I know it's early to start talking about what's next for Occupy Wall Street when the protests are still gaining steam.
Occupy Wall Street has struck a chord and started conversations on a national level that we weren't having before.
But eventually, I believe the protests will turn into a lasting movement.
When they do, here's one suggestion from my friend Chris Weigant: call the movement The 99 Percent.
Here's Chris' reasoning in a nutshell (or, for more details I refer you to his outstanding weekly Friday Talking Points).
First of all, please don't mistake this for criticism of the name "Occupy Wall Street".
I think Occupy Wall Street is a fantastic name for the protest. It clearly states the target and that OWS was meant to be a long term effort, not just a one day event.
Both of these points have been absolutely critical to the success: there is a clear goal, a clear target, and a clear strategy.
However, once the protests start becoming a movement, I believe the movement could grow faster and stronger if the movement were called: The 99 percent.
As Chris states:
Start calling yourselves "99 Percenters." Use this term constantly when addressing the media, and they will soon catch on and start using it as well. This will help facilitate exponential growth of the movement, and the continuation of the cause beyond one demonstration in lower Manhattan.
This would be an easy shift since We are the 99% has been such a rallying cry of the movement.
Chris points out two issues with Occupy Wall Street as an ongoing name. The first is geographical.
For the sister protests springing up organically in other cities, they have a choice of something like: "Occupy Wall Street Albuquerque," or perhaps the more concise: "Occupy Topeka" ... Either way, the brand gets diluted. You are left with one thread tying them together -- the word "Occupy".
The second issue has to do with the word "Occupy". As Chris explains:
Occupy is a pretty negative word, when you get right down to it. It is vaguely threatening, and might explain why the media has bought into the "hostage" scenario, by asking for "your list of demands" from the protesters. Remember the Bush administration vehemently denying America was "occupying" Iraq? There's a reason they fought back against this term -- because of its negative connotations.
While I believe "Occupy" is perfectly fitting for a protest, I also agree with Chris that it has negative connotations for a longer movement.
This is just one suggestion, but it's a suggestion that I think:
- Is a natural extension of the brilliant work that has been done by OWS and the folks who started "We are the 99%"
- Would greatly help the movement attract people and grow after the protests are over
If you're interested in more details, please check out Chris Weigant's Friday Talking Points.