In the 1990s with the downfall of the Soviet Union, people in Eastern European countries and the former Republics that made up the former USSR, took to the streets and demanded freedom and democracy. They did not have the right to free speech, they did not have the right to free assembly, but they took to the streets anyway. Hundreds, even thousands were killed, beaten and imprisoned, but they continued protesting until the had the change they believed in.<\/p>\n
At that time, I thought, when are the people in the United States going to wake up? But most Americans had jobs, homes, and enough money to buy toys. It did not happen.<\/p>\n
Then in 2000, the election was stolen from the people. I thought, maybe now the people will take to the streets and demand their will be done. Aside from blogs, opinions in newspapers and magazines, and a few sporadic protests, it did not happen. Americans had jobs, homes and enough money to buy toys.<\/p>\n
In 2009 following rigged elections in Iran, the people took to the streets demanding that their will be done. They did not have the right to free speech, the right to free assembly but they did it anyway. Hundreds, even thousands, were killed beaten and imprisoned but they kept it up for several months until they were beaten down.<\/p>\n
We had our economic meltdown and a great wave of public sentiment welled up finally in the United States. The Tea Party was the first uprising. They took to politics and elected people to Congress and those elected did not have any idea how to fix anything. The Tea Party got co-opted by big business and big money.<\/p>\n
In 2011, all across North African and in the Middle East, an uprising of yet another people finally rose up to demand their freedom. They did not have the right to free speech, they did not have the right to free assembly, but many rose up and hundreds even thousands were killed beaten and imprisoned. They did not stop and some today have become liberated. Many are still fighting for their liberation through nonviolence and some through insurrection.<\/p>\n
Finally, a large movement in the United States has finally arisen. The will not be bought, they will not be co-opted. Hundreds, even thousands may be beaten and imprisoned and some may even be killed but we will not back down.<\/p>\n
A global movement is upon us. We will stand together and we will win.<\/p>\n