Accra Shepp
And now we face another crisis, this time a viral pandemic. These crises, they pile up quickly in this century. The polar ice caps continue to melt and sea levels continue to rise. In 2008 there was the economic meltdown, fomented by a corrupt banking system and bankrupt political machines. This current crisis of covid threatens to bring us back to that moment.
After the contagion has been beaten back, the world’s various economies will need to return from a point of stasis. Already in this country, trillions of dollars are being allocated towards that end. Most of it seems to heading to the same pockets that profited from the 2008 economic bubble and the government bailout after its collapse. Abroad we can only assume that the haves will also assert their birthright over the have-nots, also known as the 99%.
In 2011, Occupy Wall Street gave us a language to address the fundamental nature of our economic inequality. However, it did not undo it. And now in spite of this knowledge, we appear poised to set the stage for yet another future crisis. My images serve as a reminder of where we’ve been and where we may be again heading.
Occupying Wall Street, October 15, 2011 (Shadow - stage name of performance artist)
Occupying Wall Street, December 18, 2011 (Yajaira)
Occupying Wall Street, October 22, 2011 (two students from BMCC)
Occupying Wall Street, November 15, 2011(after the clearing of the park, officers DeJesus and Rivera)
Occupying Wall Street, February 17, 2012 (Jose)
Occupying Wall Street, April 20, 2012 (Laura)
Occupying Wall Street, January 24, 2012 (three young men who did not feel comfortable sharing their names)
Occupying Wall Street October 1, 2011 (Mickey)