Occupy Buffalo – a local branch of the global protest against corporate wealth and greed – has been going on since Oct. 8 in Niagara Square.
To date, it seems the group has accomplished nothing in the Buffalo realm.
The occupiers are passive; there is no actual leader of the movement. Instead, everyone is equal, and everyone's voice is weighted the same.
Anyone is welcome – no matter skin color, religion, political affiliation, age, social status, etc. The movement is a hodge-podge mixture of anyone who has something to say against the "status quo."
The occupiers do not have a list of goals or things they wants to accomplish. The group has no demands, and it only wishes to inform the public about the disparity of wealth in the United States – the 99 percent that are oppressed by corporate greed versus the one percent that is reveling in wealth.
Every day, the protesters hold a "General Assembly" meeting. These meetings are used to engage all of the protesters and get ideas on how to proceed with the movement. This may seem like a good and democratic idea, but proves very difficult in making decisions. Each proposal must be unanimously agreed upon, and anyone can block a proposal.
The Facebook group includes a "To-Do List," but I'm not so sure I can take this seriously; it includes ambiguous things, such as, "contact local media organizations and inform them of the event," and "inquire regarding legality of sleeping in public parks in Buffalo."
Recently, I was complaining about the lack of heat in my house, when my father responded:
"I'm not turning the heat on in order to stand in solidarity with those occupying Niagara Square; I can't occupy Buffalo myself, so this way we can pretend we're living in the Square."
My father was clearly making fun of the movement and it got me thinking: it's jokes like these that make me question the seriousness of the protest in Buffalo. Even though occupiers are in the Square 24/7, it seems that all they are doing is staying for an extended camping trip; once in a while, they march to City Hall or Chase Bank.
As of Nov. 1, the Buffalo Common Council waived the $500 permit fee that lets the occupiers take residence in the Square. Basically, they're living in and ruining the grounds of the Square against city ordinances and on the taxpayers' dime. The grounds are ruined – mud pits have taken the place of lush grass in the Square. The gardens have been stomped upon and tents populate the area, not to mention the amount of garbage generated by the occupiers living in the park around the clock.
Council Member Joseph Gombolek Jr. told The Buffalo News he voted against the waiver not because of the message of the movement's message, but rather because when the demonstrators leave, tax dollars will end up footing the repair bills.
I feel like the occupiers, though nobly living in the cold, rainy, and soon-to-be snowy conditions in the middle of the city, really aren't accomplishing much by setting up tents and sending out tweets. They aren't generating the response you see from government in other Occupy branches, like Occupy Chicago or Occupy Oakland.
I am a tax-paying, hard-working, law-abiding citizen (not to mention a college student who lives paycheck to paycheck) and I can't help to feel that the occupiers are protesting a good message, but are going about it in the wrong way – passively on my, and other taxpayers', dime.
They ask the general public to support them and donate supplies – everything from food (including vegan meals) to tents and generators to manpower for washing dishes. If I barely can afford my own bills, how can I even think about donating to a cause that isn't accomplishing anything?
Until this movement can be organized enough to start generating change, I'll gladly watch from afar, agreeing with the ideals and disagreeing with the actions.
Email: rebecca.bratek@ubspectrum.com
