By Erika Niedowski-AssociatedPress
Wall Street protesters around the country who are vowing to stand their ground against the police and politicians are also digging in against a different kind of adversary: cold weather.
With the temperature dropping, they are stockpiling donated coats, blankets and scarves, trying to secure cots and military-grade tents, and getting survival tips from the homeless people who have joined their encampments.
"Everyone's been calling it our Valley Forge moment," said Michael McCarthy, a former Navy medic in Providence. "Everybody thought that George Washington couldn't possibly survive in the Northeast."
More than a month and a half into the movement, Occupy Wall Street activists from New York to Colorado have pledged to tough out the snow, sleet and cold as they protest economic inequality and what they call corporate greed.
But the dangers of staying outdoors in some of the country's harsher climes are already becoming apparent: In Denver, two protesters were hospitalized with hypothermia this week during a storm that brought several inches of snow.
The activists also know full well that the number of demonstrators is likely to drop as the weather gets colder.
Some movements are scouting locations indoors, including vacant buildings or other unused properties, possibly even foreclosed homes, though some question the wisdom of holding a protest outside the public eye.
Read the rest here.
Of course they could just join the political process much the way the Tea Party did and then work things that way. Of course, that probably represents way too much effort for this group.
ReplyDeleteThis should be an interesting dance as established political groups behind OWS (primarily blue)wrestle with Homeland Security, clearly not enamored with people gathering and finding their power.
ReplyDeleteIt would be Orwellian for the police to take away heaters and generators for "safety", then disband the group for their inability to remain warm and dry.
Poor buggers. Winter setting and all, snow, sleet, rain, cold. Let the SEIU loan them some 45 gallon barrels to make their fires in. Socialism is never fun in the winter is it.
ReplyDeleteWorking, capitalism, saving, gold, silver. Poor bastards, they weren't told about this in government school were they.
Stay warm my friends, we are out of here. Warmer climate for the winter into spring.
Unfortunately no internet on the island. See you in six RW. Keep your cool brother, fascinating times.
Seriously? "Valley Forge moment"? I don't know anything about the OWS movement. But the fact that they are delusional and self-absorbed enough to compare themselves to those brave patriots who suffered immeasurably at Valley Forge in order to secure this nation's very existence tells me all I need to know. A little snow and cold in your modern tents, sleeping indoors at churches or in mummy sleeping bags is a cakewalk compared to Valley Forge. Are they going to leave bloody footprints in the snow from walking around barefoot? If these people can't even get that what they're doing in no way compares to Valley Forge, then I bet they are mistaken about their core tenets as well. None of that crap for me, thanks!
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