It is hard to believe that the Occupy movement, with all of the attention it has garnered and all of the debate that has been started as a result of it, has only been in existence for a couple of months. In this short amount of time, hundreds of Occupy groups have popped up in cities large and small across both the United States and the world. What was initially started by a small group of individuals in New York City's Zuccotti Park has evolved into a growing global movement, sparked by increasing frustration with economic and social inequality. Many Occupy groups have come under fire for a variety of issues that arise whenever large groups of people congregate: drugs, violence, unsanitary conditions and a lack of a cohesive message. Occupy Las Vegas, however, is one group that is challenging these misconceptions head-on in order to assure their voices remain heard and respected by the public-at-large.
A Drama-Free Occupy
One of the first major differences between Occupy Las Vegas and many other Occupy groups is the clearly-outlined set of rules and regulations. While many Occupy groups feel that it would be counterproductive to regulate the activities of any one individual, Las Vegas takes a different approach. Listed in big, noticeable font on its website, OLV states that “anyone coming to the area will be searched for drugs, alcohol and weapons” and that there are no exceptions at the zero-tolerance protest site. Right next to this message is a shout-out to local police officers, thanking them for keeping the protesters safe. Many Occupy groups have claimed that “plants” were used to incite drug use and violence, giving authorities the right to break up the protests; the occupiers of Las Vegas have decided that it is better to have control over this so that such things cannot happen.
Polite and Accommodating?
Before the recession, Las Vegas had two major industries: tourism and construction. With construction all but dead in Nevada, tourism is the one major force that prevents the economy of Las Vegas from slumping even more. It is no surprise that in order to protect their own economic interests, many OLV members have gone out of their way to make sure not to clash with the tourist image that Las Vegas has cultivated. OLV leases a lot from the county government and follows regulations in regards to cleanliness of portable toilets and littering. OLV even postponed a protest that would have coincided with a major tourist weekend; they say it is common sense as most employed individuals in Las Vegas are either directly or indirectly supported by the tourism sector.
A Clear List of Demands
Unlike many Occupy groups, OLV has worked to established a 21-point list of grievances. On this list, there are proposals such as the abrogation of the Citizens United ruling, specific term limits for federal offices, debt reduction, banking and securities reform and many others. While OLV has not crafted out specific legislation to attain these goals, it is a step in the right direction and a bigger step than many other groups have taken at this point.
Conclusion
While there are hundreds of Occupy groups to examine and inspect for great ideas, Occupy Las Vegas appears to be “wise beyond its years”, making great strides toward not only addressing their grievances but also cultivating a positive image at the same time. By ensuring that the general public remains on their side, OLV has a greater chance of affecting true change within their local community, which gives them a better shot of influencing the same issues on a national level. Every group must start small and local, and OLV has the right ideas in mind.
No comments:
Post a Comment