A look back at local, national and world events through Deseret News archives.
If Wall Street is buzzing, the rest of the country is usually happy.
On Sept. 17, 2001, six days after 9/11, stock prices nosedived but stopped short of collapse in an emotional, flag-waving reopening of Wall Street.
Crisis averted. The nation survived.
Ten years later, on Sept. 17, 2011, a demonstration calling itself Occupy Wall Street began in New York, prompting similar protests around the U.S. and the world.
What was that all about?
Occupy Wall Street was a populist movement that portrayed itself against corporate greed, big finance and the influence of money in politics. It began in New York City’s Financial District, in Zuccotti Park on Sept. 17, and was portrayed as a peaceful movement, though there was a fair amount of confrontations between supporters and law enforcement officials.
Just 59 days later, on Nov. 15, police forced the protesters out of the park. Their slogan, “We are the 99%,” referred to the belief that inequality between the top 1% of economic elites and the rest of the nation was unjust and immoral.
Historians will debate the effects of the protest, the group’s motivations and what changed as a result. At some point, protests sprang up in other communities in the U.S., including Salt Lake City and other Western cities as well as some other countries.
Certainly, elements of “Occupy,” which were also part of the “Sit-in” experiences on college campuses in the 1970s, have returned in several forms since then.
Here are some stories from the Deseret News archives about the movement nationally and in Salt Lake City:
“Occupy Salt Lake City won’t get booted from Pioneer Park”
“‘Occupy Wall Street’ won’t bring solutions”
“Occupy Wall Street becomes NYC tourist stop”
“Occupy Wall Street’s center shows some cracks”
“‘Occupy’ protests give birth to new catchphrase”
“Wall Street protest functions like a small city”
“Religion claims its place in Occupy Wall Street”
“Occupy Wall Street becomes highly collectible”
“Protesting the Occupy Wall Street protesters: We are the 53 percent”
“Occupy protests spread to US college campuses”
“John Hoffmire: How the rich view the poor”
“‘Occupy Wall Street’ won’t bring solutions”
“Photos: Demonstrators show dissatisfaction with Wall Street”