Everyone is part of the 99%

On Friday, October 7th, the Social Justice Academy held a rally in support of Occupy Wall Street.  We got some positive feedback and even more criticism.

Lately, on Facebook I have seen an interesting string of photos. College students have been trying to prove as to why they are part of the 99%.

However, one photo in particular caught my eye. It was supposed to be a parody of these photos and brought up a lot of serious conversations. I wanted to applaud a young student who proved it is possible to succeed. However, the student  missed a few key points about why we are “Part of the 99%”.

I know that if I work hard I can go to college. I know that if I work harder I can graduate. However, coming out debt free does not look very likely.  

This student in the picture talked about working thirty hours a week and getting paid minimum wage to live and pay off the rest of their tuition.

They spoke about saving money since childhood and paying it all off on their own.

However, for most youth this does not look like a reality. I know many students who have been working for about two years now who, instead of saving up or wasting money on consumerism, pay for rent for their families apartment, or put food on the table for their siblings.  

I know too many students who pay their grandparents medical bills and who spend their free time playing parent.  They don’t have extra money for things like college.

It’s those students who stand by me when I say I am part of the 99%.   
I am going to college, and I am a little scared. I’m a little scared to apply.  I’m a little scared of the classes, how I will get there, how I will pay.

However, I am more scared for what happens after college.

This student in the photo claims that they will not blame Wall Street or the Government for their own bad decisions.  

I wonder if they know who started the protest and why they started. This cause is currently led by recent college graduates who can’t find jobs anywhere.  People who have been searching and searching and still have no income.

One of the demands of this movement is that companies will stop branching out into other countries, and will stop sacrificing our jobs just so they will find cheaper labor.

People are standing on the street with the hope that companies and our government will stop putting profit over the people, and providing stories and hope for future generations.   

Does anyone remember a day when they knew their bosses personally and knew where all their money went when they were taxed?

I don’t. My parents barely do. I’m sick of seeing so many homeless veterans, men who once protected our country and are now known as the crazy old men that we avoid. I am sick of thinking my baby sister will have even worse chances of succeeding than I do.   

There are lots of problems to fight for and the occupation of Wall street has given other movements hope to keep going.

This movement is uniting people all over our country. If there was no reason to fight, if there was no struggle to fix, and if there was no solution to be made, why would so many people from different communities and backgrounds rally together?

Whoever made this photo is partially my hero. They helped me realize just how flawed our system must be.  I think that when they graduate and hit the real world, their views might change.  

When their degree doesn’t immediately pull them out of the poverty quicksand. I think they will change their opinion.

Although many think we are protesting to feel connected, it is quite the opposite.

Personally, I help protest because I feel connected.  I am one of the 99%.