"The images of the flag-burning went viral in the hours after Saturday's demonstrations on Oakland's streets, with Occupy supporters denouncing the act as unpatriotic and a black mark on the movement. Others called it justified."
In his article, Fitzgerald argued that the movement was becoming reifed as a particular group of people, rather than maintaining itself as a claim. Occupy Oakland, by burning the flag, has only reinforced the idea that Occupy protesters are anti-Americans, who engage in semi-terrorist like activities. Many have spoken out against this portrayal of the movement, but the fact is that this is now the static image we have of Occupy protesters:
The flag's been torn, the protesters have bandana masks on, and one guy is smiling and holding up what appears to be a occupy poster, essentially equating the movement with Anti-American sentiment. I wish I could see exactly what is on that poster, because it matters if it says "Occupy Oakland" or "Occupy Wall Street." More than any other photo I've seen, this solidifies the "us" versus "them" mentality. "They" are doing something and we don't like what "they" are doing, so they transform themselves into an isolated group of people rather than one part of a vast network of occupy movements. Occupy Oakland is now a fixed entity that now Occupy Wall Street in general cannot help but try and distance themselves from--this may be the first step in the breaking down of the solidarity of the network. Perhaps this was the danger inherent in occupying more than New York--the center of Wall Street.. .I am just not sure.
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