Report from an occupier who attended one of the "99% Spring" trainings

[sabrina 1]

73. People were confused, including me. I thought this training program was an OWS

event and from reports of people who attended, they thought so also. It then gave the impression that the fears people have had about the movement being co-opted were justified.

It's easy to say up front who you are to avoid that kind of confusion. It's not the first such incident where someone attempted to use the popularity of the movement to attract people. When there appears to be an underhanded motive, it's bad for everyone.

There's nothing wrong at all with the terminology being used, as it is. But eg, I never thought that politicians who were using were trying to co-opt it, just acknowedging the message, same thing with the media. This was different and got a lot of people upset.

Combined with Move-on's false statement today about the movement, it is not helpful at all for them to be seen as attacking while using they movement's successes. They are welcome to join, but not take over.