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OWS Takes Over A DOE Meeting. Is The Human Microphone Coming To A Town Hall Near You?

» 35 comments

One thing you may have noticed about the Occupy Wall Street protesters if you’ve been down to lower Manhattan or have been watching videos from the demonstration is that they’ve come up with some inventive means of communicating amongst themselves. There’s the “silent wave” many do instead of loud applause, and there is, of course, the “human microphone.” The concept is simple: One person, who has the floor, says something. That something is then repeated by those in the crowd so that everyone has a chance to hear what is being said without the need for expensive and cumbersome audio equipment or an annoying bullhorn. It has its quirks and faults of course, but, for the part, it has proven to be an effective communication tool.

RELATED: Occupy Wall Street’s ‘Human Microphone’: Insanely Brilliant…Or Just Insane?

…Which might just explain why OWS protesters elected to use the human microphone at a recent New York City Department of Education meeting.

Our friends at TurnStyle News explain what happened:

Protesters from the Occupy Wall Street movement last night took over a New York City Department of Education meeting presided over by the department’s schools chancellor. As soon as the panel called the meeting to order, someone in the crowd shouted “Mic check!” and the protesters took control with their low-tech technique of call-and-repeat speeches that has become known as the “People’s Microphone.

So if you’re a government official or business person whose meeting is interrupted by someone requesting a mic check, you might have just found yourself becoming occupied.

Have a look at the video below, courtesy Meerkat Media:

h/t TurnStyle News

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  • Anonymous

    wow, now the OWS movement is against education

  • Anonymous

    So cute.  Especially the jazz hands.  Reminds me elementary school.  I guess I’ve matured since then, though.  

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_NWVKX2P2QBPQ6FHQHCHVIC2ALQ Fedup in Florida

    I want the government to fix everything, pay for college of all, including foreign nationals, insure that no family in America has a household income of less than $60,000/yr, let us all retire at the age of 40 with 6 figure incomes, give each family 3 “Karma” electric cars, maintain the value of the dollar, and make someone else pay for it!  ”THIS IS WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE!” 

  • jelliebean

    That was awesome. 

  • Anonymous

    Yes it was.

  • Anonymous

    I love it!  

  • Anonymous

    No, They just want to stop crony capitalism.  

  • Anonymous

    No, They just want to stop crony capitalism.  

  • Picklethree

    idiots
    go home and make sure your kids get their homework done.  Turn off the TV at home, take the phones and games from the kids and give them a book to read.  Feed your kids at home.  Can’t afford food – raise a garden and can some food.  Don’t know how to do so – read a DIY book. 

    Hey want smaller classes – start paying more taxes and cut out wasted government spending.  Maybe the other half will start paying their own federal taxes. 

  • Picklethree

    hey – it really was “awesome” to see folks out there asking for the opportunity to pay more taxes. Hey – want smaller classes – pay more taxes and let the government waste it. 

     

  • Pickelthree

    hey why don’t you stop being selfish and go help someone.  Your grandparents probably do so.  What – can’t do that?  Maybe – turn the TV off, stop playing video games, start reading books to your kids, eat dinner around the table for starters.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_NWVKX2P2QBPQ6FHQHCHVIC2ALQ Fedup in Florida

    That is not at all what they said in that video! I think that I saw them asking for more funding for the school system, smaller class sizes, more resources etc…  It just so happens that NYC is being crushed by pension programs that are limiting the funds the city has it’s current operations…  but wait Yoda, you have taken me off topic.  I really think that it would be good if the government gave us all the things that I asked for, maybe even we can come up with a bunch more ideas..  and demand them from the government, I am sure that there is no limit to what the government can do for us if we can just get behind our president, and why shouldn’t the government give us all these great things, just what did I ask for that I don’t deserve?

  • Anonymous

    They want to stop “crony capitalism” at the DOE in NYC?  That’s neat. 

  • Anonymous

    As a Corrupt Bankers, I really think that it would be good if the government gave us Corrupt Bankers all the things that as a Corrupt Banker asked for, maybe even we, Corrupt Bankers, can come up with a bunch more ideas..  and demand them from the government, as a Corrupt Banker, I am sure that there is no limit to what the government can do for the Corrupt Bankers, if we can just get behind our president, and why shouldn’t the government give Corrupt Bankers all these great things, just what did I as a Corrupt Banker ask for that as a Corrupt Banker don’t deserve?
    I think this is what you meant to say.  I fixed it for you.  No need to thank me.  

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_NWVKX2P2QBPQ6FHQHCHVIC2ALQ Fedup in Florida

    Assume much you do little Yoda, I hate what the government does almost as much as I hate what Wall Street does…  But what does any of your rant have to do with what I want the government to do for all of us?  You too Yoda, won’t it be great?  Don’t you agree that the government can do these things for us if we just support president Obama?

  • a nyc teacher

    NO, not against education FOR a quality education for ALL children!!!!

  • Anonymous

    I think you’re thinking of Socialism.  Socialism is happening within Wall Street. They don’t even believe in Capitalism.   They have over 30,000 lobbyist writing the bills.  They have ALEC writing the bills for state legislatures. 

  • Anonymous

    I think you’re thinking of Socialism.  Socialism is happening within Wall Street. They don’t even believe in Capitalism.   They have over 30,000 lobbyist writing the bills.  They have ALEC writing the bills for state legislatures. 

  • lazzzlo

    Monty Python’s version of the human microphone.

  • Bob

    How can these morons expect an exchange of dialogue when they won’t shut up for 5 minutes to hear the other side. OWS wouldn’t know democracy if it slapped them in the face. All they want to do is wave their stupid freaking hands and shout down an opposing point of view… hey OWC if your so educated, what does that sound like to you?… freaking morons.

  • Anonymous

    It’s only a matter of time before the OWS rabble realizes that while the Republicans are the party for the rich, the Democrats are the party OF the rich.  Democrats and sympathetic millionaire celebrity journalists unleashed these people.  I hope they remember that while they’re being dragged screaming from their houses by the violent mob they created. 

  • lazzzlo

    That’s an amusing way of looking at this.  Honestly never thought of it that way.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_NYSO6D5HWL3YY7UNOCLVNQQ2JY jibbajabba

    So now democracy is shutting down democracy? These freaks need to be cleared out. 

  • Anonymous

    This isn’t Belarus. No one will be dragged from their homes Mr. Beck. Stop saying that!

  • Anonymous

    Fact: Adults only apply!!! Freak!!!!

  • Anonymous

    Fact: Acorn leads libs by their noses!!!!

  • TruDat

    One of their most clever means of communicating (and remember, liberals are always telling themselves how intellectual they are) is defecating on cars.  It means “we need porta-potties”.

    These libs are absolute geniuses.  I can’t wait for the rain, snow, and rubber bullets.

  • Hang_the_DJ

    Damn right. You know nothing is destroying the country more than affordable housing, voter registration and neighborhood safety. That’s not what America’s about!

  • Bristol Palin

    Reminds me of the Tea Party screaming down the Town Hall meetings on heath care reform.

  • Anonymous
  • Anonymous

    Well then protest Obama.

  • Anonymous

    He believes in capitalism more than the Republicans do.  

  • mac691

    What a crock.  The NYC  school system is a FAILED school system.   The union just wants more and more and more and more.  If these people were truly FOR education they would be marching on the union and demanding their heads.  But these people are just marxist activists, nothing more, with their hand out, demanding more money for leftist indoctrination.  Oh, and nice touch using an 8 year old child.  

  • Anonymous

    Those OWS douchebags should have been thrown out of that meeting on their asses! This is kind of thing the Nazis would have done when they were coming to power. Has it come to the point where we have to have closed government meetings to get anything done now?

  • Anonymous

    They waited their turns, asswipe.

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