Occupy Wall Street | Golden Age

Occupy Wall Street (OWS) was a protest movement that began on September 17, 2011, in New York City's Zuccotti Park, located in the Wall Street financial district. The movement, which was inspired by the Arab Spring and the Indignados movement in Spain, was a response to the growing wealth gap and economic inequality in the United States. The protesters, who were mostly young and from diverse backgrounds, demanded greater accountability from corporations and the government, as well as an end to tax breaks for the wealthy. The movement quickly spread to other cities across the United States and around the world, with protests taking place in over 900 cities. According to a survey by the Pew Research Center, 39% of Americans supported the movement, while 35% opposed it. The movement's influence can be seen in the subsequent rise of progressive politicians such as Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who have championed policies aimed at reducing economic inequality. As of 2022, the movement's legacy continues to be felt, with many of its demands, such as a higher minimum wage and increased regulation of the financial industry, becoming mainstream political issues.