Prior to Thanksgiving break, a Google search of Occupy Wall Street would probably have provided very little real information. A viewer may have seen one of two things: an article discussing the movement’s supposed violence, or their negative impact. Knowing that I would be in New York City over break, I made the decision to see the movement for myself. It was far different from media reports

            Just a week after eviction, the number of New York City’s Zucotti Park protestors may have shrunk, but their message stood loud and clear. In the group, 24 year old Dave Korn, a University of Miami graduate, and 18 year old, Laurenceville High school student, Drea Miesnieks provided information that greatly differed from the media representation. “One common misperception of this movement that people seem to have is that people think that we should be taking from the 1%. I don’t think that anybody here has a problem with people having wealth. What people have a problem with is that wealth exists while such poverty exists at the same time. I believe that’s what this movement is about, that rather than focusing on efforts to take from the one percent, efforts should be focused by all of us in order to ameliorate the problems that are occurring with the poorest,” explained Korn. A firm believer in opportunity for all, Miesnieks agrees and feels that there are a multiple reasons behind the protests. “There are a lot of things that could come out of it, like you could easily just say we want better funding for education, we want jobs, we want more economic equality and stability, to end corporate greed. Personally, there are a few different reasons. One is because I’m part of this population and I feel like I have a duty to. It’s something I do care about, something I really feel that I have a part of, I play a role in it and I can change it,” said Miesnieks.

With claims from the media that violence is common place and that participant numbers are dwindling, the Occupy movement has found itself under attack. “The first thing I would say is the number of people in this park right here is not really representative of the occupy movement, that’s a small portion of it. We also have a huge team in an off-site kitchen, constantly cooking food. We have a warehouse where people are constantly bringing in donations, of sleeping bags and warm tents and warm clothing. We’ve got activity going around all parts of the city, the park is just one part of the movement,” explained Korn. “This protest has been a non-violent protest, a non-violent movement, nobody in here, with maybe very few exceptions, has caused violence. However, frequently we go on marches that are 100% peaceful and then violence occurs when police show up. They show up with riot gear, they show up with weapons, and they come and use violent force to arrest people. There are many video’s of police brutality, so there has been a bit of violence, but a majority of that has been perpetrated by law enforcement,” he continued. On site police were unable to comment on the matter.

            But as the movement was gaining momentum, protestors were evicted from Zucotti Park. “Basically we had 200 tents in here, we had a little city set up and then on Monday night the police moved in, handed out eviction notices and told us that we had to leave immediately, it was 1 in the morning and most of us made a circle around the kitchen in the center of camp, interlocked our arms, and refused to leave. So as a result, the police came in and tore out all the tents, threw them away into garbage trucks and when they got to all of us in the center, they ripped us out one by one and arrested about 200 of us that night and sent us all to jail. Spent a few 35 hours in jail, roughly, and came out and we all came back to this park,” said Korn.

            Ironically, it appears that the eviction only made the movement stronger. In various parts of Manhattan, smaller groups of protestors can be found. The eviction has indirectly spread the message, and has even allowed expansion on the road that lies ahead. “I think the movement at this point is gathering momentum and I think at this point we are bringing people together, and rather than limiting ourselves to coming up with one or two specific things, we are allowing all diversities of beliefs, opinions, and ideas to emerge and coexist peacefully…” stated Korn. This integration has eliminated the possibility of alienation.

            As the movement progresses, the possibilities grow. “We already have such an awesome outcome. So many people have come out. We’ve made such a difference. Maybe it doesn’t seem that way to a lot of people, the media hasn’t portrayed it that way, but we have made a difference,” said Miesnieks. According to Korn, this movement isn’t working toward a single piece of legislation or revolution. “I think that this is a gradual thing that is going to continue to grow. How do we get the support we want? We have the support we want and it’s growing every day. Nobody here ever goes hungry, everybody always has a warm place to sleep, people walk by everyday with donations of food, of clothing, of shelter, and money. I think that this just needs to keep going and to keep organically letting this grow. At this point in time I think it’s too early to predict what that will do, but I think we’re on the right track. I think that we all need to use our imaginations; there is no end to it, it is limitless. If we could dream it into reality, we could come up with some amazing stuff if we all come together.” The road to success is a long one, but the Occupy movement is on the right path.