WALKUPY
I got some clarity from my experience talking and listening to the people But I was still curious about the overall agenda of the movement. Similarly to the Occupy Wall Street Movement, the protesters lack a collective argument that they can be presented to their opposition; which voids the possibility of a solution, because no one knows exactly what the problem is. I decided to head back home, but before my exit, I saw a minor fracas between the police and a couple protestors; I figured this was my chance to catch some action before I leave. But it was only an arrest for an unauthorized camera that was in the protestors backpack; there were some moans and a few “leave him alone” from the spectators surrounding the situation; but nothing intense. While standing there, I bumped into “Parks”; a 27 year old member of a group called WALKUPY. He was holding a sign that had sort of a mission statement for the WALKUPY Movement. It read: “We are Family….Occupy till all are free. We are waging Peace; fighting back against Wall Street. There’s no place we’d rather be. Another world’s within our reach; we need to hear your voice speak. GET HERE EVERYBODY!'”
Parks explained that the movement had walked from New York to Washington D.C, to Atlanta to the summit in Chicago and “we are walking to L.A after the summit by way of Route 66” he exclaimed. I asked him how long it takes to complete one of those walks to a city. “Well it took us a few months to get to Chicago from Atlanta; but we are willing to go as long as it takes.” He continued “We get all kinds of support; people let us stay in their houses, so we don’t have to road camp all the time. We stay at V.A’s, churches, community centers, we even stayed at National Guard Armory; but I’m not going to say where, I don’t want to bust those guys.” He joked. I found Parks to exemplify one consistent trait that could be found in the people I talked to; and that was commitment. They were all committed to fighting whoever they believe contributed to the problems that plagued our society. Although their message seems to be a little scattered, people like Parks think their approach is effective. “We actually talked to a lot of people; we had lot of people talk to us like you’re with WALKUPY, so what do you guys believe in? Parks explained. “Then we will talk campaign finance, wars, and so on, and so forth; and then they be like, I actually like that too. And then everything is like totally cool”
I must admit it was kind of cool; in a neo- Woodstock kind of way. If you are interested in helping or learning about the movement. Go to wallkupy.org
This Article First Appeared in The Black Truth News Volume 3 Issue 6 June 2012