Diegoccupy

Diego Rivera's "Frozen Assets" mural has a few parallel statements to that of today’s Occupy movement. Rivera made this mural around 1931 when the United States was experiencing an economic decline. He depicted a massive growth at the expense of a majority of the population. Each part of his mural represented an inequity caused by the wealthy and, to add to the mood of his artistic expression, included a glum color theme.

The Occupy movement was initiated on September 17th, 2011. For a few years our country has experienced an economic decline. While our country's economy has been in crisis, there has been massive growth at the expense of the majority population. For example, gentrification forcing many low income communities out of their neighborhoods due to a sudden rise in rent and or local tax. While landlords make more money on properties, most of the population is no longer housed and less people live in these neighborhoods. Much like Rivera's mural, the issue has been addressed. People from all backgrounds, countries, colors, and creeds flooded Wall Street in protest of this economic equality.

In Rivera's painting there is a warehouse filled with poverty stricken people sleeping in the heart of the area where they once worked. Today many protesters in the occupy movement, even though they aren't housed, are sleeping at the heart of where they once worked. Rivera painted below the poor people in his mural a highly secured bank with only a handful of people waiting to either collect or deposit. Today our Occupy movement reminds us how only a handful of people in our communities hoard money despite the fact that they have enough for a few lifetimes.

The statements made by Rivera's mural and the Occupy movement are often mistaken for opinion. While the way their statements are delivered may be an opinion, I believe there are facts and truth behind their meaning. In times of economic crisis money, work, and welfare are subjects that aren't taken lightly. This makes communicating the issues surrounding these topics difficult. I do not know how long we will be stuck in this situation as a nation but I believe as long as people like Rivera and the Occupy protesters continue making their statements on the problem at hand, some action will take place. Inequality is a civil issue no matter what type it is. Instead of arguing about it, let's do something peaceful and productive about it. Like Rivera and the Occupy movement.