Occupy Louisville Sends a New Message

At first, I was disappointed to discover that the "activist" element of Occupy Louisville were wintering in their own homes while the original Occupy camp was being maintained by those without homes of their own.

But in the spirit of Occupy's flexibility, adaptability and diversity, I think this works - as long as we respect and honor what the camp represents and accomplishes.

One of the most frustrating aspects of the homelessness crisis in this country is the de-coupling of the result - people living on the streets - from the cause - a financialized, asset-based economy that destroys jobs and punishes people who work.

Occupy Louisville - and all the Occupy camps around the country that shelter homeless people - restores that connection. Homeless people at Occupy are not begging for money or help; they're demanding fundamental changes in our economy.

And for that, their continuing protest deserves support.

Chris Kenning at the Courier:

Barfield is homeless himself and acknowledges that most of the remaining 15 to 20 Occupy campers are too. He doesn’t see that as an issue. For him, what started by chance has become a cause, a political quest.

“I was never political. … Now I have a voice,” said Barfield, a former telemarketer, circus hand and Waffle House waiter. “I used to think nothing could change; now I feel it can. … People need to see us here.”

But as Occupy Louisville enters its fifth month, it has in some ways become two separate but linked groups — the most visible of which is the camp’s often-changing group of homeless, and the other a handful of activist-minded residents who meet weekly at the Louisville Free Public Library, engage in public protests, visit the camp and organize workshops on issues such as foreclosures.

Read the whole thing and watch the video here.

Donate to Occupy Louisville here. Even better, take some food downtown (check the needs list at the link), introduce yourself and meet some people making a real difference.