Joyce L. Arnold, Liberally Independent, Queer Talk, equality activist, writer.
I’ve written about this coalition before, including ‘The 99% Spring,’ brought to you by … MoveOn.org?. It’s time for a revisit. From The 99% Spring:
April 9-15 we will gather across America, 100,000 strong … to train ourselves in non-violent action and join together in the work of reclaiming our country. …
In the tradition of our forefathers and foremothers and inspired by today’s brave heroes in Occupy Wall Street and Madison, Wisconsin, we will prepare ourselves for sustained non-violent direct action.
From the Who We Are section, we learn that the 99% Spring coalition was “launched February 15 with (a) … letter signed by over 40 movement leaders and organizations,” including MoveOn.org, the AFL-CIO, Rebuild the Dream, United Auto Workers, SEIU, National People’s Action, National Domestic Workers Alliance, Jobs with Justice, and Progressive Democrats of America. In the announcement, they said of The 99% Spring that it would be “one of the most audacious training projects in American history — a program to gear up and light up the movement.”
One question asked then, and since, involves those last two words, “the movement.” What movement? Or to use Occupy language – “Whose streets? Our streets!” – whose movement?
As usual, we each have to decide for ourselves. Is The 99% Spring, and the related 99% Power, an attempt to co-opt Occupy? An effort to join in (though apparently not coordinate with) the efforts of the #OWS movement? Some of each? Is The 99% Spring the establishment version of Occupy? Are both working for the same goals? If so, does it matter who gets it done? If not … well, that leads to even more questions.
According to an AlterNet article:
What is now The 99% Spring actually began last summer. Inspired by the Madison Capitol protests and the Tar Sands actions, leadership from Jobs with Justice, National People’s Action and the National Domestic Workers Alliance realized that the 2012 election year needed to be about issues, not the candidates.
A meeting was called for November 2011 — and then, in mid-September, Occupy Wall Street began. ‘As a professional organizer, I was really humbled” says (Joy) Cushman (with New Organizing Institute) about OWS. ‘They were able to shift the entire national debate with the way they were organizing. We realized that nonviolent direct action is the way we have to go because the democratic system isn’t responsive anymore.’
Movements always build on what’s gone before, and almost if not always on what other groups are doing in real time. Last September, Occupy Wall Street took the lead. And when they didn’t disappear within a week or two, others – “progressive” organizations and the Duopoly, among others – started paying attention, though with differing perspectives and goals, of course.
Beyond the training sessions, 99% Spring-ers are already active. At their Actions page, for example: April 2 – 12, Speak Out Against Rep. Ryan’s Budget for the 1% (Racine, WI) and April 9 – 19, Equal Pay Day (Denver).
Key actions are described via TruthOut, by one of the organizers, George Goehl (National People’s Action), “Ninety-Nine Percent Spring and Confronting Corporate Power.”
Key actions are described via TruthOut, by one of the organizers, George Goehl (National People’s Action), “Ninety-Nine Percent Spring and Confronting Corporate Power.”
Under the broad banner of 99% Power, thousands of people will engage in mobilizations and nonviolent direct action leading up to and at the shareholder meetings of dozens of corporations.
Read an extended interview with Goehl, and another with Ai-jen Poo (National Domestic Workers Alliance) and Sarita Gupta (Jobs with Justice) with Bill Moyers at Standing Up For Democracy: How Activists Are Fighting Injustice in America Today.
Links for more about The 99% Spring, and its relationship with Occupy, as well as about the need for such movements, from various perspectives:
The 99 Percent Spring: The People Are Not Powerless.
The Next Social Movement: Get Ready For The 99% Spring.
You only get what you are willing to accept.
Occupy-inspired Activists Go for Spring Training.
Occupy Wall Street and MoveOn Go Together Like Woodstock and 1999.
The 99%Spring Training for Trainers and the Plot to Coopt #Occupy.
99% Spring – An Occupy-Like Movement For People Who Want To Be Told What To Do?.
Occupy Wall Street Activists Respond to the 99 Percent Spring.
Would “The 99 Percent Spring” be happening if Occupy hadn’t already? Does the heavy involvement of progressive organizations – MoveOn in particular – mean they’re attempting to seize the Occupy movement? And is it for the sake of the 99%, or the Dem party and allied organizations? Perhaps some of each? Is this an “inside” job – with controllable establishment orgs. playing the agitator role, so as to displace the uncontrollable outsider OWS? If the 99% Spring-ers are successful – even if in a “providing cover” kind of way – in moving the Dems to the Left, do their insider motives matter?
I remain cautious, though I think many and probably most of the individuals, and many of the organizations, involved in The 99% Spring, share many of the concerns of Occupy. OWS created the public space for those concerns to be heard more broadly, loudly and clearly. My caution, and skepticism, come in because I wonder if an honest answer to “whose movement,” from at least some of The 99% Spring organizers, wouldn’t be about the Democratic Party and 2012. But then, Occupy has clearly inspired if not pushed these organizations to this point, and that “pushing” will continue. “Whose movement?” remains a key question.
I’m not part of MoveOn or Occupy, so I have no side in this one, though obviously I’m for the 99% message and movement idea, which is still in search of a manifesting strategy, as far as I can tell.
I will say that MoveOn has created problems and turmoil, from what I’m hearing broadly, so the interconnecting aspect of whose movement is this? is something that’s being discussed deeply & widely among progressives with whom I have contact.
Since the candidates aren’t going to do anything about the issues, that’s probably the politically astute way to go.
I can’t pretend to understand what’s going on in the minds of the people who run those organizations represented by the ellipsis in that quote, or the other ones you’ve mentioned in this article. Based on past experience, though, I expect whatever they do to be a time and money suck.
It usually isn’t long in an organization’s life before its principle objective is to perpetuate itself. If you’re trying to understand why they are now jumping on the 99% bandwagon, it is important to keep that in mind. I doubt they are trying to co-opt OWS. I doubt they could, and they’re probably aware of that. If I had to guess, then I’d guess that they’re doing this to stay relevant, and thus stay alive.
If that commercial is any example of their efforts, they may not even manage that. I’ve seen dog food commercials that were more inspiring.
I think you’re on to something important, Cujo, with “I’d guess that they’re doing this to stay relevant, and thus stay alive.”
Re: the ad…. not impressed… at all. I do not think I am their target audience though. Not in the 1%… just the ad does not impress me one bit.
There will be more “undercover” cops and FBI and department of home land security agents there then 99%ers.
Karl Rove’s Crossroads for America is about to dump 200 milliion dollars in negative ads targetting Barack Obama that will make the Swiftboat Veterans for Truth Kerry ads and the onslaught of negative Newt Gingrich ads that drove hom from a front runner into oblivion in a matter of weeks look like a soda commercial and the Progressive left is just too happy about it.Who do you hate more Joyce, Barack Obama or Mitt Romney?
Congratulations. Roe v Wade will be overturned and you starry eyes adolescents who are convinced that most voters lovingly approve of the extreme left wing Progressive agenda will have something to really complain about.
What????????????????????????
IOW, whatever Obama does or doesn’t do, it’s your fault. The people to blame are the ones who have no power to get what they want out of government. That’s because you’re too stupid to recognize the genius and wonderfulness of Obama.
And isn’t Obama just the greatest? I mean, he killed Osama bin Laden with his bare hands, right after he saved General Motors from being sucked into that black hole by the Borg.
OK, I might be paraphrasing a little…
Great post!!!!
Your framing — “who do you hate more” — doesn’t work for me. This is about so much more than Obama and Romney. And for that matter, more than the Democratic and Republican parties.
As I keep saying, I have no problem with differening perspectives.
From what I understand, Obama also has opted for SuperPacs (or whatever they are called), I am sure he will have plenty of millions (or billions) behind him as well. At this time it looks as if Obama will win easily, regardless of SuperPacs…
Why attack Joyce.. We all need to stand up for what we believe in… and Joyce does an excellent job of this.
I have my issues with OWS as anyone knows who read my posts several months ago… We have a vacant house that was occupied and vandalized.. but we have had no problems since…
Spring is here (even in Portland)… let’s see where OWS takes us this year!
Hey whitepaw, great to see your comments here.
It’s going to be interesting, as you say, seeing where OWS, 99% Spring-ers, and wheover else, takes us. If it helps get more people active and talking, at least good steps will be taken.
Curious… After I posted my comment above, there was a comment at the end of my post that stated my post was awaiting moderation.
Has something changed on this blog that I should be aware of? Or has my status as a poster changed? Apologies if I offended anyone.
Happy blogging all.
It happens to all of us occasionally. My guess is that it may have something to do with your having posted two comments in a short time.
Thanks Cujo!
About the occasional moderation thing … I have no idea why it happens, but I do check on such things, when I see it happening.
I’m all for conversation, differing views and ideas respected.