Member of Little Rock 9 lauds Occupy movement 1 of 2

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MAKING A DIFFERENCE: Occupy Little Rock.

John Lyon/Stephens Media

MINNIJEAN BROWN TRICKEY

Minnijean Brown Trickey, a member of the Little Rock Nine, knows something about paying a price for standing up for principle. Yesterday, in a talk at the Clinton School, she paid tribute to the young people who’ve joined the Occupy movement, including the Little Rock encampment a few blocks from the school. Stephens Media reports:

“I’ve been waiting for young people to do something,” said Trickey, 70, after giving a talk at the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service. “I mean, they’re the ones whose futures are being destroyed. I am thrilled.” … “I find it really interesting that the American media were so interested in Tunisia (and) Egypt, and were so, ‘Oh, aren’t they fabulous?’ — but we’re not saying that about our own children, about our own young people who are feeling a sense of wanting to do something?” she said.

I had a small epiphany about Occupy myself yesterday while waiting for Joan Baez to sing at Occupy Wall Street and recalling the ultimate outcomes of protest movements of the 60s in both civil rights and against the war. The Occupy demonstrations are making a difference. The abuse and sneering directed at them unceasingly by the right-wing noise machine and paid corporate shills such as the Koch-front Americans for Prosperity make it clear that their message is reaching a broad audience. The polls also show the message is resonating. City officials’ desire to evict this tangible reminder of the evils of corporatism is another sign of success. Occupy on. If it’s making the fat cats nervous, the point is being made.