Jimmy McMillan visiting Occupy Wall Street
One of the odder sides of Occupy Wall Street has been the significant celebrity support for the cause. Throughout the weeks-long protest names such as Michael Moore, Kanye West, and Chris Hedges have shown up to voice their sympathy with the causes being championed at the event, always drawing large crowds and enamored audiences. During my overnight stay at Zuccotti, I would be lucky enough to have one such encounter of my own.
My encounter was with an unscheduled visitor, unnoticed among the eccentricities of the occupation crowd. The man was none other than Jimmy McMillan of “The Rent is Too Damn High” fame, who received national attention last year following a series of flamboyant remarks in his campaign for the New York governorship.
He allowed me to ask a few questions, although it was often difficult to get through entire questions before being cut-off by the energetic McMillan. Although it is difficult to argue that he has had any effect on political affairs, it was an amazing experience to have a short conversation with one of America’s most colorful personalities.
Harvard Political Review: The events of #Occupy seem to represent a wide range of causes. What brings you here today?
Jimmy McMillan: Young people. I wanted young people to let them hear the difference between accessory and necessity, revolution and democracy. Accessory is why they are here, necessity is what nobody is talking about: jobs, taxing the rich… being rich is an accessory. Democracy is the constitutional values through the election process. Revolution is when you have a dictator running the country. So explain it right for you young people to understand that.
HPR: The general media has often characterized the current occupations as a series of divided movements.
JM: It’s not divided. I want you to turn around and look over there. There’s a sign that says Ron Paul. When I came in the very first night, in Washington DC when I made my announcement for president of United States, there was a man supporting Ron Paul, the same man holding the megaphone over there talking about this rally. This is the way the old politicians stir things up. In the weeks to come, Ron Paul is going to make a public appearance out here to make his vote look good for the American People. Psychological. They brainwash the old people. I imagine young people don’t fall for it. You can’t pay for college tuition, you don’t have nothing, you need a job. Let the old folk worry about that nonsense when they talk about the rich.
HPR: Are there opinions here that you particularly object to?
JM: I just said it clearly. I want all you young people to understand. It’s not the matter of agreeing, it’s the matter of right. Procedure. We have a democracy here in America. That don’t need a revolution unless you want to overthrow the democracy. That means the election, the way with the voting process… you’ve been voting wrong! You’ve been voting for the same people over again! Over and over and over again! I’m a good example. I ran for governor in the state of New York. Even the governor himself said I beat him in a debate. But you still voted for him. Those are the problems.
HPR: So…
JM: President of the United States. Wants you to pass a jobs bill. Barack Obama don’t know what he doing. Passing a jobs bill, taxing the rich is not going to hire the magnitude of people unemployed. That’s not going to do it. Only the governors of states have the ability to employ people, because the governor holds the workers. You sit down with all of the governors and tell them what they need to do to put the people to work. Let’s talk about something real. That’s what I’m talking about. Common sense.
HPR: People have noted the rise of political polarization in the current government.
JM: That’s because they watch too much television. The media, the people you vote for, are the only people you see on CNN. Moderators like John King, who said I wasn’t qualified, but he wasn’t qualified to moderate the debate, because he asked candidates questions based upon their accessories, not their necessities. On the necessities, you would be included as young people. But they talk about old people losing social security. They talk about things that didn’t matter. I don’t play games, you all know what I do. I get to the point. And that’s the difference. I’m hoping that you all can spread the message, give out your support. That’s all I can say. I’m here you get it right for you guys.
Photo courtesy of the author. Interview has been edit, condensed, and partially de-McMillan’d.