Cesar Chavez Plaza, in downtown Phoenix. The Reverend Jesse Jackson, who was in town for another event that day, came down and led a March for Economic Justice, through a several block area of downtown Phoenix. Armed with our signs, and chanting slogans, we embarked on our journey through the streets of downtown Phoenix. We chanted. “WHO’S street?. . . OUR street!”
I also wondered whatever happened to my friend, Suzanna. Suzanna worked for the predecessor to Wells Fargo, First Interstate Bank, which was gobbled up by Wells Fargo, many years ago. Does she still work in their IT department in Phoenix (do they still have an IT department in Phoenix)? Is she sitting in her office, wondering who these crazy people are, holding signs and chanting outside of her building? Or has she moved back to Mexico City, where she was born and raised? Did she ever become a full fledged American citizen, or was she forced back to Mexico after 9-11?
Chanting “WE are the 99% . . . YOU are the 99%”, we traveled on to our next stop. A local news station. Again, we stood outside chanting, as the Darth Vaders guarded the entrance to the building. Ready to pepper spray and/or arrest anyone who stepped out of line.
Again, I wondered if another friend, who works for this same local TV station was inside thinking “Why are these silly people creating havoc at my workplace?” Is she thinking “They should take a bath and get a job, and work for a living?” Does she know that most of these people have jobs and take baths, and work for a living? And the ones who don’t are fighting for a chance to do just that? Does she know that we are fighting for the future of the middle class? Does she realize or care that we are fighting for her future, and her children’s and grandchildren’s future? Or does she believe the right wing media and politicians, who demonize the Occupy protestors as dirty hippies who don’t want to work for a living? Does she know that we are not “jealous” of her for what she has? That we just want future generations to have the same chance we had at the American Dream and economic justice for all?
Time to move.
Jenny Jones is a wife, mother, grandmother, full time job working citizen and a fabulous friend.
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