The turnout wasn’t big, but gatherers for Tuesday’s Occupy LaGrange protest said getting the message out is what matters.
“Even if there are only five to 10 people here, people will notice,” said Scott Smith, who helped organize the demonstration on the square. “This is about asserting our right to free speech, handing out information and encouraging people to become more engaged in local politics.”
Alex LeMieux, who said he has long engaged in peaceful protests, said he wasn’t part of the Occupy movement, but believes that people have the right to openly voice their opinions. He felt the Occupy movement was about putting government “back in the hands of the people.”
“The constitution guarantees us the pursuit of happiness and freedom,” he said. “I think our forefathers had it right. We just need to keep a grip on it and keep it alive.”
Elliott Smith, vice chairman of the Troup County Democratic Party, held a sign stating “I am a Christian and … I occupy.” He said people have become too focused on themselves and lost the sense of community and helping others who are less fortunate.
“Particularly in LaGrange, where we call ourselves a Christian community, we don’t seem to extend the hand of Christian fellowship,” Elliott Smith said. “… I think people in this country and around the world should get better than they have.”
Beth Farrar said she was at the square because “people have lost their voice.” Government is motivated by money and corporations rather than the public’s wishes.
“We’re supposed to be by the people and for the people,” Farrar said. “If you never speak up, nobody will know what you have to say.”
Jamaica Johson said she took the day off work to come demonstrate on the square. She pointed out that her signs promoted peace and unity.
“We’re simply here to show the people that even in 2012, people still have the right to protest, and making my voice heard is my purpose,” she said. “Stand up for what you believe in. Whether people agree or disagree disagree with you, at least you’ve told someone.”
Ric Chambers, a LaGrange resident with a counseling practice in Newnan, said he was motivated to come out because he’s seen a shift in the problems cited by clients.
“I’ve been a counselor for about 30 years, and more and more of the problems I’m seeing with people who come in now are caused by the current social structure and economic system,” he said. “It used to be that people came because of personal issues.”
Chambers said the Occupy movement is “changing the conversation” of politics, which is necessary. Politics have made people too divisive and the movement is about getting everyone in one boat, despite political differences.
Scott Smith said some people who disagreed with the Occupy movement came up to the group Tuesday. He said they just have different ideas of patriotism.
“We see this as a patriotic act,” Scott Smith said. “We see this as what patriotism looks like.”
You wrote (in reply, I assume, to "southergent59"):
"typical racist statement - no wonder you hide behind a false name.
I have read all the comments regarding this article and I cannot lay my finger on any portion of any of them that mentions "race".
You are the king of the non sequitur.
Have considered switching to decaffeinated coffee?
Tom Weeks
The socioeconomic system we have is not capitalism - risk is socialized while profit is privatized. Executives gut established companies and brands to maximize short-term profits (and bonuses), while hobbling their long-term viability, which hurts the shareholders and employees, while the execs golden parachute themselves away from any responsibility - over and over again. We're supposed to believe that these job "creators" (more like annihilators) deserve a handout (in the form of lower and lower taxes) so that they won't be unmotivated to produce? What about all of the productive employees put out of work? What about all of the shareholders whose 401k's and IRAs take huge hits? Welfare doesn't nearly make up the difference. Where did that money go? Look up...
One of the easiest and quickest possible solutions available to us is to tax capital gains at the same rate as wages- there's no rational reason not to. Do that, and I will happily join with the Tea partiers upset over income and sales tax increases. Until then, I'd rather see some semblance of functioning local-level government and social services, and I'll keep voting to fund them.
Tell me why its anti-capitalist for workers to collectively bargain for their own benefit, and that employers are entitled to their labor for whatever they feel like paying them? Why is a largely leaderless peaceful protest movement anti-constitutional, while one organized by plutocrats like the Koch Brothers and Dick Armey is all-American? I will happily debate with those who believe in a more libertarian, purely capitalist economic system on the merits, but I stand with Occupy until such time as the Tea Party opens its eyes to its enemies at the top.
Further, Mr. Smith says that people "should get better than they have." By what fundamental virtue does any person deserve to receive from any institution the fruits that have first been plundered from someone else? Is the saying now: "It is much better to receive, than to give?"
Note 1: Jesus was not a socialist (Ref 2 Thes 3:6-15 - read the whole passage). In fact, the Christian ethic of charity includes zero, none, nada involvement by government (Ref Matt 6:1-4).
If the "Occupy" movement was truly interested in people being able to have more of what they earn, "Occupy" would be earnestly calling for a return to a constitutional government of limited powers and a return to economic freedom. The vast economic monopolistic prowess of mega-banks and mega-corps is possible only though the current expansive federal government and its self-assumed (and unconstitutional) authority to pick winners and losers with deference to Big Business. Examples: Big Gov and GE; Big Gov and GM; Big Gov and PhRMA.
Instead, "Occupy" is merely a cover for chaos and unrest in support of the Marxist and economically destructive agenda of its shadowy creators.
Note 2: There is a mass movement calling for a return to constitutional government and economic freedom and this movement preceded "Occupy" by at least two years. It is called the TEA Party Movement.
Mike Freeland