Listen to an interview with Marisa Holmes about her experiences of the Occupy Wall Street moment in terms of what worked, and what didn’t, as well as lessons to be drawn for the future.
Listen to a discussion with Marisa Holmes about her experiences of the Occupy Wall Street moment in terms of what worked, and what didn’t, as well as lessons to be drawn for the future.
In 2011 the Occupy Wall Street movement brought tens of thousands of people to the heart of New York’s financial district to protest against austerity, corporate greed and the depredations of capitalism while also exploring what could replace it. Inspired by movements in Egypt, Spain and elsewhere the 60 day occupation of Zucotti Park in turn inspired 100s of further occupations across the world.
New York-based activist, organiser, filmmaker and writer Marisa Holmes was an occupier from day one and has since been active in its many offshoots such as Strike Debt, Occupy Sandy, anti-racist solidarity work in Black Lives Matter, and anti-fascism. Her film All Day All Week draws on extensive footage to tell the story of Occupy Wall Street, and a recent book studies the movement’s processes and structures based on assemblies, collective statements and live tweets.
In July 2024 a series of events were held in Australia to discuss Marisa’s experiences of the Occupy Wall Street moment in terms of what worked, and what didn’t, as well as lessons to be drawn for the future.
Listen to Discussion – Lessons From Occupy Wall Street
Below is an audio recording of an event in which Commons Library team member and Gerda Henkel post-doctoral fellow Iain McIntyre interviewed Marisa before she took questions from the audience. Thanks to the Black Spark Cultural Centre for hosting the event, to Anitra Nelson for organising it, to Annie McLoughlin for recording it, and to the Gerda Henkel Stiftung for supporting Iain’s research.
Alternatives and Futures: Cultures, Practices, Activism and Utopias Series
Movements such as degrowth, Occupy, solidarity economies, permaculture, low impact living and Via Campesina variously address key issues of the contemporary era such as inequalities of wealth and income, environmental crises, and achieving sustainable cities and production. This series demonstrates the breadth, depth, significance and potential of ‘alternatives’ in the construction of this century, focusing on the type of future each movement advocates and their strategic agenda.
Occupy Reflects: A collection of Reflections on Occupy Melbourne
A collection of reflections on Occupy Melbourne. Beginning with Occupy Wall Street in New York, the movement triggered an unprecedented wave of uprisings. Melbourne became the largest occupation in the southern hemisphere.
