Unknown; Occupy Wall Street Archives Working Group
Object Type
Signs
Description
As the Occupy movement grew, some of its discourse matured as well. This illustration of four women in hijabs, encourages activists to "decolonize globally" and is one of the few documents in the OWS Archives Working Group collection that makes the political, rhetorical, and intellectual link between decolonization and anti-capitalism. Noting that the that "The 99 % Have No Borders," it is also one of the few documents that is indicative of Occupy as not only a national movement, but an international movement as well. Somewhat hauntingly, the poster presages our current moment with the phrase, "Fight Back World Wide: Capitalism is the Crisis." Ten years later, "Capitalism is the Crisis" has become a common refrain in the covid-19 pandemic. This sign, printed on thin paper—the kind of which is often used for wheat pasting—shows evidence that it was likely posted up using tape. During Occupy, it was common to see similar political signage affixed to telephone poles, lamp posts, and plywood boards outside of construction sites.
Image Description
Printed in red ink on pink paper is an Illustration of four women in hijabs. The woman at the front raises both of her hands in the air. Across the front of the image is text that reads "Fight Back World Wide. Capitalism is the Crisis. Decolonize Globally." Below this it says, in red, "The 99% Have No Borders."
Citation
"Fight Back World Wide" sign, circa 2011-2012; TAM.630 Occupy Wall Street Archives Working Group Records; box 19, folder 11; Tamiment Library/Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives, New York University