The biggest impact of Occupy in my life has been ...
"I remember thinking that somebody should do something about that, then I realized I was somebody"
i have finally felt that "WE" can and will fight for freedom, and showed me the tools for that.
incredible financial people who are making a difference in educating the 99% on evil Wall St
to open my eyes about who is really running this country.
to reconcile the threat to our liberty is worth my time, my effort, and my personal resources.
...knowing to stay the hell away from groups dominated by privileged white males.
...to give me hope, when I had little left.
...to help me get over my fear of speaking out and taking action.
(Including 15M), showing the power of people's will to communicate and change in spite of repression
100 characters couldn't describe. I'm awake, aware & mad as hell. Changed how I see & do everything
A chance to meet new activists who share many of my same beliefs and ideals.
a change in personal relationships and it opened me to a reality i was not aware of
a hope of hope for more just governing systems
a new avenue for activism, journalism & advocacy
a renewed faith in humanity and the environment (where all capital comes from, ironically).
A uniting feeling of solidarity between myself and my fellow brothers and sisters
allowing me to grow in ways i never thought I would and introducing me to bad ass people
an awareness that it is possible to energize masses of people and bring attention to ignored issues
an integration into social justice history
arguing with the old guard and order in this country, and deciding who is part of the problem.
at a time it gave me hope. but that disintegrated
awareness of social, economic, and political problems that affect us at local and global levels.
becoming a better person. Protecting all people and Mother Earth.
becoming a street medic and helping to bring emancipatory healthcare to the people.
Becoming radicalized politically and emotionally.
Being abused by a man I met during Occupy.
being involved, getting others involved too
being more open about my radical/leftist convictions.
Being willing to participate in more alternative movements/discussions.
bringing to light how many other people feel the way I do about various global issues.
Brought me hope of people working together and supporting each other
Capitalism is the most destructive system to the human race, environment and society
changed/shaped my understanding of informally governed groups, gave me new vocabulary, connections.
Connecting me to different classes of people.
connecting me to new networks of other radicals and rebels.
Connecting with like minded individuals.
connection to a national Occupy community, via NatGats, OccupySandyNJ, OWS in NYC, and e-mail/calls
CREATING AN AWARENESS THAT WE ARE NO LONGER FREE IN THIS COUNTRY. HS CRACKDOWN HIT US HARD.
decreasing my willingness to compromise on core issues.
Discovering I had talent to speak, create & that our swam of movements is just a begining #hope
Disillusioning me of the Democratic Party (but I generally still vote for them).
empowering me to act as an individual to change the world how I can.
empowering me to seek out immediate change in my own life.
Empowering me to spread information and my opinion.
empowering the desire for a non-capitalist life
Encouragement in things I do and believe in since before Occupy.
everything. Occupy completely changed my life-my job, my partner, my priorities, my attitudes
expand my ideas about the role of tech & internal communication for social justice movements
expanding my ideas about what is politically possible.
feeling some hope that people will start to influence the policymakers and effect positive change
Feeling that the people actually have power.
feeling there are other people who share my concerns about the world at large.
finding hope after years of thinking there was none
Finding like minded leftists who believe in making a difference for the better.
frankly, dissuading me from studying social movements.
further disillusion with the political process
Gave me hope that a younger generation will make a stand.
Getting arrested video tapping an Occupy March Now I filed a Civil Rights Lawsuit Pro Se
Getting me motivated to be a force for change!
Given me hope that there are some others out there who are working hard to make things better.
given some small hope that there are like minded people willing to fight against such overwhelming f
Giving birth to mu new, political and social life.
giving me a voice and a way to enact real change.
giving me experience for the struggle going forward,giving me an outlet for my political frustration
giving me hope that people can still practice real politics in public space
giving me hope that the US can change, and hence make it easier for change elsewhere
Giving me hope, and an example of what resistance looks like.
Giving me the confidence to say this system we are using is bullshit and ruining lives.
Giving me the prerogative to take a stand on the things that resonated most with my purpose in life.
Going through judicial process following occupy arrest
has been to reengage me in public forum. Had lived organic alternative life lacking connectionW/same
has encouraged me in speaking out publicly against policies I consider wrong
having a group of conscious and well informed folks who want human and environment rights
Helping me see political differences more clearly and understand political motivations better.
helping me see that racism, sexism, economic injustice, gov't corruption are all the same system.
helping me to see that my country doesn't care about my family nearly as much as I thought it did.
Helps give me HOPE that a better way is possible...
hope where there was none before. I work to cling to it still.
Hope, I know that I'm not alone in my stances.
hoping for the future and getting more info on certain topics through the facebook page
How many people out there who genuinely care
I am Spanish and participated in the 15M, Occupy is a different process to ours.
I believe that democracy can still work, that we can still change our society for the better
I believe the future holds promise should the millennials continue to realize their political power.
I can never go back to whom I was before. My skills, politics and networks all converged.
I feel like Occupy is a way for my voice to be heard, collectively with others.
I felt a huge swell of hope, and then despair when I realized how far we have to go. Not enough time
I gave up on government, it is way to corrupted by the wealthy people of this world.
I got in a lot of arguments with horribly misinformed idiots who associated themselves with you
I had no idea so many people feel the same way I do and are so articulate about it.
I have become educated and very vocal about the issues of the 99% I also made life long friends.
I have created relationships with people I would not otherwise have known
I have had to stop all participation in causes as a result of my time with Occupy. I am so sad.
I know I want to work to make the world a better place but not in allegiance with a major group.
I now realize it may be possible to change things that are wrong with our country
I realized my political philosophy, left libertarian, is pretty much the same thing as anarchism
I really believe another world is possible and that money could be removed from politics.
I see social movements' ability to emerge as less predictable than before.
I started a local Occupy group (Occupy Palos Verdes) in 2011 and the group is still very active
I stopped waiting to be recognized or invited to lead change and committed to the work
I used to be right of center. I am now far left.
I used to campaign for democrats... not any more.
I was photographed at the protest and some strange personal things have happened since.
I'm more in tune with politics and injustice and the fight for equality
I've changed my behavior and I vote with my dollar every day. I see it making a change.
I've lost friends who firmly believe in our present capitalist system, who ridicule me.
Inspiration - to know such great #s of people are of the same mind as far as something must be done!
Inspiring me to leave my bank (which actually was a good local bank) for a credit union.
interest in occupy events -so many creative people out there doing good work
introducing me to the concept of the 1%.
It gave me back hope for the future of society. I think we can get out from under authoritarian rule
It gave me new hope of change the society to the better
it has deepened my commitment to working towards a new future.
it has given me a little more hope for Americans, especially those in my generation.
It has given me direction in my academic field & allowed me to rediscover revolutionary politics
It has given me some hope that not everyone is asleep at the wheel.
It launched me as an activist. I didn't know where to start. Occupy was the beginning for me.
It made me feel good about a tiny bit of the future,
It showed me how the media lies and sent me in search of alt media sources.
It showed me that some people do give a fuck
Just knowing it's there, knowing it's happening, gives me hope.
keeping me aware of the disproportionate power of the 1% and empowering change.
keeping me motivated to fight for social justice.
keeping my ear to the ground for new instances of that meme.
Knowing more about police brutality and dirty politics by the 1%.
knowing that there are others out there with the courage to stand up for what's right for all people
Learning about and participating in direct action.
learning about other struggles and ideas
Made me feel "alive" made me feel that I was doing good for myself, my family,the world
made me feel like all was not hopeless, that there was energy to change the national direction
Made new aquaintances, and the larger actions have opened new avenues of communication with oth
Making me care about other matter than my personnal life problems to offer a better world/future.
making me feel a part of something, that I can help cause change.
Making me feel that my dreams made part of a general wishing gred
making me realize that the people, the constituent power, are the source of any change in society.
making tons of new friends, starting the free store, working in community garden
Meeting and becoming friends with amazing, talented, motivated and dedicated people willing to w
meeting even more people that have become my allies in political actions.
Meeting more people like myself & finding alternative news sources.
meeting new people, ability to participate and make small things happen, be more rooted in NYC
meeting other hacktivists and getting involved in political causes
Memory of the struggle keeps me fighting
My ability to take information and look at it more objectively.
my introduction to and adoption of anarcha-feminism and anti-capitalist decolonization politics
My level of awareness of economic systems
my process of radicalization, and the memories of unprecedented fun/solidarity.
Networking of like minded people in person and via social media
None. Regardless of efforts, nothing really changes except awareness.
Nothing. I'm just as poor and irrelevant as I was before the "movement"
Noticing more and hoping that the Greedy Ones are a little uneasy
Occupy has given me hope for a better future for future generations
OCCUPY was the begining of my political action.
Ongoing work toward transformation of economy and government
Paying attention to the Environmental connection to Social Justice.
Possbilty that the one. Percent of. The one Percent van be challenged and Become moved to. Compassio
Providing a momentary sense of hope and opportunity to be a part of shifting movement dynamics
raised my political awareness, emphasized things I was already thinking about.
reaffirmation of social justice moral highground
Realization that issues that do not affect me personally are worth fighting for, for the common good
realization that no one can do everything but everyone can do something.
Realized that there's a whole lot of us still fighting for our humanity. A sense of community with p
Realizing I'm not alone in my understanding of unfairness. "Meeting" hugely creative forces.
Realizing I'm not alone millions of like minded activist's are out there making a difference
Realizing I'm not the only person who sees what's really going on here.
realizing money is power now, so I speak through my spending, or lack thereof.
Realizing that A LOT of people have the same feelings about our currupt government that I do
Realizing the importance of social media and ubiquitous recording devices to combat state oppression
Realizing there are more important problems than my own
Reassuring that there are others out there who are not ok with the way things are.
recognizing how real police violence is--I was present at Occupy Boston's expansion eviction
recognizing the evil of the world and the power i have to change it
Recover the idea of empowerment with a group of people to change society.
Relationships that were established. Increased feeling of empowerment.
restoring my faith in fellow citizens to take action when needed.
restoring my faith. sounds so corny but its true. The young people are beautiful. Profound
revival of hope for positive change and a better world.
seeing how many people feel as I do and are informed.
Seeing how much fascinating grassroots political activity gets no genuine coverage from media.
seeing how the 1% control every aspect of our lives in ways that we cannot see
seeing solidarity of other leftists in the US, showing protest is not dead
Several of my friends did great work after Sandy.
Showed me that I can help impact positive change in the world
showing how the state will smash a good idea
Showing me and collectively we can change this world
showing me that some people still really care about politics when it seemed many had not
showing me we can still change things and make a difference, regardless of suppression.
showing that there is some serious left wing activism in this country too
Solidifying my own ideologies and empowering me to try and make a change
solidifying some friendships, a little more experience, what not to do next time, some good memories
Strike Debt was a breath of fresh air...
taking a stand against banks and fighting to narrow the income gap
that for a short time it looked like we finally figured out that people really do have the power.
That groups of people from diverse backgrounds, diverse socio/economic, can come together and have e
That I am now thrust into the lime light. I am media co-ordinator for occupy auckland @redstar309Z
that i feel viscerally that I am not alone in the effort to end capitalism
that I gradually moved from communist to anarcho-syndicalist/communist.
that I took the time to be involved and stay involved.
that it empowered me--at the time-- to live up to my full potential as an agent of change.
That it gave me reason to look at injustice on a larger scope than my own first world problems.
That there are other people that care about how out of control things really are.
that there are others that believe the same things I do, I can make a change in the world.
that there is common ground to be found among the 99%
That we are a global movement which has good people like slavoj zizek to help guide the movement
The "wake-up" calls for the real world specially'cause mass media never shows how the world rlly is.
The ability to show my sons and all young people that there are old folks who want to make it better
the arrival of hope that corporate power may be reduced.
The biggest impact of Occupy in my life has been enlightenment on economic corruption
The biggest impact of occupy in my life has been nothing.
the comrades, I still meet with people I camped out with under the regions building when I can.
the experience of the occupatio the growth and learning, meeting other local and regional activists
The experience of watching liberals destroy a movement
The information I have obtained, thanks to Occupy, has re-sculptured my opinion completely.
the knowledge that I have at least tried to stand up for what is right.
the number of likeminded people I've met and befriended,,,Occupy lives on!
The people and ideas that I was introduced to.
the possibility of dumbed-down Amerika to wake up and save us from global fascism.
the realisation that if I work very hard I can inspire people for positive change.
the realization of popular civil unrest and how skewed against effective demonstration our laws are.
the realization that capitalism is hurting us all.
the realization that I am not alone in thinking that capitalism has got to go.
the realization that we are a global world.
the reassurance that a network of like-minded citizens exists.
The strange looks when I say I support the movement
the way it radicalized my political beliefs.
This has happened as I home school my teenager. He is more involved in and interested in politics, n
to build & update occupydaytona.org on a continuing basis.
To change how i view the world and my communtiy's problems. Everything is connected.
to change the way I talk about the economy and capitalism
to consider the totality of the relations between economy, justice, environment and politics
to demonstrate that changing corruption will not occur from within our current political system.
to demonstrate that the masses are ready and able to participate in anarchy, even if unwittingly.
to encourage me that change is possible.
to give me a focus for imapcting change & hope for the world.
to give me hope for a peaceful, lawful, and spiritual Revolution of Love to occur.
to give me hope for the future to be wrestled from the murderous bunch who rape us with legislation.
to give me hope that things can still change.
To help me see beyond elections, and beyond statist solutions to our troubles.
To help me see the world situation differently than I had before.
to help me think more explicitly in class terms
To help others when I can, even if I can only donate a dollar or spread the word
to highlight the difficulty of effectuating any sort of positive social/political change in the U.S.
to hit refresh on the possibility of widespread direct action.
to jumpstart my imagination for what a better world could look like
to keep alive a flickering hope of something changing.
To legitimise the rhetoric of class conflict in my own personal political experience.
to make clear how stubbornly entrenched all of us are in the very structures that oppress us.
to make me realize that truly revolutionary social movements must be founded by and for the poor.
to notice that there are many, many people who want to make the world a better place.
to open my eyes to the power that 'ordinary' people have to improve their lives, if they realize it.
To raise my awareness and curiosity on economic and political issues.
To remind myself the importance of critical analysis, obviously lacking in occupy movement.
to show me that I'm not alone in my disgust of the oppression of a corporate-owned nation
to show me that the struggle is for the long term!
To speak out against economic inequality
To stand for truth and to not be afraid to speak out about injustices.
to teach me that marches, voting, petitions, etc are a waste of time
to transform the way I perceive the world
to turn me into an activist and I love it!
Underscore my own life's work & civil disobedience!
Understanding new ways to do things and the importance if valuing everyone's contribution
understanding the true story of what is REALLY going on in politics and big business.
understanding there are others in my situation. That I am not alone
wanted to keep its beauty in my mind as I go forward - its early days were what I want my life to be
Watching what i buy and the consequences.
We as beings are still able to connect towards a common goal for the better of all.