When the Occupy Movement started, many had fears of it being co-opted, either by the tea party, or move-on, or any of a million other groups that saw it as a chance to push their own agenda. Little did we know that the biggest danger would be the internet. Armchair activism has always existed in one form or another, but in the age of the internet it has exploded. Facebook and twitter are littered with thousands of so called ‘occupy’ groups, filled with people who claim to be part of the movement. Yet where are these people on the ground, at general assemblies? Whining about being unable to get the day off, or too busy, too broke to attend. A million excuses to justify their inaction, other than of course yammering online about what rebels they are. I hate to be the one to break it to you, but you are killing the movement. Yes, you. By creating yet another facebook group, yet another group that ‘seeks to coordinate all the occupations under one umbrella’ you are doing what our enemies cannot: destroying occupy. this movement is NOT about finding solutions within the current system, and if you bothered to participate on the ground, you would know this. This movement is about boots on the streets, destroying the system that has enslaved us. Sure, facebook and other internet mediums are great for spreading the word. Occupy websites are amazing for spreading knowledge and news, and twitter rocks for getting the word out quickly and across a wide spectrum. BUT THAT ISN’T WHAT THE OCCUPY MOVEMENT IS ABOUT. There is currently such HUGE disparity between the declared goals of General Assemblies worldwide and those bandied about on the web by these keyboard activists, that were most facebookers to actually visit a GA they would think they were in an anarchist war zone. Those of us actually taking to the streets know what it will take to change the world. We know that sacrifices have to be made, whether its missing work, getting a sitter for the kids, or taking off from school just to participate. On the streets we risk arrest, beatings, and more, and we do it gladly. On the streets we see who is committed, we participate in General Assemblies to decide on actions and goals, and we show the world we are willing to risk it all for the freedom of the world from the tyranny of the 1%.



I myself have been a part of countless General Assemblies, in over 20 states, since september 2011. I know how hard it is. I also have seen the groups online rise up, from inter-occupy to the 99% declaration to countless others, all trying to become ‘rock stars’ and leaders of this leaderless movement. I have read about different candidates being proposed as ‘occupy’ candidates, and was stunned. OWS in NYC voted first against this very thing, and many other occupations followed. And yet on facebook and elsewhere, people still seem to think that is the plan, to get ‘our’ people on ballots. Had they attended the actual occupations, they would know how wrong this was.

Far be it for me to tell people what to do with their time, what to participate in. But as a member of OWS, I CAN tell you what we stand for. And it isnt making excuses for why you cant take to the streets. It isnt making nifty little facebook groups so you cna feel part of something. It isnt about apathy or star making or working within a system. It isnt even about the constitution or the USA. It is about sacrifice, struggle, and suffering in order to free ALL humankind globally from the shackles of the machine. It is about revolution.

Don’t take my word for it. Go to a GA. Participate with the ACTUAL occupy movement, not the facebook groups and web sites that have latched on like the newest fad at hot topic.

Take to the streets. Whose streets?

Our Streets.