The day starts slowly for some protesters after a night in a bag.
More than 40 days, 30,000 feet of granite, hundreds of occupiers, and zero Porta-Potties — perhaps one of the most extraordinary aspects of the Occupy Wall Street movement is the logistical finesse of its participants. As the protest nears its second month, Zuccotti Park has been transformed into a city within a city, complete with a kitchen, a sanitary team, a library and a sea of sleeping bags.
Protesters spend their days engaging in general assemblies and group discussions on issues like taxing the rich, cuts in public spending and tackling poverty.
Some liven up the crowd by singing and playing music.
Others browse the substantial OWS library, thick with books on social equality and political activism.
A surprisingly well-stocked library
Food is prepared by volunteers in a makeshift kitchen at the center of the park.
Much of the food for OWS is donated.
When it’s time for lunch, protesters line up in front of the kitchen.
A sanitary team takes care of cleaning the park several times every day. They proved their efficiency when Mayor Bloomberg tried to evict the occupiers, saying that the park was getting too dirty.The sanitary team gets to work after lunch.
Inevitably a lot of garbage is produced, but the occupiers are attempting to be mindful of the environment. The group has built a system to convert organic waste into compost. They also recycle dishwater and use it to water plants and flowers in the park.
Composting and recycling dishwater are ways to reduce the movement’s negative environmental impact.
The big issue remains, however, the sanitary needs of the protesters. Some restaurants and cafes around the park have allowed protesters to use their bathrooms. But several businesses have complained about protesters soiling their restrooms.
Without access to showers, some protesters use creative alternatives to wash up.
As for the costs of sustaining life in the camp, funds have mainly come from donations. The financial arm of the protest was able to raise over $400,000 in donations, according to news websites.
Donations are collected on site or online.
Unless they are forced to leave the camp, the organizers of Occupy Wall Street say they can manage logistically to remain entrenched in Zuccotti Park for weeks or even months. The movement survived an attempt last month to remove them.
A march across the Brooklyn Bridge
In the face of growing opposition, protesters maintain their calm and steely resolve with downward-facing dog and warrior poses.
Yoga al fresco