Occupy Wall Street Is a Social Movement

What is a group? A group is when you have a large number of agents (people) that take action simultaneously in order to achieve a common goal; their actions which are usually coordinated with one another help the group to achieve its goal. This process is generally referred to as a “Group Action.” “Group Action” will often take place when social agents realize they are more likely to achieve their goal when acting together rather than individually. For reasons such as these, people have found it necessary to form groups.

Occupy Wall Street is a “group action” of people who believe that inequality of wealth is dispersed unequally amongst the citizens of the United States. This group is protesting against high unemployment, greed, as well as corruption, and the undue influence of corporations particularly that of the financial service sector on government. “The 99%,” which is the group’s official slogan, refers to the growing difference in wealth in the U.S. between the wealthiest 1% and the rest of the population.

This group started and was formed in New York City on September 17, 2011. Its founding location was in Zuccotti Park, which is located in the financial district of New York City. The idea for this group was started by a Canadian Adbuster Foundation who proposed a peaceful occupation of Wall Street. Their sole purpose was to protest corporate influence on democracy, a growing disparity in wealth, and the absence of legal repercussions behind the recent global financial crisis. Adbusters' senior editor Micah White said the members of the foundation had suggested the protest via their email list and it "was spontaneously taken up by all the people of the world.”

Occupy Wall Street has been using various ways to communicate to people. This group has seemed to embrace technology when it comes to communication. The group has been using Websites, Facebook, Twitter, Text messages and YouTube to spread its message to the public.

Occupy Wall Street