On September 17, 2011, a group of unorganized, rudimentary and diffuse activists set up camp in New York's Zuccotti Park, a space private green in New York neighborhood. financial district. The group set out to combat social inequality, corporate greed, and the super power that financial institutions and multinational corporations hold over the democratic process. What started as a grassroots movement has since become a major hot topic in both the media and politics. Newt Gingrich called the “ninety-nine and one concept” controversial and “un-American.” (Stolarik) When asked about the OWS movement, former President Jimmy Carter said, "Helping those less fortunate should be seen as a moral obligation, not an act of charity." (Bluestien) The Georgia Democrat also said, “This issue was basically ignored by Congress and the media a year ago. I think they managed to put this back on the agenda. (Bluestien) Whether you think the OWS movement is a short-lived media phenomenon or the next turning point in American history, most agree that it is high time to close the yawning gap in social and financial equality in this country. At first, most Democrats supported the movement with skepticism. Republicans, although mostly disagreeing with the motivations, acknowledged that the movement had opened a new public debate. Many say the movement mimics, albeit on a smaller scale, the recent uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia. Despite the OWS movement's modest beginnings, protests have spread to most major U.S. cities as well as throughout Europe, Asia, and South America. College campuses across the country have turned the movement into a way to combat rising tuition costs. OWS office space has been... middle of paper ......d repeatedly throughout history and is being fought over again before our eyes. I fear, however, that without some sort of united and organized front, it will be doomed to the same fate as its previous ordeals. Works CitedBluestien, Greg. “Jimmy Carter presents the Occupy movement as a success.” ABC News, February 16, 2012: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/jimmy-carter-casts-occupy-movement-successful-15657455#.T0bdwoflOi4. Website.Egelko, Bob. "UC Davis students sue over pepper spray during protest." San Francisco Chronicle February 23, 2012: C-2. Website. Stewart, James B. “An Uprising with Lots of Potential.” The New York Times November 19, 2011: B1. Website.Stolarik, Robert. “Occupy Movement (Occupy Wall Street).” The New York Times, February 13, 2012: http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/organizations/o/occupy_wall_street/index.html. Website.