The 99 Percent Solution

The evolution of the slogan heard ’round the world.


July 13 Adbusters proposes Occupy Wall Street.
August 9 OWS supporters in New York City hold a meeting for “We, the 99%.”
September 8

We Are the 99 Percent Tumblr launches.

September 17 Occupy Wall Street protesters take Zuccotti Park.
October 3

#OccupySesameStreet Twitter hashtag takes off.

October 5 Anti-OWS We Are the 53% Tumblr mocks the 47 percent who supposedly don’t pay taxes (not true).
October 6 Joe Biden slams banks on behalf of “99 percent of the American people.”
October 6

Rush Limbaugh declares occupiers “perpetually lazy, spoiled rotten, 99 percent white kids.”

October 7 Trademark applications are filed for “I Am the 99%” and “We Are the 99%.”
October 7 “The 99% Declaration” calls for national general assembly.
October 10 Mitt Romney says, “I worry about the 99 percent.”
October 11 We Are the 1 Percent: We Stand With the 99 Percent Tumblr launches. Actually, You’re the 47% Tumblr pokes fun at the 53-percenters.
October 14 We Are the 1%, Bitches Tumblr launches.
October 15 We Are the 99 Purrcent cat-themed Tumblr launches.
October 16 White House spokesman says Obama will represent “the interests of the 99 percent of Americans.”
October 17

Awwccupy Wall Street baby-themed Tumblr launches.

October 17 Trademark application is filed for “Part of the 1%.”
October 21

Trademark application is filed for “The words ‘occupy this’ with an arrow pointing down.”

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PLEASE—BEFORE YOU CLICK AWAY!

“Lying.” “Disgusting.” “Scum.” “Slime.” “Corrupt.” “Enemy of the people.” Donald Trump has always made clear what he thinks of journalists. And it’s plain now that his administration intends to do everything it can to stop journalists from reporting things it doesn’t like—which is most things that are true.

We’ll say it loud and clear: At Mother Jones, no one gets to tell us what to publish or not publish, because no one owns our fiercely independent newsroom. But that also means we need to directly raise the resources it takes to keep our journalism alive. There’s only one way for that to happen, and it’s readers like you stepping up. Please do your part and help us reach our $150,000 membership goal by May 31.

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