Commentary: On New Haven's Occupy Movement

By Kathy Glass
Creativity + Social Change
University of Connecticut
11 October 2011

Commentary on "New Haven's 'Occupation' Takes Shape," New Haven Independent, October 11, 2011
The article about New Haven's Occupation highlights some interesting facts about how such a movement is being fulled and shared within communities.  It seems that the organizers and occupiers are using various tactics to "get the word out," namely door-to-door canvasing and speaking at churches and stores.  In addition, the "Rock-upy New Haven" effort has been conceived to include local bands in the movement and to help spread the message.  Most recently, a member of the group created a website specifically for the New Haven movement (http://www.free-haven.org/).  All of these various forms of communication seem to spur the movement and spread the message to the people.  It's clear that this Occupy movement, like many others, is not only about the political, social and economic positions it presents, but also about uniting a community of citizens and opening up the lines of communication that may have been closed or inaccessible before.  If nothing else, this movement is giving people a platform for communication and change rooted in community.