Occupy Philadelphia

Essay

For fifty-six days between October 6 and November 30, 2011, local activists participated in Occupy Philadelphia—a leaderless, decentralized movement against social and economic inequality. Their action joined an international wave of dissent against political and economic corruption that ranged from anti-austerity protests in Europe to the Arab Spring demonstrations throughout North Africa and the Middle East. Occupy movements in cities across the globe united protesters and inspired change.

Color photograph showing a camping tent. Spray painted on the side of the tent is Occupy Philly and a heart.
Between October 6 and November 30, 2011, local activists joined the Occupy movement erupting in cities around the world. Occupy Philadelphia—a decentralized, leaderless movement—formed to protest economic and social inequality. (Photograph by Donald D. Groff for The Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia)

In Philadelphia, the Occupy movement unofficially began on September 29, 2011, when a general assembly of activists gathered at the Arch Street United Methodist Church. A few days later on October 4, a second meeting attracted an even larger crowd to plan a protest similar to the ongoing, nearly month-long Occupy Wall Street demonstration in New York City’s Zuccotti Park. At the meeting, the group determined where and when to begin the occupation of a public space in Philadelphia. Possible locations included Love Park, Rittenhouse Square, Independence Hall, and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. After much discussion, the group agreed to begin the demonstration on October 6 at Dilworth Plaza adjacent to City Hall—the epicenter of Philadelphia’s political bureaucracy.

Occupy Philadelphia transcended age, race, religion, and political affiliation, and this diversity generated incoherent messages, as some protested against corporate greed, bank bailouts, big money’s influence on elections, and other economic injustices while others protested police brutality, foreign wars, and social conservatism. Although many joined the movement for vastly different reasons, collectively the group identified as “the 99 percent.” They argued that a disproportionate 1 percent of the population controlled the majority of political power and wealth. While some opponents criticized the group’s lack of specific goals, members emphasized the movement’s ability to unite dissimilar political factions and rally around a broader message.

Tent City at City Hall

Color photograph depicting many tents pitched outside of Philadelphia City Hall.
Occupy Philadelphia protesters encamped outside City Hall for eight weeks in 2011. (Photograph by Donald D. Groff for The Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia)

A city of tents occupied Dilworth Plaza on the west side of City Hall for eight weeks as Occupy Philadelphia activists executed their public protest with no anticipated end date. The camp included a first-aid station, library and education center, food station, and meeting areas for various subcommittees. Over time, the camp attracted the participation of many of the city’s homeless population and raised public concern regarding crime and sanitation.

Throughout the occupation, demonstrators practiced peaceful, nonviolent protest methods including chanting slogans, raising signs, and practicing civil disobedience. Many felt empowered to join the movement because of the support from the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Lawyers Guild, who led “Know Your Rights” trainings during the early days of the occupation. The group organized several marches across the city to parade their strength in numbers to locations including to the Liberty Bell, Wells Fargo, the Comcast Center, and the Rittenhouse Hotel where Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney (b. 1947) held a fundraising event. On October 21, U.S. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (b. 1963) of Virginia canceled a scheduled talk at the University of Pennsylvania when protesters announced plans to rally outside Penn’s Huntsman Hall in an event dubbed “Occupy Cantor.”

Color photograph showing a crowd of protesters, some holding signs, some with instruments, and some chanting.
Occupy Philadelphia protestors marched east on Market Street, from their encampment at City Hall toward Independence Hall, for a rally on October 8, 2011. (Photograph by Donald D. Groff for The Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia)

Occupy Philadelphia attracted the attention of both local and national progressive leaders who spoke in support of the movement. Visitors to the encampment included scholar-activist and author Angela Davis (b. 1944), City University of New York Professor Frances Fox Piven (b. 1932), and civil rights activist Jesse Jackson (b.1941). Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter (b. 1957), who was up for reelection on November 8, 2011, expressed support throughout the occupation, stating that he too identified as the 99 percent. Despite the endorsement, many Occupy protesters questioned whether the mayor served as a genuine ally or simply offered his sympathies to avoid becoming a target. Opponents criticized the mayor’s legislative track record and suggested his policies did not align with his public statements. They pointed specifically to Nutter’s cuts to education and public services like libraries, pools, recreation centers, and the Fire Department.

Dispersal Ordered

red and black flyer with image of liberty bell and text "Occupy Philly Let Freedom Ring."
Although the Occupy Philadelphia movement did not produce direct legislation, it did bring economic inequality into the mainstream political discourse. (Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries)

On November 15, city officials posted public notices throughout the encampment ordering protesters to evacuate Dilworth Plaza so a previously planned $50 million renovation project could commence. Unsure of when the police would raid the camp, anticipation grew and many of the occupiers dispersed. Two weeks later, in the early morning hours of November 30, Philadelphia police evacuated the Occupy Philadelphia encampment using heavy equipment to remove the remaining debris. Lingering protestors trekked around Center City until 5 a.m., when police arrested around 50 people on charges including obstruction of a highway, failure to disperse, and conspiracy (most were later acquitted on all charges). At 7 a.m., Nutter spoke with the media and declared the occupation “over.”

Although Occupy Philadelphia failed to produce direct legislation, it helped introduce economic inequality into a broader political discourse. The widening gap between rich and poor became a major talking point during the 2012 presidential election. Locally, the 2011 Occupy Philadelphia movement mobilized progressive activists and prepared them for future protests, including demonstrations following the 2016 presidential election and the 2018 “Occupy ICE” protest at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency’s office in Philadelphia. Occupy Philadelphia may have only lasted for a few weeks in the fall of 2011, but the movement’s ideas and messages remained relevant in shaping Philadelphia’s image as a progressive American city. 

John E. Smith III is a 2018 graduate from Temple University’s Center for Public History. He is the Assistant Archivist at the Chester County Archives in West Chester, PA. (Author information current at time of publication.)

Copyright 2019, Rutgers University

Gallery

End The Silence Action

Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries

On October 29, 2011, Occupy Philly activists marched to Temple University, where former President Bill Clinton was scheduled to give a speech supporting the re-election campaign of Mayor Michael Nutter. Rallying under the theme “End the Silence,” occupiers challenged the politicians’ silence on issues ranging from LGBTQ rights to the disenfranchisement of Indigenous people. Protestors planned to cover their mouths with bandanas inscribed with the names of corporations they believed exerted too much influence in politics. Clinton and Nutter canceled the speech at the last minute, citing poor weather conditions. However, representatives of Occupy Philadelphia believed that the politicians canceled the speech when they realized the crowd was composed mainly of occupiers.

Occupy Philly Support

Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries

Occupy Philadelphia failed to produce any direct legislation; however, the movement had long term impacts on the city’s political culture. The movement introduced economic inequality into the mainstream political discourse, and the widening gap between rich and poor became a major talking point in the 2012 presidential election. Activists who participated in Occupy Philadelphia led future actions in the city, including demonstrations after the 2016 presidential election and the 2018 Occupy ICE protest. Occupy’s ideas helped shape Philadelphia’s image as a progressive city.

Occupy Notice

As the Occupy protest continued into November, the occupiers’ encampment threatened to delay a $50 million renovation project on Dilworth Park planned to begin that month. The permit given to Occupy was set to expire at the start of construction. City officials discussed offering a new permit to move the protest across the street from City Hall, but many occupiers argued that staying would give them leverage to make demands on City Hall. Occupiers were not entirely against the renovation project; many saw that it would create more working-class jobs and make the plaza more accessible. However, some thought that the funding for the project would be better used on social services.

On November 15, officials posted notices throughout the Occupy encampment warning protestors to evacuate. Many left shortly after, fearing a police raid. Two weeks later, in the early morning of November 30, police used heavy equipment to clear the remaining encampment. At 5 a.m., the remaining occupiers faced-off with police on North 15th Street. By the end of the morning, more than 50 people had been arrested on charges of obstruction of a highway, failure to disperse, and conspiracy. At 7 a.m., Mayor Michael Nutter (b. 1957) told the media that the occupation was over. (Photograph by Donald D. Groff for the Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia)

Occupy March

Occupiers used nonviolent protest tactics, including marching, chanting, and acts of civil disobedience. Throughout the occupation, the group organized several marches to locations such as the Liberty Bell and the Comcast Center. One such march ended at the Rittenhouse Hotel, where presidential candidate Mitt Romney held a fundraising event. When occupiers announced plans to rally outside a talk by House Minority leader Eric Cantor at the University of Pennsylvania, Cantor responded by canceling the event. These marches and rallies demonstrated the movement’s strength in numbers. (Photograph by Donald D. Groff for the Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia)

Occupy Philly Tent

In September 2011, activists in New York City launched the Occupy Wall Street Movement to protest economic inequality and corporate greed. By October, the movement had spread to cities throughout the world, including Philadelphia. Occupy Philadelphia protests began on October 6 in Dilworth Plaza. The leaderless, decentralized movement included people of many different ages, races, and political affiliations. While many protestors demonstrated against economic inequality, others protested issues such as police brutality and U.S. involvement in foreign wars. (Photograph by Donald D. Groff for the Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia)

Occupy Encampment City Hall

Occupy Philadelphia activists erected a tent city in Dilworth Plaza outside City Hall as part of their public protest. Facilities within the camp included a first-aid station, a library, a food station, and meeting spaces for the movement’s sub-committees. As the protest went on, concerns were raised about safety and sanitation within.

On November 15, officials posted notices throughout the camp ordering protestors to evacuate so that a scheduled $50 million renovation project on Dilworth Plaza could begin. Many occupiers dispersed shortly after the notice was posted. In the early morning of November 30, police raided the camp, using heavy equipment to clear the remaining tents. (Photograph by Donald D. Groff for the Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia)

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Related Reading

Stofka, Stephen. “Occupy Philly’s Spontaneous Urbanism.Hidden Philadelphia. November 18, 2011.

Yoder, Tracy. “A Tale of Two (Occupied) Cities: Policing Strategies at Occupy Wall Street and Occupy Philadelphia.University of Pennsylvania Journal of Law & Social Change, Vol. 15, Issue 4 (2011-12): 593-615.

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