1. “What Is Our One Demand?”
Robert Gucker
English 201
Professor Ryan Hudgins

2. The birth of the Occupy movement
- The beginning, Occupy Wall Street
- The 99% and their motives for protest
- Globalization and the power of big banks and
corporations
- Spread of the movement

3. Goals and Objectives of Occupy
- Lack of coherent goals
- Result was a confusion of their message
- Impact on the productivity of the movement
- Perception of the movement from professional
analysts and media:
- CNN Debate on the Occupy Movement

4. Impact of Social Media
- Upsides:
- Powerful tool used to gain support
- Free, Popular, Effective
- Downsides:
- Resulted in “weak ties” with movement
- Led to decentralized and weak support

5. Lack of Hierarchy
- Lack of organization and hierarchy structure
- Non-traditional method of assuming leadership
- Loss of influence and passion
- “Lack of an organizational structure can deprive a
movement of staying power.” (Craig Calhoun)

6. Comparison to The Civil Rights
Movement
- Set clear, tangible goals to accomplish
- Had many leaders along with a mass support
- Martin Luther King Jr.:
- Provided supporters hope
- Provided a plan to accomplish goals
- Had a strong relationship with the movement

7. Small Successes Along The Way
- Success of “Bank Transfer Day”:
- A rebellious act driven by Occupy
- $4.5 Billion moved, 700k consumers switched
- Effective because it “wasn’t asking too much” of
the supporters
- Didn’t accomplish anything substantial

8. Conclusion
- Admirable attempt to improve lives of the “99%”
- Had potential to due to massive support
- Lack of coherent goals and hierarchy were
downfall
- Set the path for similar social movements of the
future