The Rutherford County Democratic Party voted overwhelmingly to support a resolution supporting the Occupy Movement of Murfreesboro.  The Occupy Movement began September 17, 2011 in Zuccotti Park in New York’s Wall Street Financial District.

The protests are against social and economic inequality, high unemployment, greed, corruption and undue influence of corporations on government. The protesters’ slogan is “We are the 99%”, referring to the growing disparity between the wealthy in the U.S. and the rest of the general population. The protests in New York City sparked similar protests around the world, including Nashville and Murfreesboro in Middle Tennessee.

Rutherford Democratic Party Chairman, Justin St. Clair said of the motion: “As the massive income gap between the richest 1% and the rest of us continues to widen; Americans are beginning to take notice.  At a time when millions of Americans are struggling to support their families, through high unemployment and stagnant wages, Wall Street is posting record profits. 

To many Americans this does not seem coincidental.  There is a correlation here. Unemployment is high in part because the so called job creators are creating the jobs overseas. Profits are high for the same reason.  The richest 1% are clearly profiting off of the suffering of the rest of us. These policies will collapse in the long term, as more people will have less money to purchase goods and services. 

I think that it is the fundamental unfairness of this situation that has given birth to the Occupy Movement. True patriotism requires a shared sacrifice. Our party supports the Occupy Movement, because we believe that hard work and sacrifice are the keys to the American dream, not short term greed. “