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Occupy Wall Street beganSeptember 17, 2011

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Occupy Movement• Protest movement initiated by Canadian

activist group, Adbusters

• Partly inspired by the Arab Spring

• Momentum gained by social media

• Protesting capitalistic responsibility for global financial crisis and for the inequity, influence and culpability of the wealthiest top 1%

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Goals of Occupy MovementMovement criticized for being goal-less, or with very vague goals.

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Occupy London

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Some Stated Goals of the Movement

• Measures to end corrupting influence of money in politics

• Measures to end tax evasions of wealthy firms and wealthiest individuals

• Tighten banking industry regulations

• Political changes to make government more accountable

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Occupy Seattle turns violent

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4’ 10,” 84-year-old woman, a pregnant 19-year old woman, and a priest, injured

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Global Spread of Occupy Movementin three months, September-November, 2011

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Recent News Items

• 21Nov’11 “Life after occupation: From Mobile, Ala. to Chicago, lessons in the importance of holding territory…. By Arun Gupta

• The post-occupation movement is taking shape across America… Most local movements are carrying on and look toward Spring, 2012.

• But can the occupation movement survive if it no longer occupies space?

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Showdown in Chicago?Natasha Lennard and Arun Gupta 31Jan2012

• “The stage is set for dramatic street scenes in Chicago this May.

• Leaders of Western economics, the G-8 and NATO summits are coming to Chicago in May.

• The actors are ready: Occupy Chicago is planning and calling for a “Chicago Spring” to coordinate protest groups and actions during the summit. Groups from around the country are planning to be there.

• Chicago Mayor Rahm has tough regulations approved by City Council to put down any such demonstrations.

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Imagine…• “Many Occupy Chicago participants contend the

reason Mayor Rahm Emanuel is so hostile to allowing an occupation to take root now is that it could bcome the nucleus of a much larger movement next May…

• “The image of huge crowds of everyday people confronting legions of cops protecting the conclaves of the rich and powerful who run the world is more powerful than words. It would, in the streets, draw battle lines between the 99% and the 1%.

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Imagine…

• “And it is ultimately in the streets, not in meetings and conferences, where the political struggle will be played out as it has been from the French Revolution more than two centuries ago to the Egyptian revolution today.

• “Holding public space is key.”

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Questions for Reflection & Discussion

1. How important was/is/will be, the Occupy Movement?

2. Is this a biblical and/or universal justice issue (-s)?

3. Why wasn’t/isn’t this movement more discussed at institutions of higher learning?

4. Should students and faculty have been/be involved in this movement?

5. Should pastors be preaching about this movement and its issues? If not, why, and if so, how?

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The Biblical Message: Amos

Thus says the Lord, for three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not revoke judgment:

Because they sell the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals—

they trample the head of the poor into the dust of the earth, and push the afflicted out of the way….(2:

6-7)

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Amos:

• “Hear this, you cows of Bashan (wealthy and greedy women of Samaria)

• who oppress the poor, who crush the needy,

• who say to their husbands, ‘Bring something to drink!’

• “The time is surely coming upon you when they shall take you away with hooks…. (4:1-3)

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Amos

“Therefore because you trample on the poor and

take from them levies of grain, you have build

houses of hewn stone, but you shall not

live in them….(5:11)

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Amos

“For I know how many are your transgressions, and how many are your sins—

You who afflict the righteous, who take a bribe and push aside the needy (or, the poor) in the gate (the intended place of justice)… (5:12)

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Amos, poor man’s prophet

“Hear this, you who trample on the needy, and bring to ruin the poor of the land, saying, ‘When will the new moon be over so that we may sell grain, and the sabbath, so we may offer wheat for sale? We will make the ephah small and the shekel great, and practice deceit with false balances, buying the poor for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals, and selling the sweepings of the wheat?’” (8:4-6)

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Final Questions

• Does God still get angry at injustice of the rich whose gain is excessive and at the expense of the poor?

• Does God want us to be his prophets?

• If we won’t, will God use others?