The Occupy Tulsa movement, an offshoot of the Occupy Wall Street group, has been fairly quiet in their few months of existence. But Monday morning people who work downtown got a taste of what may be a lengthy engagement. The occupiers staked two tents Friday night in Centennial Green on 6th street between Main and Boston. By Monday morning there were a total of a dozen in a semi-circle facing 6th street..
See a gallery of pictures from the tents as of Monday morning
I went to the park Monday morning and rousted a couple of the guys out of their sleeping bags to get a comment of two about what this latest effort is expected to accomplish. "Raising awareness and educating people that they're being screwed over by their corporate masters" a protestor named Eli told me. When I asked Eli of that meant that meant all the people who were on their way to work at the time were doing it wrong? "Well, it's not them that's doing it wrong" he began. "What we want them to realize is the companies they are part of engage in practices that actually hurt all of us." he said. Eli believes the greatest goal for now is to start a conversation with others.
Click here to listen to my interview with the protestors and then listen here to one lady on her way to work give her opinion.
When I pressed Eli further for an actionable step going forward his answer had to do with learning. “They can educate themselves on any illegal practices or fraud their companies might be engaging in” he finished.
Nick was standing with Eli and I asked him why he was there. “”I’m here till something changes, I’m here till we see an effect he said.”
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And if you think they may get bored and go home, think again. “We’re working with the city” Eli began. “We’ve got a meeting at city council on Thursday to waive permit restrictions and everything else at every park” he commented.
Take a look at the video and gallery of pictures as well as the interview with the occupiers below.
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