Reply #22: OccupyWallStreet in NYC does not let someone famous

[Cal Carpenter]

interrupt their General Assembly meeting. If the person isn't on the agenda or speaking on-topic within the framework of the GA meeting, they don't speak.

There are plenty of other rallies and other times where more people can speak.

This video is being presented without context.

GA meetings are tedious enough as it is, trying to get through the agenda and making decisions regarding the overall Occupation. It is not a time for someone to show up and make a speech.

Race has absolutely nothing to do with it. In fact, I don't know if Atlanta is doing this but at many of the sites they use what is called a 'progressive stack' in which people who want to speak (ON-TOPIC) who are from a traditionally disenfranchised population (eg people of color, women, etc) get first dibs in line, and the over-represented white middle-class college kids get at the end of the line.

This is being blown out of proportion.