Our own Reverend Marian Stewart speaking at Occupy Seattle
October 15, 2011, Westlake Park, Seattle, WA
The media says this movement has no clear purpose. There are those who say this movement has no mission. There are those who say this movement will go away.
They are wrong. They have forgotten what democracy looks like. This movement will not go away. Because it is us. Because it is the 99%. Because it is the real people speaking, not corporate dollars.
What are we asking for? We’re asking for much more than mere tweaking of laws. We’re asking for much more than safety nets for our most vulnerable. We’re asking for much more than campaign finance reform. We’re asking for much more than sensible policies and regulations. We’re asking for much more than they can imagine.
We’re asking for justice, equity, and compassion.
We’re asking the harder questions. We’re asking that every person be treated with respect. We’re asking for the return of the democratic process where we the people elect our leaders, where our voices are heard. We’re asking for a morality in which people are the most important resource.
We are asking, no, we are demanding, that the definition of a person is one with eyes to see, ears to listen, minds to think, hands to work, mouths to speak, and hearts that love. Corporations are not people. What we are demanding is a return to common sense. We are demanding a vision where all citizens, all real people, can have not only a roof over their head and food on the table, we are demanding is that all people are treated fairly, with justice, equity, and compassion.
Laws can only go so far. Corporate dollars can only go so far. It is up to us define what America is. It is up to us to declare a vision for the future. It is up to us, right here on the public square, to shape our future. This is our mission. And we are here to stay. We are America. America is us. Real people, right here, right now.