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Occupy Nation

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Submitted By Ashleys131
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Occupy Nation by Todd Gitlin Book Review
By: Ashley Smith

The occupy movement sparked major concerns worldwide regarding economic inequality. New York City was the first city in the United States for this movement to evolve. Todd Gitlin, a social historian, captures the spirit of the occupy movement in New York in his book Occupy Nation. This ongoing movement started September 17, 2011 when a small group that called themselves occupy wall street, set up camp in Zuccotti Park in lower Manhattan. This small group supported the idea that there was a huge gap between the rich and the poor in the economy. The term “99%” soon became widely used after ongoing discussion of the economic inequality. This term allowed people across the country to feel like they could become involved with this issue because of the general goal the movement had was relevant to so much of the population. As numbers grew in the group that settled and became semi-permanent at Zuccotti Park the media became more interested. As this movement spread through the media the numbers of people who support this sky rocketed. Many people gave up everything just to go to new york city and join to occupy wall street. In his book Gitlin seems contradicted in how OWS does not have any demands and no leadership. However he explains how the lack of demands and leadership intrigues and makes it more inclusive to wide range of people. The leadership that OWS had was based on a horizontal government, which allows everyones' opinion be heard and considered in decision making. Gitlin acknowledges the joy, outrage, hope, and the nonviolence of this movement. Although he does not give a clear thought it how the occupy movement will move forward in the future, and what it will accomplish. The thought of where it will go and what it will accomplish was not only by this author but also by many inside the

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