The problem with any multi-day mass gathering, whether it’s a concert, protest or something else, is cleanliness.  Trash is everywhere.  If it’s not in a brick-and-mortar facility, there are likely no bathrooms.  Or showers.  That’s what the protesters of the Occupy Wall Street demonstration are getting for free.

The protesters are moving en masse to Manhattan’s Zuccotti Park.  The setup benefits protesters and those “who just want to contribute.”  The free showers are another move by the group to show they are a community of “clean, laundered” inhabitants.  They hope the move will help them stick out better.  Other help has come in the form of care packages and donations totaling over $40,000 from around the world.

Another move toward coherence as a group and to stand out is the group’s organization for maintaining sanitary conditions.  Although a spokeswoman for Brookfield Office Properties Inc., which owns the park, says sanitary conditions have reached unacceptable levels.  As an answer, the protesters have organized a cleaning crew to maintain the cleanliness of the grounds.  Another group coordinates the “comfort station” where protesters can get free underwear, sweaters, pants, blankets and other items.  There is also a “kitchen staff” for meals and a medical team with red crosses taped to their arms.

Other “comforts” include yoga, meditation and message therapy and a power generator to run laptops, cameras and other electronic devices.  There are also tables set up to give protesters general information, legal guidance and reading material.

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R, Virginia), calls the protesters “growing mobs” pitting Americans against one another.  He did, however, acknowledge the ever-growing income inequality that many of the protesters say is one of their main motivations.  Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain says occupiers should blame themselves and not Wall Street or big banks for their joblessness.

Posted by jmaslow on Oct 11, 2011. Filed under Featured News, Politics, US. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry