Occupy Michigan, Why El-Sayed's message resonates.

One of the defining moments in the emergence of today’s left-wing populist movement—whether described as progressive or democratic socialist—was the Occupy Wall Street protest that began in New York City’s Financial District in September 2011. It was nearly three years into President Obama’s first term, and the nation was still recovering from the Great Recession. Protesters occupied Zuccotti Park to voice their anger over the 2008 financial crisis, government bailouts of major banks, growing economic inequality, and the influence of corporate power on American politics. For 59 days, demonstrators maintained their encampment until New York City police forcibly cleared the park in November 2011. Although the occupation lasted less than two months, its message of economic injustice and its rallying cry, “We are the 99%,” would resonate for years to come. How did this short-lived protest in a small New York City park help lay the groundwork for the current movement of left-wing populism in America? Join the conversation and get answers to these questions and more on According2Sam episode #452.