Why I'm Still Not Entirely Sold on the Occupation

UC Davis Occupation Rally, I appreciate the effort and the (few) great speeches I heard. Sadly, much of the rhetoric was blanketed by an aura of white middle-class privilege trying to pass itself off as one of the marginalized communities. While you may be suffering just like many of us in this country are and know what it’s like to be economically marginalized and while I don't want to negate what the speakers have gone/are going through, I do want discuss the way the the Native American, immigrant, people of color, lgbt , people with disabilities, non-Christian, and other marginalized communities are not being represented through your movement. These communities have struggled through economic and social oppression for much longer. These communities have fought for equality for much longer than the much flouted year of 1973. These communities struggle with issues that go beyond that of equal wealth distribution.

Please, occupation movement, do not marginalize these communities by thinking one blanket movement of equal wealth distribution will make it all better for us.

Where is the outrage over wealthy and popular sexual offenders not even getting a slap on the wrist for abusing the marginalized and the youth? Where is the outrage over racial profiling and the spying of ‘ethnic’ communities? Where is the outrage over racism, homophobia, xenophobia, and the like?

Why are these issues being ignored the same way the wealthy 1% ignore the 99%?

We are a part of the 99%.

We have been here since before the 99% knew who they were and we will be here long after the 99%
movement goes away.

I do not fight for equality to feel good about myself.

I do not enjoy the fight for equality.

I do not use my fight to gain the respect of my professors.

I do not use my fight to gain the admiration of my peers.

I do not use my fight to feel a part of something greater than myself.

I fight so the world can stop feeling hating, or pitying, me simply for existing.

I fight with a hate of needing to fight.

I fight to show my professors that I should not be ignored.

I fight to show my peers that we should not idolize each other.

I fight because I AM a part of something greater than myself, but the world wants to keep me separated, distanced, exploited and ignored.