Occupy Albany Makes a Stand in Lafayette Park

By THERESA TAYLOR
Staff Writer

Spread by a Facebook event and word of mouth, the first Occupy Albany protest began noon Friday under a cool and overcast October sky. By mid-afternoon the rally was maintaining a steady crowd of over a hundred in the state-owned Lafayette Park, on the north-western corner of the Capitol.

Composed of a varied crowd, in both age and status, the protestors who lined both sides of Washington Avenue waved signs which read, “The banks got bailed out, we—the 99%—got  sold out!” and “We are the 99%!” Both statements allude to Occupy protestors’ self-reference as the “99 percenters,” the lower 99 percent on the economic scale.

The rally is a local arm of the Occupy Wall Street protests which began on September 17 in Liberty Park, New York City, the so-called “Day of Rage.” The protests focus on the particularly unequal distribution of wealth, unsound banking practices, and corporate influence in government among other such grievances related to the financial system.

In a sign of solidarity the majority of cars—and city buses—which passed honked their horns.

At 3:16 p.m. a march was proposed and was soon underway, pulling with it most of the rally participants. Once gathered the group headed across Washington Avenue and passed in front of the Capitol. Amidst the revving of bus engines and the clattering of hammers from high on the scaffolding surrounding the Capitol, marchers’ voices could be heard yelling “We are the 99%! You are the 99%!” As the line of 60 protestors wound its way past the Justice building and up onto the Plaza their chanting turned to a call and response, “Whose streets? Our streets!”

Several stands lined the sidewalks within the park: one offered free food to the protestors—chili and pasta salad among others—while another was occupied by a woman representing the Occupy Albany legal team, in front of which was a can for donations. Planning for the event has been ongoing with meetings of the General Assembly of Occupy Albany being held for several weekends preceding the event.

By late afternoon some of the protestors were laying out sleeping bags or pitching tents for the night. A heavy contingent of officers in tan uniforms and wide brimmed hats—State police—were at the rally, looking on. Their presence was cause for apprehension among some protestors due to the possibility of eviction after the 11 p.m. curfew. The western side of the green area at the northwestern corner of the Capitol, where the protestors are located, is the state-controlled Lafayette Park. The eastern side is the city-owned Academy Park. Both parks have an 11 p.m. curfew. By sundown several dozen tents had been erected and approximately 80 occupiers were hunkered down to spend the night.

Yet, despite the apprehension, the next morning found the protestors who had chosen to stay the night still present, if bleary eyed.

Saturday in Lafayette Park was as cool as the day before, but by the afternoon the crowd from the day before had swelled to more than 200 protesters. Among those gathered along State was John Razzano, who stood holding up a protest sign, accompanied by his two Cairn terrier dogs, Timber and Ginger, who also wore signs that read, “Cairns who care about the 99%. FAT CATS PULL YOUR WEIGHT. TIRED OF SCRAPS FROM THE TABLE OF THE 1%.”

“I feel [that] our economy is heading in the wrong direction and has been for a long time. I feel there’s a definite fairness and justice side to all this,” said Razzano, referring to a major element he feels helped to contribute to the forming of the Occupy movement. “We only have the one planet…the way things are going now, we’re going to use it up and it will be trashed, and there won’t be anything left for future generations.”

Razzano also spoke about the transition movement.  He stated that it is an organization of people who are trying to come together locally to encourage more robust local economies. Such an organization will inspire the kinds of changes that will come about when we have to face energy shortages and climate changes in the future. Razzano said that they are trying to organize people so that they can develop more food production (i.e., the explosion in farmer’s markets), as well as encourage mass transit, denser development so as to avoid suburban sprawl, and renewable energy, with a look towards creating sustainable future.

Celeste Autumn Rose was camped out at the park with her friends, saying that she arrived at noon on Friday and planned to stay until Tuesday. “My main goal is to raise awareness,” said Rose. “I’m not really looking to have any form of violent protest… I want keep the movement alive, keep the hope alive, help however I can.”

Rose said they were told that the police would kicking them out at 11 p.m. on Friday because didn’t have a camping permit, but were then told that the police weren’t going to do anything due to all of the media coverage. Rose added that the police, who she believes are part of the 99 percent, have been pretty neutral on the subject.

“We’ve had people be quite rude to us and we’ve had people truly show a lot of support,” said Rose. “We’ve gotten a bunch of donations—food, money, blankets especially.” Rose noted that everyone wants to keep the protest peaceful.

Vegan Sheila Fitzgerald thinks that solving America’s problems is going to involve a lot of complicated changes.  “One of the solutions I’m advocating, and the main reason I’m here, is promoting the vegan lifestyle as an empowering, very simple boycott,” said Fitzgerald.  “[Being vegan is an] empowering choice that anyone can make. It’s a great way to rise up against the mechanisms of green oppression, slavery, and genocide and it’s great for our own health.”

Fitzgerald added that animal agriculture is one of the leading causes of environmental destruction, and that choosing veganism helps prevent it. It’s great for the non- human animals that we’re sparing and it’s great for the environment. “I’m just trying to be here as a resource,” said Fitzgerald. “Providing people with knowledge and tools they can use if they’re interested in making that transition and speaking on behalf of the voiceless, the 99 percent …the forgotten 99 percent.”

Lauren Ouellette-Bruchez sat on a blanket and reflected on what drew her to support the Occupy movement. “My husband and I have been on a pretty constant struggle over the past eight years we’ve been together,” said Ouellette-Bruchez. “Having to move from Atlanta [to] back home where my family lives, here, because he couldn’t find work in a market that was over saturated with people who do what he does… his job was outsourced to Indonesia.”

As for those who have criticized Occupy for being too unorganized in defining its goals and objectives, Ouellette-Bruchez said that, “Everything is a process that goes through its growing pains, but everybody is committed to change enough that people are willing to learn compromise…Occupy will grow because of peoples’ willingness to grow with it.”

Lesley Tabor came to Lafayette Park because she is “pretty unhappy the insanity that is going on politically in the country. I didn’t feel like I had the energy to go to Wall Street, but since it’s [the Occupy movement] come to Albany, I am at least able to come and give some support.” Lynch would like to see “ the rich paying their share of the taxes,” as well as the development of green energy because she believes that the “dying of oil [reserves] is underlying all the chaos were going through, and we need to make a change for the sake of the planet and the sake of the economy.”

Ballston Spa’s Ryan Rogers, a University at Albany student, said he was drawn to the movement because of the presence of youth. “I think we do need a larger student struggle, we need the student bodies of America, and of the world, really, to stand up for policies that put an end to the distribution of wealth where wars receive more focus (at home) than education.”

Nikolai Mishler of Albany came to Occupy with his parents. He said that he saw what was happening in New York City and that he wanted to be there, but the closest thing to being there was being here in Lafayette Park. When asked about what kind of America he’d like to envision for his future, Mishler said, “One where no one has to worry about their jobs…that they’re going to be lost, or their kids aren’t going to be able to eat, or that their sons and daughters are going to die in a war.”

In the center of the park, in a circle with Mishler and others, Andrew Kenefick strummed a guitar as he stood gathered with a group of fellow musicians playing protest songs. “I’m here today to be with the people and support the people,” said Kenefick. “I’m also here to help bring the music. We need the music.”

3 p.m. on Saturday came, along with the call for another parade around the Capitol. Members of Occupy Albany crossed the street in peaceful protest, accompanied by the continued honking support of people running weekend errands, taxi and CDTA bus drivers, and delivery trucks. While the many protesters gathered had different goals and objectives, their message was similar in that they all were fighting for financial reform. They were present to support the working people trying to make ends meet in a land where jobs have been outsourced, unemployment has brought the middle class into poverty, and people continue to lose their homes.

For them, somehow the rich still manage to get richer, while the ninety nine percent become poorer and poorer. They come in peace, in solidarity, and while no one knows what their impact will ultimately be, they continue to remain in the city and Occupy Albany.

Additional reporting submitted by Ian Benjamin