BY RICHARD L. FRICKER
Occupy Oklahoma City has announced it will join in the nationwide demonstration supporting the Occupy Wall Street group on Saturday at Kerr Park. Located in downtown Oklahoma City, Kerr Park has been the focal point of the group’s efforts for the past several days.
Occupy Oklahoma City has obtained a permit to maintain a campsite at the park which is renewable on a day-to-day basis following the expiration of the original three-day permit.
Much like hundreds of other Occupy groups established around the country Oklahoma City has presented itself as a participation-democracy group without any official leadership. Its actions, according to various demonstrators at the site, are governed by group consensus.
Occupy groups are displeased with what they consider control of the economy and political system by the wealthiest segment of American society, whom they call the 1%. Occupiers refer to their movement as the 99%, whom they feel provide the labor for the wealthy.
In particular they are upset over the Supreme Court ruling allowing corporations to be regarded as “persons.” This ruling also provides that corporations are allowed to make unlimited donations to political causes.
The Occupy movement feels the ruling provides corporations with an unfair advantage within the political process. They cite policies which allow tax breaks for the wealthy upper class and proposed tax increases for the working middle class as just one result of the corporate influence on congress.
Occupy demonstrators also believe congress as ignored the working glass and point to the ideological gridlock which has prevent social legislation from moving forward. In particular they point to the recent debt ceiling debate which put hundreds of thousands of government jobs at risk as an example of gridlock.
At least 1,000 cities are slated to have solidarity demonstrations focused on the Wall Street occupation. Over the last few days demonstrations, and at times confrontations with police, have been increasing in Boston, Washington D.C, Philadelphia, Los Angles, and Des Moines.
Occupy Oklahoma City announced their intention via emails and other social media early this morning. Social media, Facebook, twitter and email has been the main channel of communication and organization for the movement both locally and nationwide.
Occupy Tulsa has also announced plans to join the national demonstration beginning at noon in front of the downtown Bank of Oklahoma civic center.
Occupy Oklahoma City posted their contact information as:
– Richard L. Fricker lives in Tulsa, OK and is a regular contributor to The Oklahoma Observer. His latest book, Martian Llama Racing Explained, is available at http://www.richardfricker.com.
