From 1st General assembly on the Boston Common way back in September to today, Occupy Boston has had a colorful, storied life. Masses gathered, passions were raised, sinks snatched, tents erected and torn down…but most importantly a movement which began as a small group in Zuccotti Park has spread globally. Here in Boston, a new generation of activists have been born out of years of systemic oppression and disenfranchisement.
These photos will never completely tell the story, but perhaps it will help to depict, in a helpful way, the complex narrative of a movement attempting to capture the attention and hearts of millions.
The First Hundred Days
The General Assembly on the 1st day of the occupation, on September 30th, 2011 (Photo: D. Markus Witt):
A warm, sunny day on one of the very first days of the occupation (Photo: qwrrty, flickr):
The Gandhi Statue, a landmark at Occupy Boston, was donated by the Sherborn Peace Abbey of Sherborn, MA (Photo: Tess Scheflan / Activestills.org) :
A sign at Occupy Boston in early October (Photo: mstempics, via flickr):
Amanda Palmer of The Dresden Dolls comes to play at Dewey Square on October 6th, 2011 (Photo: Tess Scheflan / Activestills.org)
A series of lawn signs displaying the Occupy movement’s simple message:
A flashmob in Downtown Crossing, Boston, in solidarity with and calling for the release of Tarek Mehanna (Photo: Tess Scheflan / Activestills.org):
A rain-worn sign posted to the building housing the Big Dig’s vents, at Dewey Square:
A march in early October in solidarity with the Massachusetts Nurses Association starts up at Dewey Square:
“Uncle Scam”, a puppet made by an artistic occupier as a part of the Dewey Square Pop-Up Art Show (Photo: Heidi V. Buttersworth):
On the morning of October 11th, over 140 people from Occupy Boston were arrested after trying to occupy a second section of the Rose-Kennedy Greenway (Photo: Tess Scheflan / Activestills.org):
Denise Williams, the aunt of two young men murdered this past summer, gives an impassioned speech at the inaugural Occupy The Hood rally in Dudley Square, Roxbury, in late October (Photo: Tess Scheflan / Activestills.org):
Occupy Boston rallies together in solidarity with Occupy Oakland after the group was forcefully removed form their encampment in late October (Photo: Tess Scheflan / Activestills.org):
Another march in solidarity with both organized labor and Occupy Oakland (Photo: Tess Scheflan / Activestills.org):
Students Occupy Boston rally together on the steps of the Statehouse in early November:
Tufts University’s Black Solidarity Day had strong strains of ‘Occupy’ running throughout (Photo: Aliza Howitt):
Chad Stokes of Dispatch and State Radio plays at Dewey Square in November (Photo: D. Markus Witt):
A group of roughly 20 people from Occupy Boston made international headlines by occupying the Israeli consulate at Park Plaza in November:
After a freak snowfall at the end of October, occupiers began to take the problem of winterizing very seriously (Photo: Tess Scheflan / Activestills.org):
Chilled occupiers catch a quick, hot bite at Dewey Square (Photo: Tess Scheflan / Activestills.org):
The Occupy Boston Summit drew hundreds together to discuss the future of the movement (Photo: Julie Orlemanski):
A march and rally in support of labor (organized in conjunction with SEIU) and for ‘Jobs, Not Cuts’ also marked the 2 month anniversary of Occupy Wall Street (Photo: Marlie Pesek):
Occupy Boston marches on their own 2 month anniversary (Photo: Tess Scheflan / Activestills.org):
Protesters and the media both wait tensely outside of Suffolk Superior Court as Occupy Boston and the City of Boston present their arguments to Judge Frances A. McIntyre. The judge ultimately struck down Occupy Boston’s restraining order against the City (Photo: Omer Hecht):
A veteran makes his belief in the 1st Amendment (and Occupy’s right to occupy) very clear on the night many though would be the group’s last at Dewey Square (Photo: Tess Scheflan / Activestills.org):
Occupy Boston meets on the Boston Common once again for a General Assembly, after holding ground at Dewey Square for a 70 day long act of civil disobedience (Photo: Aliza Howitt):
A speak-out at a previously foreclosed home in Dorchester, MA hosted by City Life / Vida Urbana marked the beginning of the group’s relationship with Occupy Boston (Photo: Tess Scheflan / Activestills.org):
Students Occupy Boston organized a satirical ‘Pro-Capitalist’ march that took them through downtown and into the Prudential Center, disrupting a busy Saturday afternoon of pre-Christmas shopping (Photo: Tess Scheflan / Activestills.org):
On New Year’s Eve, Occupy Boston prepared a series of events for Boston’s “First Night” inside of The Community Church of Boston (Photo: Julie Stone):
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