Dear Editor,
In yesterday's Daily page devoted to student' reactions to the Occupy movement, I found some students' responses particularly troubling. Nearly a third of those published mentioned that the movement has no distinct message and that there needs to be a more articulated set of goals. I am disappointed that Tufts students make such an excuse for dismissing the movement. On Oct.1, the General Assembly at Occupy Wall Street released an official statement listing their grievances, which has since spread across the Internet, even being read by Keith Olbermann on his television program. Among the wrongs listed are "They have taken bailouts from taxpayers with impunity, and continue to give Executives exorbitant bonuses … They have influenced the courts to achieve the same rights as people, with none of the culpability or responsibility … They continue to block generic forms of medicine that could save people's lives in order to protect investments that have already turned a substantive profit." These goals seem quite specific and straightforward to me. I concede the full list is long and some of the points vague as to how to resolve the problems, but that is no reason for dismissal. Countries have had governments recently toppled for less specific reasons.
Also, the editors' assertion in the "Making a scene" editorial that the arrested protesters have only themselves to blame for their arrests is absurd. The group was on public property. The Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway is land leased to the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway Conservancy, Inc. from the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority to be used as public lands. Section 3.3 of the lease states "the Leased Premises shall be treated as a public park and a traditional open public forum without limiting free speech." The editors say the city government has been "gracious" to allow protesters on the Dewey Square public land, but I find it difficult to understand their rationale that the city government "allows" any such activity; it is required by the U.S. Constitution that they "allow" it and never impede it. The Boston Police were wrong in warning the protesters that they needed to move and even more wrong in arresting those who did not.
David Gennert
Class of 2012
