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Maine Voices: Transition at Lincoln Park offers new opportunities for Occupy

The encampment is breaking up, but direct actions will spread the movement's message.

By MICHAEL SHAUGHNESSY Special to the Press Herald

PORTLAND - The Occupy movement and the community at Lincoln Park is based on a simple notion -- that too few have garnered far too much of the nation's wealth and effectively own the political system for their own benefit.

Like the Hoovervilles of the 1930s, the Occupy camps are a symbol of political conviction and a manifestation of the failures to address the needs of those marginalized by our political and economic systems.

Supporters and residents of the Lincoln Park Occupy encampment came from many walks of life.

Many are educated, have jobs and are active and engaged citizens. Some are underemployed or unemployed and have need for work, but like so many Americans meet only rejection when they seek it.

There are also the homeless who have come to the park from under bridges and out of bushes and refuse to go to shelters. Some are challenged with psychological and substance abuse issues.

Regardless of what path they took, at Lincoln Park, all were a part of a community. It was a place that allowed all to exist and be accepted as individuals, to have a voice and role within the governance of the community.

Many who felt they have had little voice and role offered them elsewhere gained simple human dignity and a sense of community. To have this taken away is a very difficult thing. However, to have experienced a sense of being valued will be carried forth and will rise in many different and unexpected ways.

As the camp diminishes, many tears are shed. More than simple shared spaces, it was a community of souls. It was also a symbol and manifestation of an idea that our common well-being should rise above the vested interests of the few.

And to many, the passing of the camp is now an opportunity for new growth.

But to those who unfortunately have nowhere else to go, an unwillingness to leave may manifest itself. How this is expressed will be in individual choices and actions -- not in the choices and actions of the collective.

Some encampment residents are angry, disappointed and facing an uncertain, and far less desirable, future than they had at Lincoln Park.

One resident burned a flag near his tent. This was an individual act and not one on behalf of Occupy, whose actions are agreed to collectively. It was done out of frustration and anger that his home and community has been pulled away from him. It does not take much empathy to understand where he is coming from.

The Occupy movement has in, a short time, been an unquestionable success by raising awareness and connecting the dots between corporate greed, political influence and any number of the ills we are now facing. The discussion is happening due to Occupy. Even our recent City Council resolution condemning corporate personhood was in large part due to the awareness built by those of Occupy and their many supporters.

The Lincoln Park Occupy encampment is now the longest continual Occupy encampment in the country. This says a lot about those in Occupy Maine and about the city of Portland, its leadership, police force and the community.

I, as are many, am very grateful for this.

When I espouse the open-minded and creative aspects of Portland, a new point of civic pride to share will be the fact of the success of Occupy Maine.

The support for the movement and encampment we have seen from the larger community was crucial, including the steadfast legal services of John Branson, the beautiful dome donated by Dick Fischbeck and the food, materials, support, creativity and, most importantly, positive energy offered by the many.

While the camp recedes, the energy attached to the camp will now be focused on direct actions and creative expressions to move forward the message of the 99 percent. I have no doubt that the seed that Occupy has planted will rise forth in many unexpected ways.

At the dedication of Lincoln Park more than 100 years ago, it was said, "We will dedicate Lincoln Park today in the tumult and confusion of the new beginnings that already surround it, and will leave it to other generations in future years to perfect the tribute, and to make this civic center a still more adequate expression to the world of the beauty and the power which can spring from 'government of the people, by the people and for the people.'"

More fitting words for the past few months could not have been written.

Michael Shaughnessy is a resident of Portland.