84 Year Old Protester: 'People say to me, "Are you crazy? Why don't you just retire?" I can't'

[kpete]

Last edited Sun Jan 15, 2012, 02:12 PM - Edit history (2)

Protesters' stories: Dorli Rainey and Occupy Seattle
In September 2011, Occupy Wall Street began in Zuccotti Park, New York, when 1,000 people gathered to protest against corporate greed and social inequality. The Occupy movement quickly spread to more than 950 cities and 82 countries. Dorli Rainey, 84, was at an Occupy Seattle protest on 15 November 2011 when a policeman pepper-sprayed her in the face.


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Over the years, I have been active. I helped close down the freeway when the shooting started at Kent State, when the four students got killed during the Vietnam war . I was involved in the anti-WTO protests and got teargassed. People say to me, "Are you crazy? Why don't you just retire?" I can't. I have to keep on going because there's so much work to be done. I just don't feel like sitting at home and letting the world fall apart.

A lot of my older friends are very involved in the protest movement. One, Father Bichsel , is in federal prison here in Seattle. He just turned 84, too. I would like to educate people so they understand what really is happening. Our first amendment rights are being shredded. The police are being militarised. I taught a course about current events at a community college for senior citizens, and those senior citizens still come to events with Occupy Seattle or Stop The FBI Repression . One of my friends is 90, and she has a big Stop The FBI sign and stands in front of the FBI. It's very gratifying when they tell me that they look at the news with completely different eyes. They used to believe everything they read in the paper, but they don't any more.

My voice is not completely back and my lung capacity is not up to 100% yet. I used to run upstairs, but now I get really out of breath – and that is a direct result of the pepper spray. But I am very happy that I got pepper-sprayed, because finally the media are paying attention. I hope it does not go away. I hope that understanding of the real problems in the world will grow.

the rest:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jan/13/protesters-dorli-rainey-occupy-seattle?newsfeed=true

[barbtries]

1. what a beautiful woman

i'm 54 and ashamed to admit i don't have half her energy. mine all goes to work.

[diddlysquat]

2. Where is the link?

[cbayer]

3. Both of my parents (82 years old) have actively particpated in OWS activites.

When I was 16, they were getting themselves arrested at the Democratic Convention in Chicago, and they are still at it.

[UnrepentantLiberal]

14. Your parents are cool!

[stevedeshazer]

4. She is a Northwest icon.

Always looking forward. What a gal.

+1 from Portland.

[Kalidurga]

5. I am so relieved...

I thought from the headline that she couldn't retire, because she couldn't afford to because of all the increases in costs of medicare, cuts in services, and cuts in aid to seniors.

[pnorman]

7. My first thought also!

n/t

[ihavenobias]

6. K & R n/t

[Fire Walk With Me]

8. What a bright soul she is. Thanks kpete! nt

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

9. K&R. What a classy, intelligent, beautiful, and inspiring woman. nt.

[Mopar151]

10. And why are we reading this in the UK press?

Why isn't she on the cover of Parade or USA Sunday? A true patriot - "I have to keep on going because there's so much work to be done. I just don't feel like sitting at home and letting the world fall apart".

[UnrepentantLiberal]

15. Because serial killers and corporate raiders are

more fun.

[HughBeaumont]

18. Wouldn't go with Rupert's "Heroic Republican Cowboy" frame.

Or any of the "rinse and repeat" RNC agitprop.

Their job is to distract you from people like Doril and report on OWS only for the purpose of making fun of it.

[Dont call me Shirley]

11. Thank you Dorli, you are my hero :-)

[varelse]

12. She's an inspiration (nt)

[UnrepentantLiberal]

13. She's awesome.

Very inspiring.

[Iwillnevergiveup]

16. K&R

Whatta fine, fine person. I'm truly humbled.

[eridani]

17. A true local treasure n/t

[mntleo2]

19. I know Dorli and she is a fiery one!

...of you think old age "settles" people Dorli is one to show you this is not always true and that if other seniors were half as active as she is, they would find a rich life with lots of admirers instead of sitting in front of the TV feeling abandoned.

I work as an activist for low income people. Dorli generously gave my organization a computer and printer that is now being used by a family of 4 kids who needed one badly. As someone soon turning 60 who is often told much the same as she is being told to retire, I am inspired by her to keep going with my activism for low income families. I love that woman!

Cat in Seattle

[Uncle Joe]

20. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, kpete.