Protesters of the Occupy movement assert that the public use of public space is the right of the people, without considering the startling disconnect with government, which creates a quarrel between who has authority. In the article “The Occupy Movement and the New Public Space,” Nate Berg, staff writer at The Atlantic Cities, writes “Public means us, but it also means the government, and in the case of our public spaces, the two sphere in that Venn diagram have a nearly completely overlap.” In other words, he believes we are free to use public spaces, almost as we please, under certain circumstances (Berg NP). Here he makes an important point that public means us, but it also means the government. He goes on to discuss how many people have looked at the Occupy movement as participation in democracy - rallying together, in order to express frustration and desire for change. Berg is right that people are protesting in order to try to reclaim a voice and space they feel they’ve lost, but he seems on more dubious ground when he claims that, people need “a space empty, unowned and ungoverned but by the public that chooses to use it as needed or desired.” (NP). Calling for an entirely new kind of public space, calls to rethink the way the system works, it’s a different form of democracy, “a new form of city making” (Berg).
My view, contrary to what Berge argued, is that the legal state of affairs at many of the Occupy sites is unacceptable. The numerous arrests, numbering in the thousands of people across San Francisco, New York City, Boston, Chicago, San Diego, and many more cities is completely called for. Be sure, it is the conduct that has led to these mass arrests and dismantling of encampments, not the loss of public space that has caused this situation. Those arrested, have been charged with illegal encampment, violation of health codes, violation of city codes of conduct in public parks, violation of safety regulations, and many more.
The protesters are occupying spaces in inappropriate settings and are just rallying up together, violating laws and creating mayhem, in order to bring about dramatic changes to the system. Yet some readers may challenge my view by insisting that, these laws are being used to suppress our first amendment rights to gather for the purpose of peaceful public demonstration. Personally, I think people deplore the tendency that constitutional rights are guaranteed federally and must be respected above any local city code. Though I concede that first amendment rights are central, I still insist that protesters shouldn’t be petitioning themselves to police and law themselves, by hooting and hollering for new space, it’s unacceptable.
People from Middle East to Madison hotheadedly believe the public spaces where citizens rally to voice their discontent, show their power and ultimately articulate a new vision for their homelands, have been reduced by the interest of the government. In the article “From Middle East to Madison, Justice Depends on Public Spaces,“ author Jay Walljasper, makes an argument for public spaces being as powerful as social networking in making possible popular uprising, therefore being important (294). Though I concede a square or common to voice views as citizens is important, I still insist that there’s other modes of discussing the issues of the day. For instance, going on discussion forums online or having a get together at a home. In the long run, citizens shouldn’t blame their government for their disaffection, because they’re part of the public too.
In the end, the use of public space by the public for whatever purposes a group desires should not be allowed, because its usually used in a disorderly manner, thus creating further problems. Therefore, people need to remember that the word Public means everyone, including the government, therefore they have a say in changing the nature of a city and its people. Political fever within a community, shouldn’t call for the modification of the way public space is intended to be used, because we are only free to use spaces, under certain circumstances.
Works Cited
Walljasper, Jay. “From Middle East to Madison, Justice Depends on Public Spaces.” Reading Culture: Contexts for Critical Reading and Writing. Eds/ Diana George and John Trimbur. Boston: Pearson, 2012. 293-295. PrintOcccomm. "The Public Use of Public Space." Occupylosangeles.org. Occuply Los Angeles, 18 O
Oct. 2011. Web. 12 Mar. 2012.
Berg, Nate. "The Occupy Movement and the New Public Space." Theatlanticcities.com. The
Atlantic Cities, 22 Nov. 2011. Web. 12 Mar. 2012.
