Occupy Movement Causes Disruptions

Last month, our class spent a lot of time focusing on civil liberties and determined when, if ever, they should ever be limited.  In our essay, I wrote that the freedom of speech should not be oppressed unless it has violent intentions.

The Occupy Wall Street movement that has swept across the country has not been violent, so I believed it to be a completely just way to express dissent.  Now, however, it has gone on too long and become disruptive, so I think their rights as protestors need to be limited.

Occupy Wall Street protestor holding a sign with their slogan,
"We are the 99%".

The Occupy movement, which began in September, protests against corporate greed, saying that the nation's wealthiest 1% hold an unfair sway over the remaining 99% of the population.


Protestors in Oakland on Monday night forced the city to shut down a port, which "cost the Port and City of Oakland vital resources."


This is not the only example of this protest causing disruptions that have hurt businesses.  In fact, weeks ago the Huffington Post reported that the Occupy protests have cost the nation's cities at least $13 million, and that number has certainly increased since then.


Manager of the Oakland port Robert Bernardo said "They hurt the many businesses that pay taxes and help us create jobs."  This is all very ironic because by protesting, they are hurting themselves by disrupting the businesses that create more jobs.


The Occupy movement should focus on "real solutions to the problems plaguing our economy,"  suggested Omar Benjamin, Port of Oakland Executive Director.  These protests are no longer accomplishing anything and are simply causing a distraction and hurting our economy, so I think the government needs to control them by enforcing limitations on their right to protest.