365 Days of Occupy Wall Street—an Anniversary Timeline

James West/Mother Jones

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One year ago today, a group of protesters set up camp in Zuccotti Park, a privately owned parcel in New York City, in a protest against America’s political and financial system. The protest grew, and spread to other cities around the nation—overseas as well. In the end, it would profoundly affect the national zeitgeist, bringing to the fore the plight of the middle class, the excesses of capitalism, and the stunning growth in the gap between the very rich and the rest of us (as summed up by these viral charts compiled by MoJo senior editor Dave Gilson). Mother Jones staffers and fellows (most notably Josh Harkinson, Andy Kroll, Gavin Aronsen, and James West) were chronicling the excitement from early on. Here are some of the highlights of a movement that—while it was never quite able to revive itself after the police and winter weather drove protesters inside—has had a lasting impact on the nation. (Also read Harkinson’s new piece today, in which he tracks down five people he met at Zuccotti Park to see where they’re at now.)

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DONALD TRUMP & DEMOCRACY

Mother Jones was founded to do journalism differently. We stand for justice and democracy. We reject false equivalence. We go after stories others don’t. We’re a nonprofit newsroom, because the kind of truth-telling investigations we do doesn’t happen under corporate ownership.

And we need your support like never before, to fight back against the existential threats American democracy faces. Fundraising for nonprofit media is always a challenge, and we need all hands on deck right now. We have no cushion; we leave it all on the field.

It’s reader support that enables Mother Jones to report the facts that are too difficult, expensive, or inconvenient for other news outlets to uncover. Please help with a donation today if you can—even a few bucks will make a real difference. A monthly gift would be incredible.

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