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Small but loud band of Occupy JPers march down Centre Street
By adamg on Sun, 12/04/2011 - 9:57pm
The Jamaica Plain Gazette reports maybe a dozen people walked up and down Centre Street pressing grievances with bullhorns today. The two bicycle cops assigned to the march left halfway through and, yes, they stopped to protest Whole Foods - after an internal debate about whether it was worth alienating its shoppers.
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Comments
Go figure
These folks have become a caricature of themselves.
Right?
Also, they should have been arrested. Bullhorn's are not allowed, and are most likely violating the sound restrictions in place.
Sad that whosfoodies need to hijack the OWS movement to try to gather attention for their petty, ineffective causes.
They've alienated just about everyone else, why not WF shoppers?
They've alienated just about everyone else, why not WF shoppers?
A dozen is a very generous estimate
It was such a tiny group that it was barely a group. And when I passed them, they were just making random demands--peace, justice, etc. I want to like these folks, honestly, but the whole thing makes me grit my teeth with annoyance. "Get out of the stores and into the streets!" What does that mean? Stop the rampant consumerism that so perfectly describes Centre Street on a Sunday afternoon? Please.
Whole Foods
There were more cars in the Whole Foods parking lot than there were protesters in front of the building. It looks like far more than JP's "1%" has taken Whole Foods' side in this one.
Maybe if the protesters gave out delicious brie, grapes or cookies instead of yelling through a bullhorn, people may be more inclined to listen to them instead of shop. Judging by the number of WF bags on the 39 this weekend, I'm guessing that may not be the case.
Cars?
I think there were more VW beetles in the parking lot than there were protesters. I think there were more cashiers working at WF then there were protesters. Oy.
The photos are hilarious
There are about eight people in this group and, despite the writer's assertion that they were being cheered on Rocky style, there doesn't seem to be anyone around them.
These same folks copped a squat at the Monument a day later during the UU church's craft sale. What the writer didn't mention was something I heard more than a couple people say as they walked by during the day: "Way to occupy a craft sale."
I also love how the Gazette insists that people involved in "Occupy JP" are some of the folks who took part in Occupy Boston. After seeing both the Occupy Boston site and the Copley protest this weekend, I can say without a doubt that none of the "Occupy JP" Knothole Gang have ever set foot near Dewey Square, nevermind slept on its pavement. Poseurs.
Cringe
I support almost everything the Occupy Boston movement stands for but this was cringe inducing. I am all for a similar protest stationed outside Bank of America but this was silly mainly because it just was totally unclear who their audience was meant to be. The craft sellers? The kids waiting for Santa Claus? Ugh. Tell me they weren't showing off for the Whole Foods crowd.
Don't worry, Whit
These folks have no direct links to Occupy Boston. Think of them as an Occupy Boston cover band that plays JP every so often. I wish they had a sweet cover band stage name like 99% Awesome, Boston Tent City or This Is What Democracy Rocks Like.
"Thank you, Monument Craft Fair! We love you! Good night!"
My granny is having a garage
My granny is having a garage sale next weekend... should I alert OccupyJP?
If your looking for a break
If your looking for a break from your holiday shopping, next Sunday at 1 o'clock, you can see part 2 of this mobilization starting at the monument.
Perhaps they can all meet in the tent returned from Occupy Boston (Dewey Sq. edition) if the weather is bad.
Interesting to note the tone of the JP Gazette article and contrast the atmosphere it paints with the actual photos.
Is it really so hard...
to count to eight, JP Gazette? "1,2, 3... aw, hell, let's just call it a dozen."
I can see where the writer might get confused, what with eight and 12 both being round numbers divisible by four, but they could at least try. I'm sure if the paper rounded down -- to four, for example -- there would be all sorts of hell to pay and so many Patch blog posts hastily scrawled in the dark corners of the Midway Cafe.
I still love the anecdote about the guys outside the Galway. The folks in that bar are among the best in JP, but the "Occupy" crowd is just lucky the Bruins game started at 7 and not 1.
I continue to be amazed...
...that something that happens with 8 people in JP can still generate 11 (now 12) comments. What is it about JP that sparks so much bizarre interest about completely irrelevant events that practically nobody participated in.
I could find 20 events in the next week in JP that bring out more than 8 people, but because it's not a handful of crazy liberal activists participating, it's not interesting. Bring out a few activists, though, and it's like they symbolize a whole neighborhood and it must be mocked and ridiculed.
I give Adam credit, though. He clearly has figured out that the best way to generate traffic to his website is to post something about JP. It sure does get people riled up. Kudos, my friend.