Occupy Movement | Community Health

The Occupy movement, which began on September 17, 2011, in New York City's Zuccotti Park, was a global protest against economic inequality, corporate power, and social injustice. The movement, also known as Occupy Wall Street (OWS), was inspired by the Arab Spring and the Indignados movement in Spain. It quickly spread to over 900 cities worldwide, with protesters setting up encampments and staging demonstrations. The movement's slogan, 'We are the 99%', highlighted the vast wealth disparity between the top 1% of earners and the rest of the population. According to a study by the Economic Policy Institute, the top 1% of earners in the United States held 40% of the country's wealth in 2012. The movement's influence can be seen in the subsequent rise of progressive politicians and policies, such as the Fight for $15 movement and the proposal of a wealth tax by Senator Elizabeth Warren.