[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Pages 16589-16590]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE ``OCCUPY WALL STREET'' MOVEMENT, THE VOICE 
                  OF THE 99% AND A VISION OF DEMOCRACY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 2, 2011

  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of the Occupy Wall 
Street Movement and to bring the voices of the long-oppressed 99% back 
to the Representatives who are supposed to represent them.
  Truly, when I think of the vision of democracy today, instead of our 
gridlocked Congress, where we can hardly speak to each other because of 
deeply polarized political differences, I look to the Occupy Wall 
Street groups burgeoning across the country.
  They took to heart the value of the freedoms of speech and assembly 
consecrated in the Bill of Rights, and put them to practice. They are 
convening in open air town halls to give voice to the voiceless and 
organize as a unit. Here in Congress, every vote comes with a fight. 
After it is all said and done, the disagreement remains and the 
bitterness deepens. Out there in the General Assemblies of these 
``Occupation'' sites, decisions are made by consensus. Who has it 
figured out better?
  Some are quick to dismiss the protesters as a bunch of kids who do 
not know what they are doing. I beg to differ.
  Yes, the Occupy Wall Street groups have no established leadership 
team. But that is very much by choice. And in many ways, these eclectic 
gatherings are so much stronger as a collective of equals. Each 
individual, from child to senior, has taken initiative to help in a way 
best suited to his or her interests and abilities. They have 
voluntarily taken up posts to welcome newcomers, to offer legal advice, 
to provide medical relief, to cook, to clean, to entertain, and to be 
sure, to discuss policy, from sustainability to electoral reform.
  And yes, these General Assemblies do not have a bill of solutions to 
present for deliberation on the floors of Congress to rectify the 
problems facing our country. But they have deliberately chosen not to 
present a list of demands as an organizational strategy. In the second 
issue of the New York occupation newspaper, cleverly named the 
``Occupied Wall Street Journal'', they declared: ``No List of Demands. 
We are speaking to each other and listening. This occupation is first 
about participation.''
  And they are right. All they need to know is that they are discontent 
with the status quo in this country and are willing to do something 
about it. This is what democracy is all about. If the people do not 
express their point of view, how are their voices supposed to be 
represented?
  The fact is that the people have been trying to communicate their 
grievances--through phone calls, letters, petitions, national 
conferences, and other traditional methods of organizing--yet we, their 
elected representatives, have failed to produce legislation to 
adequately address their needs. Now they are mad as hell, and I do not 
blame them. In fact, I thank them for containing their anger and 
organizing in a non-violent manner.
  My colleagues, it is our sworn duty to listen to our constituents and 
represent their views. Why are we not honoring the position of the 99%? 
Why do attacks on the 99% persist? What more do the American people 
have to do to get its Congress to wake up and actually deliver the 
systematic changes that are necessary to lift this country out of its 
fiscal recession and spiritual depression? The American Dream needs to 
be revived with some real

[[Page 16590]]

changes before it withers away like the millions upon millions of 
dreams deferred.
  Americans have been suffering long before these market crashes, 
bubble bursts, and quagmire wars. This movement is not about ephemeral 
concerns and will not be mollified by superficial fixes. The problems 
highlighted by Occupy Wall Street contingents around the country are 
deeply entrenched structural issues and we must address them earnestly 
and develop permanent, holistic solutions. We can no longer afford to 
patch one sleeve with the other. It is abundantly clear that a total 
make-over is needed.
  The process will be difficult, but we must undertake the challenge. 
We cannot simply bicker on and watch more than a quarter of our 
children grow up in poverty. We cannot simply hype up the promises of 
higher education and abandon our students when they are locked down 
with debt. We cannot simply wait for the ``market god'' to do its 
wonders and leave our families to suffer as the prices go up and real 
wages go down. It is not only our job to rectify these wrongs, it is 
our moral obligation.
  I call on all my colleagues to listen to the voices of the people and 
act. Let us collaborate in good faith and reaffirm that this is a 
government of the people, by the people, and for the people. The 
American public is sick and tired of waiting. It is time to get to 
work.
  Once more I urge spiritual leaders all across the country to take an 
active role in this movement. Every faith tradition affirms the value 
of social justice. This is the time to fight for a more perfect nation, 
one that would more closely embody the ideals upheld in our holy books. 
I ask all faith leaders to encourage their congregants to contact their 
elected officials and make sure that their views are faithfully 
represented.
  Lastly, I would like to remind all the leaders of the world that this 
movement is not stopping at Wall Street, in New York, or even within 
the bounds of the United States. More than 1,500 cities around the 
globe committed to launching united campaigns for global change on 
October 15, 2011. The ``Occupation'' is poised to continue, growing 
persistently as more and more people step out and speak up. Never 
forget that the power of government is derived from the consent of the 
governed. Their will and support are the foundations on which our 
nations were built. Listen to the 99%, preserve peace, and ensure 
justice to all.

                          ____________________