If the Occupy Wall Street movement hopes to stay relevant, the least its members can do is make sure they have their facts straight.
Two recent incidents involving local branches of the movement have illuminated just how poorly informed many of its participants are.
Last week at N.C. State University, protesters interrupted a speech by Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf, blaming him personally for, among other things, “the death of the American Dream.”
What the protesters didn’t mention is that Stumpf took control of Wells Fargo in 2010, two years after the onset of the financial crisis, and that the bank has repaid the $25 billion of bailout money it received. Rather than bolstering their legitimate claims, this outburst diminished the credibility of the entire movement.
Even more laughable were the objections raised last week by Chapel Hill’s Occupy movement to the University’s choice of New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg as commencement speaker. As members of a protest movement, these students especially should respect the importance of allowing controversial speakers.
Before criticizing, protesters would do well to show some humility.
UNC is lucky to have such an illustrious speaker, especially considering that he is doing it for free. Chances are, Bloomberg’s experiences have taught him a few lessons our senior class could apply to their own lives, regardless of their political leanings.
