Prof. Cornell West to Occupiers: We have deep love for poor people

Dr. West speaks at Occupy Seattle, November 17, 2011:

"When you've done all the things you set out to do -- raising your voice...raising our voices, our individual voices, our collective voices -- for what? Out of the deep love we have for poor people, working people, people of color, our gay brothers and lesbian sisters -- all of those who have been dehumanized, pushed to the margins and we say, 'Yes, it is a love movement!...In the last 30 years this class war against poor and working people -- pushing folk against the wall as if somehow they're just marginalized utilities in a profit margin analysis. No, those are human beings there -- losing their houses, jobs unavailable, wages stagnating with profits at the top, breaking records year in and year out. And when they get in trouble, even when they hard on folk and welfare on below, they get the corporate welfare from the top. Oh, yes! I call it corporate socialism. That's what it is: tax payers' money supporting the oligarchs when they get into trouble -- talking to me about personal responsibility...nobody going to jail given the criminal activity that's been going on on Wall Street for the past 15 years. Not one person's gone to jail!"

Hear the rest of his speech. Preach on, Professor!

Statistics on the 99% vs 1%

Want more evidence that the 99% are being screwed by the 1%? Check out these U.S. figures:

• 400 billionaires
• The richest 1% owns 1/3 of the wealth
• Luxury car sales are up 8.7%, jewelry 20%
• 1 in 6 people have no health insurance
• 1 in 7 people live below the poverty line
• 1 in 7 people are food insecure
• 1 in 17 earns below the federal minimum wage ($7.25/hr)

 In fact, it looks like it's really the 99.99% vs .01%! 

Occupy movement takes off in Michigan

Like hundreds of cities throughout the U.S. and across the globe, the Occupy movement has begun in Michigan! Thousands of people who are struggling to make ends meet, take care of their families and find ways to stay in school are coming together in their communities to say "enough is enough!"

We demand justice and accountability from corporations and our government for their abuses and threats to our lives. WE ARE THE 99% and we demand change!

Many of us are in poverty with no prospects for living wage jobs, health care or affordable housing. The government safety net that was created to protect people from the turmoil of capitalism is being annihilated by self-serving politicians and corporate greed. Many other families are on the edge of poverty -- just one measly paycheck away from homelessness, hunger and illness.

Michigan residents have begun occupations in several cities and more cities will start soon. Among the Occupy Michigan cities are:

• Occupy Detroit
• Occupy Lansing
• Occupy Ann Arbor
• Occupy Grand Rapids
• Occupy Flint (facebook)
• Occupy Kalamazoo (facebook)
• Occupy Saginaw (facebook)
• Occupy Traverse City (facebook)
• Occupy The UP (facebook)
• Bay City 

The Occupy Michigan website has information and links to each Occupy city, plus a list of occupier needs for anyone who'd like to contribute.  The occupations are more than just the people who camp out each night -- they are about all of us! The occupiers bring visibility to our concerns in Michigan about home foreclosures, joblessness, poverty, food insecurity, education, poor public transportation, unaffordable health care and other universal basic needs.

You can share your concerns at Occupy cities during the "General Assembly" meetings where everyone has a voice. Go to the Occupy city nearest you and make change happen!

Image from dmcd18 at Occupy Lansing tumbler