The VSU Spectator posted the most detailed traditional news media report of Occupy Valdosta, along with an excellently edited video. Desiree Thompson wrote 20 October 2011, Occupy movement inspires Valdosta,

According to Occupy Valdosta’s mission statement, the group exercises their right to “peacefully assemble, to nonviolently occupy public space, to create an open process to address the problems they face, and to generate solutions accessible to everyone.”

In an attempt to raise revenue, Bank of America Corp. plans to charge customers at the beginning of next year with a $5 fee every month they use their debit cards outside of withdrawing from the Bank of America ATM.

Protestors demanded an answer from the bank downtown, but employees refused to comment.

Here’s the Spectator video:

Occupy movement inspires Valdosta —VSU Spectator
We are the 99%,
Marching to Occupy Valdosta, Occupy Valdosta,
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 14 October 2011.
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.

Extensive quotes from students:

Ivey Roubique, a senior geology major, believes that Bank of America is only looking out for its own best interest.

“I’m here at Bank of America because they’re making new charges to use your debit card,” she said. “As a student who works for the school, I don’t have any choice but to have direct deposit. I should be able to make a choice, but I shouldn’t have to make this choice with their greed. Their greed is going to take away all of my money.”

Erin Hurley, senior anthropology major, spoke outside of Bank of America, asking who is a bank patron, who wants to pay the fee and who will withdraw his or her account. Protesters raised their hands and verbally responded to Hurley’s first question, responded with a resounding “No” to the second and cheered in agreement to the third.

“Who got bailed out?” Hurley asked. “They did,” the protestors said. “Who did it?” she asked. “We did,” they said.

They even included two sentences about me talking at the MLK Monument about how we don’t need a private prison in Lowndes County.

Pretty good coverage of the remaining stops, including more students at the VDT, and some of the main issues at the Chamber.

At the Chamber the Spectator did the obligatory interview-the-other-guys. I do wonder about this part, though:

Another group of protestors stood against the original protestors to make sure they stayed clear of their goal.

Um, there were six counter-protesters, and they stayed on the other side of the street, while 150 Occupy Valdosta folks hobnobbed with Chamber President Myrna Ballard, who petted their dogs.

But I especially like this part:

Disclaimer: Due to mistakes noticed in the print version that ran on Oct. 20, the story was updated accordingly. If there are any mistakes to be found, please contact one of the editors, and we will fix them as soon as possible.

Every reporter and news organization should be so conscientious!

-jsq

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