Recently, many people have begun to wonder what the Occupy Movement in the United States is and what it represents. The Occupy Movement began in the United States on Sept. 17 with the Occupy Wall Street Movement, which questioned the social and economic inequality that exists as well as the corruption that seems most prevalent in today’s financial institutions.

     The Occupy Movement, in its most general terms, can be seen as a form of protesting that entails occupying a certain area in a manner similar to a sit-in in order to protest certain policies and procedures of various organizations or leaders. Senior James Marshall noted, “I have heard many conflicting things about what the Occupy Movement is. The only common thing that I have really heard from people discussing Occupy Jackson is that it is basically a group of people who are on a mission to change the minds of leaders and elected officials.”

     As Marshall has stated, the metro area has its own Occupy Jackson movement.  While their primary protest is aligned with the national movement, Occupy Jackson has also challenged city officials for access to Smith Park at night.  Since the downtown park is the Movement’s encampment, protesters have challenged the city’s policy of closing the park at dusk, citing their right to occupy a public place all hours of the day as a form of free speech.  The city council of Jackson met on Nov. 15 for its regular meeting, where Occupy Jackson presented its case concerning Smith Park.  The request is still being reviewed by the City Council.

     Whether on a national, state, or even local level, the Occupy Movement has taken the world by storm with organized groups in over 2,609 cities and towns globally. Junior Jordan Welsh added, “It is important for everyone to remember that living in a country like the United States, we must respect the rights of each citizen, including the right to protest.”