Occupants took over Perseverance Park in early October as an act of political protest, but the Occupy Syracuse movement has grown far beyond politics.
“This group has brought together people who wouldn’t even say hello to each other on a normal day,” said Mark Blum, an attorney from Manlius who is serving as legal counsel for the Occupy Syracuse movement. “Different political theories and ideologies are coming together around a common cause.”
That common cause is hard to pinpoint. From concerns about war spending, to education, to jobless rates, the Occupy Syracuse movement has a long list of political issues that add up to one motivating factor: Occupants are angry about the status quo.
At Perseverance Park, however, you won’t hear any yelling. You won’t see any red faces. Instead, you’ll find a determined group of individuals trying to find meaningful ways to create awareness about the issues at hand and get support from their community.
“I feel that my representatives don’t hear me as an individual, but as a part of a movement they are paying attention,” said Blum, who reports that Mayor Stephanie Minor stopped to speak with Occupiers earlier in the week.
It’s clear that the Syracuse movement is not about any single political issue — it’s about changing the approach to politics.
One occupier who gave his name as Anthony talked about the importance of listening in overcoming the divide between ideologies.
“An older man came running at me one day, yelling that I should get a job,” he said. “I heard him out, then calmly explained to him that I am fully employed, and that I am here in support of others and to bring awareness to some of these issues. We talked for a while, and he left calmly. I don’t think he changed his mind, but at least he’s not so angry.”
Most of the protestors are not trying to change people’s political opinions. Instead they are slowly building a network of resources and support for anyone who wants to become informed about the movement. Teach-ins are regular occurrences at the park. A plethora of signs and flyers are available for people to take and read at their leisure, and occupants are always on hand for support or discussion.
Perseverance Park is located at the corner of E. Fayette and Salina Streets, which serves as a major hub for public transportation. Pedestrians passing by are welcome to engage and ask questions of Occupiers, but they do not make first contact. They sit quietly, often with signs in their laps, and occasionally lift a hand and nod to drivers who honk and waive in support as they pass by.
On Saturday, Oct. 29, Occupants gathered in the park for a pep rally of sorts. They were preparing to visit local businesses to create awareness of Occupy Syracuse and ask for support. Individuals took turns practicing their introductions and getting feedback.
One Occupant stood in front of about a dozen of her peers to tell her story. She had been laid off in October, and curiosity brought her to Occupy Syracuse.
“I found it was really a worthwhile place to be,” she said. “They offer teach-ins, so while you wait for the government to help, you can learn a lot of new skills here. If you want to talk to the common council or you want to talk to the mayor about something that’s going on, it’s hard to get an appointment. But you can come down here and there will be a whole circle of people who want to hear your story, and if they have ways to help they will give you help.”
After volunteers shared their stories and got feedback from the group, a moderator asked, “so what are our values, what do we stand for?”
Compassion, generosity, community, change and responsibility were the answers from the group.
Those values seem to be the true appeal to the Occupy Syracuse community. Frustrated Syracuse residents are drawn to this committed group of tent-dwellers who are ready to listen and lend a hand.
