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The Occupy Pittsburgh encampment is a site of uneasy anticipation as people have gathered to support the occupation during what is probably its last hours at People’s Park (formerly Mellon Green). The day of waiting produced a great deal that is metaphorical of this ad hoc social movement.
Occupiers have used wooden pallets that formerly functioned as platforms for tents and walkways to construct a symbolic Trojan horse. No word on whether BNY/Mellon plans to take it inside the gates to their neighboring tower.
The arrival of police escorting workmen tasked with reassembling fencing that had been taken apart sparked the promised rick-rolling with attendant dancing, creating a festive break in what is becoming a wary vigil.
Local television media have been taping all day, with some reporters adopting an adversarial and dismissive tone – unaware that multi-camera, multi-angle livestreaming done by the occupation itself provided far more extensive and immediate coverage. This is perhaps the most symbolic of the many symbols of this occupation – the lack of awareness by the media that considers itself mainstream of the future that may render it obsolete.
UPDATE: 11:00 A.M. 2/7/12
BNY/MELLON has closed People’s Park and has posted a “No Trespassing” notice. No word from the Allegheny Country Sheriff.
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The news media ran a shot of a rat scurrying somewhere on the Green. It is what Pittsburgh residents have been propagandized to identify Occupy Pittsburgh with now—rats.
I was watching Twitter. Most of the people sending messages from Pittsburgh were making snarky comments about how filthy people were in Occupy Pittsburgh for having rats, as if they had physically transported the rodents to their camps so they could keep them as pets.
There’s also Marty Griffin from KDKA. Yes, local news has been adversarial and dismissive.
They’re picking on the rats? Have they not seen Ratatouille? Or the Muppet movies?
You know, the dinosaurs picked on the rats and shrews and other mammals as well. How’d that work out? :-P
Darn it. They should have put “press” credentials on the rats.