(un)Occupy Albuquerque • Why (un)?

5.2.12

(un)Occupy Albuquerque • Why (un)?: Almost immediately we began thinking more deeply about the use of “occupy.” Oct. 4 email exchange among Occupy Albuquerque participants: C: The word “occupy” in general is offensive to most Native Americans and indigenous people and people of color in general – again in general. Occupations have displaced us for generations by Europeans. I understand that the use for this word was to “flip” it back onto Wall Street because they have occupied and held the people financially hostage. I get it. Each city has a different tone in they are inserting into the bigger movement – how the robbery by the banks are affecting their cities. I think this is important. In addition I REALLY want to stress, that Occupy Albuquerque (Burque) make a statement about the use of the language.

For example:“Albuquerque is in solidarity with the rest of the world. We are the 99%. That being said, Albuquerque wants to make it clear that we are uncomfortable with the word “occupation” – not uncomfortable with the acts coming out of the movements across lands. The word “occupation” for Native Americans, indigenous people and people of color in general is problematic because this land that we now live on has been occupied since 1492.We simply want to bring awareness to this fact and have more conversations in this regard.”