Jay Z's failed attempt to profit from protest with Occupy t-shirts

For anyone who doesn't know, Occupy Wall Street (OWS) is a series of protests against corporate greed, with a focus on the activities of the financial services sector.

Demonstrations began on 17th September 2011 in the Zuccotti Park area of Wall Street (New York's financial district), and look set to continue into the New Year.

Similar protests have appeared across the US, with Occupy Oakland and Occupy New Orleans making the news after a number of demonstrators died in a range of different circumstances.

In the UK, the Occupy London movement has been camped outside St Paul's Cathedral since 15th October, with a hearing on the eviction of protestors set for 19th December.

So what does any of this have to do with fashion? That's where hip-hop superstar Jay-Z comes in. Founder of Roc-A-Fella Records and clothing label Rocawear, he is worth an estimated $450 million. Not the most obvious poster boy, then, for a movement that exists to highlight the evils of the pursuit of private profit.

If he had truly chosen to support the Occupy campaign, he probably would have had enough credibility to be accepted. Instead, what he chose to do was produce a line of "Occupy All Streets" t-shirts and sell them through the Rocawear website, donating precisely 0% of the proceeds to OWS.

Rocawear released this rather lame statement:

"Rocawear strongly encourages all forms of constructive expression, whether it be artistic, political or social. 'Occupy All Streets" is our way of reminding people that there is change to be made everywhere, not just on Wall Street. At this time we have not made an official commitment to monetarily support the movement."

The Occupy protestors were less than impressed with this attempt to make money out of their war on greed, and the strength of feeling against Jay-Z's latest business move led to the t-shirts being removed from the site less than a week after they went on sale.

Artist David Edwards even produced a sculpture of Jay-Z with the faces of Ritchie Rich, Scrooge McDuck and Mr Burns extending from his own blinged-out bust.

OWS may have won their battle with Jay-Z, but the Washington Post has reported that the US Patent and Trademark Office "has received a spate of applications from enterprising merchandisers, lawyers and others seeking to win exclusive commercial rights to such phrases as "We are the 99 percent," "Occupy" and "Occupy DC 2012."

Article kindly provided by foreverinfashion.org

User Anecdotes

We've solicited a number of user anecdotes on this topic, and have hand picked some of the more interesting ones below. We feel that anecdotes can give a practical, human perspective on a topic.

"I remember when I first heard about Jay Z's plans to create Occupy-themed merchandise, and my gut reaction was that it seemed exploitative. As someone who actively participated in the Occupy movement, it felt like a slap in the face that he was trying to profit off of our genuine efforts to create change in the world. I recall those long days of protests, the camaraderie among fellow activists, and the feeling that we were truly standing up for something important. That's why it was so disheartening to see someone try to profit off of our passion and dedication. Ultimately, I'm not surprised that his attempt to cash in on the movement failed. People could see through the superficial attempt to capitalize on our struggles, and I believe that most of us chose to invest our money in grassroots organizations and local businesses that truly supported our cause."
Catherine T.

"As a small business owner, I was initially intrigued by the idea of Occupy-themed merchandise, thinking it could potentially drive more customers my way. However, as I learned more about Jay Z's attempt to profit from the protests, I became increasingly uneasy. It felt as though he was undermining the very essence of the movement. My store has always been committed to fair labor practices and supporting our local community, and I couldn't reconcile that with selling merchandise that seemed to go against everything Occupy stood for. In the end, I chose not to stock any of the t-shirts, and I'm glad I made that decision."
Rajesh K.

"I used to be a big fan of Jay Z's music, but his attempt to profit from the Occupy protests really left a sour taste in my mouth. I had friends who were deeply involved in the movement, and I saw firsthand how much they sacrificed for their beliefs. To see someone try to capitalize on that passion and dedication just felt wrong. I understand that celebrities often use their platforms to raise awareness for important causes, but there's a fine line between advocacy and exploitation. In this case, it seemed to me that Jay Z crossed that line. Since then, I've been much more critical of the ways in which celebrities engage with social and political issues, and I try to be more discerning about where I spend my money and the messages I choose to support."
Lucia G.

"As someone who designs and sells protest-themed merchandise, I can't help but feel that Jay Z's failed attempt to profit from the Occupy movement was a missed opportunity. There's no denying that his celebrity status could have brought more attention to the cause and potentially sparked a broader conversation about income inequality. However, it's crucial to approach these types of projects with sensitivity and respect for the people who are actually on the front lines, fighting for change. In my own work, I always strive to collaborate with activists and donate a portion of my proceeds to organizations that are doing the hard work of creating a more just and equitable society. I believe that when done right, merchandise can be a powerful tool for both raising awareness and providing financial support to important causes."
Akio S.

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