The Occupy movement has long prided itself on eschewing political affiliations. And as the offshoot protest “Occupy Congress” prepares to descend on Capitol Hill, some demonstrators are questioning whether to allow politicians to jump on the Occupy bandwagon.
Occupy Congress participants, who hope to attract 2,000 to 5,000 marchers, plan to visit congressional offices to lobby their representatives about money in politics, said Occupy Congress participant Mario Lozada. It wasn’t immediately clear what lawmakers planned to meet with the group.
A small but vocal minority within Occupy, however, is deeply concerned about getting too cozy with Congress. They say working within the system won’t achieve the radical change they seek and that Occupiers should protest Congress itself, not lobby its members to work with them.
“I don’t want it to seem like we’re endorsing them and I don’t want opportunities for co-option,” said Daniel Abel, an Occupy Wall Street protester who came to D.C. for the march. “I don’t think electoral politics is going to avail us of anything or achieve anything.”
There’s also evidence politicians may be just as wary of Occupiers. Some protesters found it difficult to get time with their congressmen so most of Tuesday’s scheduled meetings are with staff, not lawmakers.
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