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As the Occupy Wall Street movement sweeps the nation, some Juneau residents started to question, ‘Where is Occupy Juneau?” including 28-year-old James Marcus, who works three jobs to make ends meet, despite holding a college degree. Marcus doesn’t have any experience organizing, or much time, but he took the lead on the Occupy Juneau demonstration Saturday.
Locals clad in rain gear began gathering in Marine Park around noon, the proposed meeting time, and began talking with other demonstrators as they arrived. Marine Park is also a hangout for some of Juneau’s most disenfranchised; one such man tried to engage the demonstrators in a defensive manner. Marcus was tasked with explaining to the man just what the Occupy movement was about, a question inevitably on the minds of many. Marcus said that the movement wasn’t about Republicans or Democrats, but about people being angry and frustrated about having to work so hard to barely survive, while corporations and their executives are amassing record wealth. He said that taxing corporations and wealthy individuals could allow the government to better address the needs of its citizens.
Demonstrators took sharpie markers to cardboard and voiced some popular sentiments, such as “I am the 99 percent” or “We have no millions to spend. Will we be heard?” while another young woman carried a sign reading simply, “What about my future?” At around 12:30 p.m., with about 10 people braving the weather to march, the group took to a route Marcus had devised. Along the way, the chant “Human need, not corporate greed” could be heard.
There was little activity downtown, but the group received positive feedback from those who took notice. Some drivers honked, some stopped to take photos, and one man thanked the group for making the effort. Another man joined the group and started the chant, “Where’s my golden parachute?” while a demonstrator wrote on a piece of cardboard to create a sign for the man, who suffers from arthritis.
“Nobody’s going to have any retirement anymore, it’s ridiculous, I can’t believe it. People are working their entire lives paying taxes.” said the newcomer, who chose to remain unnamed.
Another demonstrator, environmental attorney Neil Gormley, added that despite the shortcomings in government revenue needed to support government programs and with high unemployment rates, many lawmakers continue to push for lower taxes on corporations and the wealthiest individuals. The demonstrators agree this method has not been effective and believe the Occupy movement could be a way to have their voices heard.
“I’m going to make a difference in this country,” shouted the newcomer, “I’ve had enough. I’ve had enough.”
Nikki Lopez is a student at the university and questions, in writing, “Will my degree count?” The group Saturday consisted mainly of people who hold degrees, or those who soon will, who question the system that they feel won’t support the growing number of people with high debt loads and low wage jobs, struggling to survive. Participants have a strong belief that the movement is inclusive, hence the 99 percent claim; the dialog that occurred between demonstrators and bystanders of varying demographics yielded mostly concurrent beliefs regarding issues of wealth disparity.
While standing before the Wells Fargo Bank building in downtown, former community organizer, Jackie Wagner, suggested they take a moment to talk about further building the movement in Juneau and organizing the next event. Marcus started a Facebook group on Thursday and Wagner shared she had only learned of the demonstration the night before.
“The greater presence we have, the more people will get involved.” one demonstrator suggested, to general consensus.
The demonstrators plan to regroup next Saturday, hoping for greater numbers but with no serious hopes for better weather. Marcus led much of the dialog, with other participants contributing suggestions and support for continued Occupy Juneau activity.
“The best way to make a difference,” states Marcus, “is to hit them where they can feel it. On November 5th, if you have an account with a too-big-to-fail corporate bank, close your accounts.”
He adds, “I’m not suggesting you hide your money under a mattress, that’s not realistic. But move it to a smaller institution like a credit union.” Credit unions are not-for-profit entities that are accountable to the member shareholders, compared with the for-profit corporate banks in question, most of which received government money to keep from going belly up in the financial crisis that is blamed for the current state of the economy.
The Occupy movement has been organized largely through social media, and this demonstration was no different. With the exception of the people who saw the demonstration Saturday, all participants had heard about it via the Facebook page, “Occupy Juneau,” administered by Marcus, or by searching for Juneau on the website www.meetup.com/
occupytogether which shows Occupy demonstrations organized in nearly 1800 cities worldwide, including Anchorage and Fairbanks, with tens of thousands of participants checking in through the website.
When asked what they want from the Occupy movement, most responses can be condensed to supporters wanting to make a living working one job, not two or three, with health insurance and the assurance that they can someday retire.
Participants plan to Occupy Juneau again this coming Saturday; information can most easily be found on the Occupy Juneau Facebook page, www.meetup.com/occupytogether or using Twitter hash tag
#OccupyJuneau.
• Contact reporter Melissa Griffiths at 523-2272 or at melissa.griffiths@juneauempire.com.
Comments (63)
Add commentHow many people were there?
"some" is not accurate
well now
New it was just a matter of time before Juneaus youth organized into a formidable force of realistic social values changers that will plot the course forward for our communities both locally and globally. So that one say very soon we will link together arm in arm hand in hand side by side front to back cheek to cheek until the injustice imposed upon us by those money grubbing one percenters have given their money property and livelihoods, dare I say the very breath they take. Stand Now Be Counted march I say march with us brothers and sisters march until we overthrow those that would or might or perhaps have something or anything that we might collectively want in order to improve our social standing while doing, contributing or expending the least amount of effort and arriving at home in time to post and Boston our achievements on our three hundred dollar I pads while warming up with a French vanilla mocha grandi. We shall overcome I say errr I gita go moms said breakfast is ready
Seems reasonable
"When asked what they want from the Occupy movement, most responses can be condensed to supporters wanting to make a living working one job, not two or three, with health insurance and the assurance that they can someday retire."
It's what my parents got. They worked hard. They didn't get rich, didn't expect to. But they retired with dignity and reasonable comfort.
This generation will have it worse than their parent's generation...unless you're part of the .001% crowd. Then you'll be very comfortable indeed.
This is some thing to
This is some thing to "occupy" idiots!
Why is it when I was working three jobs, I did not stand in the rain with a sign proclaiming my stupidity?
I worked to find, then create better jobs for my self, & others.
These folks should pool their money, & see if they have enough to rent a clue.
Constitutional amendments needed?
To me, what appears to be a basic problem is that our elected representatives, especially on the national level, feel they need millions of dollars in campaign contributions to compete.They rely on the wealthy, corporations, unions and special interests to fund their campaigns, then comes "payback" time to those who invested in their elections. Those elected to represent all of us, pass bills and laws to benefit and protect their contributors even if it means hardships for the general population. Many want to make a lifetime career as elected officials and spend much of their time and effort fundraising.
Maybe we need a constitutional amendment to have government provide equal campaign funds to all eligible or qualified candidates, and get the money out of elections.
We have term limits for the President and our Governor. How about term limits for other elected representatives?
Just an opinion.
Simply more out of control confiscation
...
Madison
"Why is it when I was working three jobs, I did not stand in the rain with a sign proclaiming my stupidity?"
You don't need to stand in the rain to do that. You do it regularly right here on the Empire website.
3 jobs eh?
If you are working three jobs and you still cant make ends meet...maybe you should find three better paying jobs!
Thank you Demonstrators of
Thank you Demonstrators of Juneau, I stand with you.
The arrogance of the "few" in this country, have been pushing injustice on the rest of us for too long and its also happening right here in our state.
Just look at how our Oil Lobbyist Governor Sean Parnell from "California" has bulldozed right over the top Alaskans!
Parnell has tried to block Alaskans right to vote, he has actually over turned what Alaskans voted for and Parnell has worked to silence our voice and our right to participate in decision making!
So, wally, after reading your
So, wally, after reading your post, you must be totally fed-up with the antics of Obama. Am I right? You described his behavior to a T.
On the other hand, is Herman Cain your choice for our next president? He's absolutely grassroots and as far as I can tell, has no alligence to any corporation or special interest.
These silly OWS demonstrations are going to hurt the cause and the Democrats. They're also beginning to show some violence. These loose cannon, sheeple aren't going to be content to just march around week after week. They're itching for some "action". And wait until the taxpayer bills come due for police protection and clean-up, etc. Most of America isn't in the mood for this childish, 1960's behavior.
Don't ya love this - " former community organizer, Jackie Wagner"! Once an agitator, always an agitator!
This whole country has been turned on its head by the "former community organizer" Obama. How many wars has he gotten us into, the chants of class warfare and division become louder each day, he's sidestepping our Constitution to enact illegal laws, he's up to his eyeballs in scandals like Fast and Furious and Solyndra and meanwhile our country sinks further and further into the dumper economically.
How can anyone that's just an ordinary, hard working American find one redeeming quality with this politician - honestly?
fooltoper says, "Parnell has
fooltoper says, "Parnell has tried to block Alaskans right to vote, he has actually over turned what Alaskans voted for and Parnell has worked to silence our voice and our right to participate in decision making!"
You sound like a spoiled brat whose mom won't let him go out on a Friday night!
Specifics, we want specifics. You can't get away with rhetoric here.
Calypso
When I mentioned "on the national level," I meant all those elected on the national level.
As for Cain, the more I see what the impact of his "999" plan, I see it a very simplistic and would be disastrous for the average income folks. Example: 9% percent national sales tax on top of our present 5%, Juneau folks would end up paying 14% sales tax!!
boy ho boy
That was a good breakfast eggs,bacon, sausage & pancakes gee thanks mom, let me know when you've got my laundry done. Ni I can't help clean up I've got to get some cardboard. Have you seen the sharpie? I want to be ready for next week
Sean Parnell and others have
Sean Parnell and others have made sure that Alaskans interests are incidental to corporate shareholders’ GREED and it is time that this ends.
Alaskans - WE have a responsibility to protect our wildlife and our wilderness from this greed. This greed is destroying our state for its natural resources, we must protect these last remaining wilderness places in our country.
Greed is destroying our world!
We must stop, & change course!
We must stop & live within our means!
We must stop living this throw away, waste-filled, over-the-top, lifestyles, because they are unsustainable!
We must course correct, our country has to change and we must work for the greater good of all people.
Godspeed to all the demonstrators!
It is what it is..
Watching national news coverage of this issue the other night, about half the protesters interviewed could not even articulate what they were protesting ! It was a joke. Although I agree some reforms could be made on wall street, taking from the rich and giving to those who feel 'entitled' is not the answer. Only hard work and a good work ethic will get you there, which seems to be lacking in the 20 something crowd I know. Put down the cereal bowl and get off your parents couch and find a good entry level job with room to advance. You cant start at the top, no matter how many degrees you have. Your not entitled to anything until you earn it, nor will I give it to you. You need to get a life.
want fries with that
The old saying still goes. Get a liberal arts degree and the best thing they teach you before they hand you your degree is how to properly say " do you want fries with that". Funny how there are shortages in professional fields, yet an overabundance of LA degrees. Guess it is better to ask everyone else to pay for your five years of partying and being handed a degree than take responsibility for your actions. You also expect your student loans be forgiven because you "were forced" to go to Kegger University to party hard for 5 years and as long as you pay the high priced tuition you get your degree.
Don't worry, it is not your fault, no one actually told you that life required you to work hard. I dont blame you either, i blame your parents and the society we all have created. Accountability for peoples actions and respect for elders has been cast to the curb and discipline is a thing of the past.
We are all doomed until parents grow a pair and re-institute the word "NO" and spankings.
wally, I found this on
wally, I found this on another blog. It makes sense to me. What do you think?
"True, any state or local taxes will not go away; however, keep this in mind:
Per Cain's staff economist, Rich Lowrie: 9% sales tax won't raise prices. It's a REPLACEMENT tax, not an add-on tax. It replaces taxes already embedded in prices. Marginal costs go down.
Remember that with corporate tax at a flat 9% and hidden taxes removed, the prices of goods will go down ↓ Corporations inflate the cost of their goods to pay their corporate taxes.
*Hidden Taxes: How Much do You Really Pay?:"
http://www.ipi.org/IPI/IPIPubl...
*This article is a few years old, these rates have increased by now I am sure.
Don't forget that the personal tax rate would be 9% which would make a local sales tax rate and national sales tax rate result in less taxes paid by most individuals.
And I would add that the cost of complying with the current tax code would mostly go away, saving billions of dollars to individuals and companies. Maybe not so good for the accountants and tax lawyers!
And one last thing, Cain's tax code would get rid of the "loopholes" that everyone seems to hate.
Demonstration
I am always amazed at you so call supporter of the Constitution IT say that we the people have the right to demonstrate for what we believe, and yet you continue to put down people that are expressing why they feel is and injustice on the part of our government
The real problem isn't
The real problem isn't "corporate greed" per say...but the government that allows it. It's sickening how much power lobbyists are given in this country. The amount they spend is astronomical and are the one's with the real power in government. Just take a look at the decision not to build a new state office building. The owners of the "Plywood Palace" hire a lobbyist and all of a sudden a decision is made not to support that new building. So, instead of putting people to work (construction is significantly down in this town), improving the working conditions for those state employees, and investing in Juneau's future, the lobbyist was successful in keeping the money rolling in to a few owners of a decrepit building at the tune of nearly $1.5 million/year. How does that make sense? I've personally never believed that marching down the street in protest does much good...but if it were to help, I'd march in this rally! I think instead of DOWN WITH CORPORATE GREED...we should all be shouting...DOWN WITH THE LOBBYISTS THAT CONTROL OUR GOVERNMENT!
calypso
I'm seriously looking at Herman however the problem I see with his 999 plan is that it'll rise (with inflation) without a conditional amendment requiring balanced budget. That said he still looks like he has promise & being a DC outsider doesn't hurt
A little perspective...
The print edition of the Empire shows James Marcus holding a sign that says "+ 30K Loans + $15/hr = Wage Slave" (sic). Until a year ago, Mr. Marcus had a State job "with health insurance and the assurance that he could someday retire".
He got fired from it (a STATE job!) for a number of reasons, all of which were due to his own conduct. He was making a good salary. Now he makes "$15/hr". He put himself in that position, but he has the (insert word for small round objects) to parade himself and four others (Four? Really?) around and whine about inequality?
He disenfranchised himself, and will get no sympathy from me.
juneau grown
It would be interesting to know who owns that building and where they are located.
My guess is that they're located outside of Alaska. Wanna bet they made some generous campaign donations? Wonder how the recipients voted?
This would be a good project for a Juneau Empire investigative journalist.
Focus the Frustration
The Occupy Wall Street protests have some very good reasons to be unhappy with the corporations.
The top 1 percent of americans owns 40 percent of the nations wealth. The bottom 80 percent owns 7 percent.The top 1% take home 24% of national income. The top 1% own half of the countrys stocks, bonds and mutual funds. The bottom 50% owns only .5% of these investments. The top 1% have only 5% of the nations personal debt. The bottom 90% have 73% of the total debt. The top 1% are taking in more of the nations income than any other time since the 1920s.
When a corporation like GE takes in over 14 billion and pays 0 income tax something is wrong. The protesters understand this and so should everyone on this posting. If you want change vote for Ron Paul.
Juneau Grown??Corporate
Juneau Grown??
Corporate greed is one of the main reasons that the Government is lobbyied and its up to all Americans to change that. This OWS protest is part of that change. One thing that has to change is how our elections are financed.
This Occupy Wall Street (OWS) protest is a "true" social unrest grass roots movement unlike the Tea Bagger movement that was bank rolled by the "few" to enrich the "few".
This is the reason why there are so many different messages coming from the OWS protest; expansive "grass roots" base, broad message.
GE
And to show just how out of touch Barry is he's got the CEO of GE ( who's just moved thousands of jobs to China) his jobs creation counsel.
w
Mom when's lunch going to be ready?
Ron Paul is a dingdong! Some
Ron Paul is a dingdong!
Some of Rons points are good but there is WAY too much inequity in this world for his "survival of the fittest" policies.
and then
Yup then there's haily poster child for the flea party. Mom did you find the sharpie yet? hailys coming over to help us as soon as your done with the laundry I told haily you'll drive over and pick it up.
15 Bucks
15 Bucks an hour at 2200 working hours a year is about 33k a year, for a 28 year old doesn't sound too bad. What's he expecting?
Calypso
As usual, you never replied to my two questions about controlling campaign financing or term limits.
I'm not fed up with Obama, but am quite dubious about the claims republican candidates make, except for John Huntsman.
The inhabitants of our nation are not all at one extreme or the other - conservative, laissez-fair capitalist, or liberal socialist,communists. There are those who think there is a rational, reasonable middle course.
As far as I can tell from all explanations of Cain's 999 idea, the 9% sales tax will be on top of any local sales taxes. Or, Juneau will lose the 5% sales tax, to be replaced by a federal 9% tax.
I don't want the federal government wiping out local taxes to increase federal taxes to give the wealthy another tax break.
5% tax on food, gas, electricity, cable tv and everything else is already high. 14% would be devastating to middle and lower income people with families.