Last week marked the two-month anniversary of Occupy Wall Street, a protest that has spawned similar encampments around the country and the world.
Initial media coverage focused on the economic inequalities the movement spotlighted, but in recent weeks the stories (both in Tampa and across the nation) have been all about police arresting protesters, a trend that only looked to increase as mayors of some of the biggest cities in the country ordered their police to end the 24/7 occupation of parks.
Even before those directives, AdBusters, the anti-consumer magazine that has been called the intellectual architect of the Occupy movement, had listed on its website two possibilities for the movement's future progress: either keep on keeping on, or declare "victory" and throw a party, perhaps around December 17, the three-month anniversary of the movement's birth.
But there's no talk in Tampa of shutting down. In fact, at a recent General Assembly (the group's nightly meeting in Curtis Hixon Park), members said they'd heard that more protesters will be arriving around Christmas from the Northeast.
Unlike so many other American cities, arrests have been minimal in Tampa (approximately a dozen in nearly seven weeks). But the message continues. Here's a look at just a few of the people who make up Occupy Tampa.
BOBBY ALI
Age: 35
Roots: Moved from Pakistan to the U.S. at the age of 11. Lived in several states before moving to Florida in 2004.
Occupation: Owns two gas stations, one in Tampa, the other in Hudson, but says after working 70 hours a week and paying employees, he's left with only enough to make ends meet.
Politics: Was a Republican, but "eight years of Bush changed that for me."
On Obama: Did vote for him, says it's "tricky" whether he will again.
What “Occupy” means to him: He says it's to educate people about the flaws in the system, not to create sentiment for or against any specific political party.
GREG PRIEM
Age: 29
Roots: Originally from St. Pete, now lives in Clearwater.
Politics: Has never identified with the Democrats or Republicans — has always voted for "lesser of two evils."
Occupation: Studying psychology at USF.
On Obama: Voted for him in 2008; now feels like he bought the whole spiel, "hook, line and sinker." Says he expected more change, but doesn't really have much of an opinion on Obama anymore, because he believes that even if the president does have "our best interests in mind," Congress is broken.
What Occupy Tampa has meant for him: He's always felt pretty isolated, and wasn't aware that others felt "even remotely the way I do living in the area." What it's meant for him most is a sense of community. "That word for me in the past was kind of hollow, not because I didn't care about it, but because I never really knew what it meant 'cause I've never seen one before (laughing)... In the old days, in more rural communities or religious communities or even minority communities, there's still a sense of community, but I never experienced it in my life and that in itself is worth fighting for... I love those people like family."
What he's learned: A greater respect for other people's viewpoints.
SAMANTHA BOWDEN
Age: 23
Occupation: Geography student at USF.
Roots: Born in Texas, lived in Tennessee for 10 years; Tampa resident since 1999.
Politics: Registered Democrat.
On Obama: Voted for him in 2008, name-checks Cornel West when saying she'll hold her nose and do so again in 2012. Says her first disappointment was in December of 2009 when he announced he was adding 30,000 troops in Afghanistan. Also critical of his economic policy team (i.e. Tim Geithner at Treasury, Larry Summers as chief of economic advisors), calling it "putting the wolves in front of the henhouse."
Influential books: Van Jones, Green Collar Economy; Andrew Bacevich, Washington Rules
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Why OT needs a public park of its own to occupy: "Once we have that, they can see that real dialogue is going on, and then actions come out of that and we can exert pressure as a group of engaged citizens. But it takes time."
JOE JAY
Age: 24
Roots: Has lived in Tampa for 16 years.
Occupation: Cook at a pizza restaurant; attends Hillsborough Community College.
Politics: Calls himself a "pragmatic socialist — very progressive."
Obama: Down on him for not closing Gitmo. "I think he used the excuse that people had to pressure him more to do his job... I believe the Occupy movement... can exert this pressure, I don't think he has any excuse anymore."
Crucial books: Howard Zinn, People's History of United States; Naomi Klein, Shock Doctrine; a lot of Noam Chomsky.
On local media: Calls it a mixed bag, but chides ABC 28 for being "very hostile."
