Parents Who Allow Kids at 'Occupy Wall Street' Set Bad Example

on October 3, 2011 at 4:25 PM

kid arrested occupy wall street Among the 700 people arrested at Saturday's Occupy Wall Street march across the Brooklyn Bridge was a young girl reported to be around 12 or 13 years old. In fact, she was among the first arrested and was near the front lines of the march.

The first thing I thought as I watched the live feed of her arrest was "Oh my God, her poor mother!" Can you imagine your tween getting arrested at a 2,000-strong protest? My son is only 7 now, but I definitely wouldn't want this to happen to him if he were the same age.

But for all I know, she may have been marching with her parents -- and her parents may see this as a valuable experience in civil action.

We still don't know anything about the girl, just that she was wearing that goofy green hat and had flaming red hair -- definitely a free spirit, and I don't think this experience will crush that spirit. She's smiling, for crying out loud. In fact, I admire the girl's bravery.

My misgivings about allowing a 12-year-old to attend a mass protest like this probably have more to do with my own anxieties as a parent than with the actual risks. I try to be pretty free-range in my parenting style, letting my son take reasonable physical risks. Crowds, though, make me nervous. You can pick up your kid if he falls and skins his knee. You can't do much if a crowd turns into a stampede and swallows your kid.

And I think that as long as your child is a minor, you shouldn't condone behavior that could get them arrested, period, even if it's for a good cause. Getting arrested is for grown-ups! Well, it's not for anyone, really, but it's definitely not for kids.

If your child is passionate about a cause, there are ways to enable her participation that also teach her how to avoid arrest or physical harm. Instead of marching up front, she could have followed toward the back of the march, or she could have joined the other group marching up the pedestrian walkway.

Marching on the front lines of a protest and getting arrested -- isn't this a valuable life lesson your kid could learn after she turns 18?

Image via YouTube

About the author Adriana Velez

is a staff writer who dabbles in food, parenting, news, entertainment, molecular biology, and anything else that that pops into her head. She lives with her husband and elementary school-aged son in Brooklyn, land of urban farms and artisan everything.

Filed Under: girls, in the news, independence, middle school, puberty, safety

Comments (53)

Ladywithtwo

on Oct 3, 2011 at 4:34 PM

I would let my child protest. I myself have been in 2 major protests and I am VERY proud that my mom was at the protest on Washington recreated in Forrest Gump, the actual one of course! Why not let your child express themselves & stand up for their beliefs?
Also, I didn't think the girl looked that young. I assumed she was around 17.

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dirtiekittie

on Oct 3, 2011 at 5:00 PM

i'm with @ladywithtwo - i didn't think she was that young either. many of the people who are getting wrapped up in this protest are young college aged kids who want a future just as much as we want to give them one. i've known plenty of people wearing hats & hair like that up into their 20's, so i don't assume she's underage.

that said, i think that there can be a time and a place for everything, and that includes teaching standing up for what you believe in and peaceful protesting. (if my kids were older, i'd have had no problem taking them.) i'm more concerned about the backpedaling that's happening, the citizens vs the cops and vice versa. and not all protests lead to violence and arrests. There was a synonymous protest in LA (OccupyLA) and it was peaceful.

organicyogalove

on Oct 3, 2011 at 5:11 PM

there is a huge difference between two years old and 12. Is it an appropriate place for the two year old? no, the 12 year old, thats between her and her parents.

Facebook comment from Brandt Hardin

on Oct 3, 2011 at 5:13 PM

The movement is gaining momentum in its THIRD week now and Occupations are popping up all over the country! Stand up together and use your voice to give to those without through peace and solidarity. Tax the rich and feed the poor- you are the 99%! See my Occupy Wall Street painting and Anonymous homage on my artist’s blog at http://dregstudiosart.blogspot.com/2011/09/occupywallstreet.html where you can also see videos of the protests and police brutality as well as get other sources for coverage of the movement.

DanielleDes

on Oct 3, 2011 at 5:22 PM

This is ABSOLUTELY a 'valuable experience in civil action.'

momkaribg

on Oct 3, 2011 at 5:37 PM

I believe that is between her and her parents.

MythicMMM

on Oct 3, 2011 at 7:01 PM

I remember being that age and watching people put into place policies I didn't agree with that would affect my life later. Let the kids protest I say. It is the least we can do since they aren't able to vote till they are 18. Besides, you don't see many kids these days that are passionate about anything other than video games and fashion.

KristinRox

on Oct 3, 2011 at 7:58 PM

I guess if the girl felt strong enough to want to be in a protest that decision should be made between her parents and herself. I think if a parent pushed her into something that she really knows nothing about, then its definitely wrong. If the girl wanted to be at the protest I cant judge what her parents allowed her to do.

hamemedowns

on Oct 3, 2011 at 7:59 PM

I'd absolutely bring my child to protest banks that stole our money through a bailout (what happened to capitalism? sounds pretty socialist to bail out banks that in turn gave million dollar bonuses to their executives). The money of struggling Americans was used to make rich men ridiculously richer. To add insult to injury, these banks are now unleashing new fees- these executives need to know that we as citizens won't stand for this. In my opinion it's better to bring children to a protest than to teach them blind consumerism.

on Oct 3, 2011 at 8:25 PM

700 US Airlines Pilots protest at Occupy Wall Street: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65E2oiK_gZ8&feature=player_embedded