No. 799 Stewart N. Thorpe, 2012

File — Box: 74, Folder: 16

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Stewart Thorpe is a native of Salt Lake City. He is studying communications at the University of Utah. He became involved with the Occupy Movement when somebody invited him to an organizing meeting for Occupy Salt Lake City. Stewart talks about other activism groups and movements he has been involved with and explains why he is a part of the Occupy Movement. He feels it is a movement that is criticizing the core of the problem and that is bringing greater awareness to economic inequality. He discusses the Occupy Movement’s focus on consensus based decision making as opposed to making decisions by democratic majority. It has been difficult for people to understand the concept of consensus but Stewart has seen that change as he has been working with the Occupy Movement. People have also been slow to understand the idea of a leaderless movement and many people still attempt to lead or look for leaders. The movement’s relationship with the homeless community has grown over time. Many were hesitant about setting up in Pioneer Park or disliked the idea. Stewart also talks about the difficulties interacting with other communities in Pioneer Park, people that were there before Occupy Salt Lake City. Though the organizers did not want to interfere with the Pioneer Park communities, some of the protestors not involved in organizing the movement took it upon themselves to police the park, which created a hostile situation. Stewart’s main involvement at Pioneer Park was with the Peacekeeping Committee. He and the others in the committee trained in non-violent conflict resolution and mediation. Stewart had hoped that people would resolve conflicts on their own or learn to mediate conflicts, but he and the others in the Peacekeeping Committee were seen as authorities with the power to resolve conflicts. The Peacekeeping Committee disbanded because they never intended to police the park or exert authority, only to mediate conflicts peacefully. He discusses the movement’s relationship with the police and local government. Stewart never thought that the police or the government would be on the movement’s side. After they were removed from Pioneer Park, many of those who believed the relationship was a good one, felt betrayed and bitter. Stewart describes the day they were removed from Pioneer Park and the occupiers’ interactions with police. Stewart feels that the Occupy Movement has succeeded in changing the dialogue about the issues discussed in the media. He feels that there are not specific demands but there is a demand to be heard and to foster communities in order to voice dissent and disagreement with the current state of things.
Project: Occupy Salt Lake City oral history project.
Interviewer: Erin Halcomb

Dates

2012

Conditions Governing Access

Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.