Lessons from Occupy Wall Street

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.

Introduction

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. Below is an audio recording of one of these events in which Commons Library team member 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, and Annie McLoughlin for recording it.

Listen to Discussion – Lessons From Occupy Wall Street

Explore Further

• Organizing Occupy Wall Street: This is Just Practice
  Read an excerpt from Marisa Holmes’ book at his link and also access videos and podcasts.
• Alternatives and Futures: Cultures, Practices, Activism and Utopias Series
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• Voices from the 99 percent: an oral history of the Occupy Wall Street movement (Book)
• Occupy Wall Street: A Decade Later (Podcast)
• New Study Reveals a World of Growing Protests
• Occupy Reflects: A collection of Reflections on Occupy Melbourne
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• Occupy Melbourne Case Study: A Missed Opportunity
  Occupy Melbourne case study shares some of the lessons from Occupy Melbourne & why more effective skill-sharing would have made a difference.
• Protest Camps: Case Studies