Protesters gather for a "leaderless" general assembly meeting at Occupy Oakland on Oct. 10. / Flickr: dignidadrebelde

The November 2 General Strike in Oakland was already up and running when I ascended the stairs from BART at 8:30 a.m. The traffic through the intersection was as it is every Wednesday morning. The only difference was that there was a platform set up at the corner with music playing and a few people speaking into the microphone, trying to awaken the people in their tents, and gather a crowd from the people passing by.. A few people were dancing behind the platform and others were standing around – waiting for something to happen, or walking around passing out various newspapers and fliers.

But, who are the people on the platform? Somehow they seem to be the ones in charge – the organizers, the ralliers – but really, who is in charge? This movement is different from most other historical movements because one, charismatic leader does not exist.

A man is helped up on to the platform and given the microphone – just a regular guy – and asked why he is here. He mumbles something about “believing in God” and “praying” – it really doesn’t matter what he says, it matters that he is being listened to. To my right is a trash can. A small woman ambles by and pauses just to pick out the cans, then moves with her bulging trash bag past the protestors, down 14^th Street. The bench beside the trash can is overflowing with signs – someone just dropped a box of signs there – who knows who – and the people who walk by pick one up and move on into the middle of the crowd.

I overhear the young man at the information desk talking to some youngsters from Occupy Santa Cruz. They wanted to know: How is this all organized? Does it work – the way it is set up? Is someone behind the scenes, really in charge? He explains to them in halting sentences: “I don’t know really…well, it just works…I guess perhaps one of our biggest flaws could be the unorganized aspect. But then again, I think – it has been successful in calling this general strike.”

There is organization, there are some people who regularly talk at the rallies, such as Boots Riley who frequently makes speeches, but there is not one organization or person running these events. That’s what makes this movement truly belong to the people. Perhaps that has been the most successful aspect of this movement.

At the same time, leaderlessness poses a major pitfall. To some, it may seem that these people have failed in cohering to a single idea with an ultimate demand – but that is only a failure in the sense that the movement does not resonate with, or even angers, some people. So then, is it really a failure at all? After all, it is the people already inside or close to the movement that really matter – that seems to be the overall message of the 99 percent.

The media, the powers-that-be – they all want a consensus or demand from the people at the Occupy movement. They want a spokesperson to speak for the masses, be clear about what they stand for and don’t stand for. But that would just be repeating the same hierarchical model of leadership that the Occupy movement is trying to change. In its very organization, or rather, un-organization, the Occupy movement is fighting the popular, established way of operating.

The opinions among the people I meet in the crowd are mixed as to whether or not the “non-leader” model that this movement has taken on has been its strength or its weakness. Ultimately, almost every person is able to see what is good about letting the movement belong to the people, but also its downfalls since there isn’t that one, charismatic leader who can tie the people together.

Perhaps what ties the people together is their tiredness? Nothing else is needed. Apathy is a powerful weapon.

Jeana Radosevich, a doctor at the day of general strike explains, “I don’t know that there is a cohesion among all of the causes here, but I think there is definitely a sense of community.” This makes me think that for so many diverse people from different perspectives and backgrounds, there must be a common root. Christina Hawkins from Oakland told me, “So many people are drawn to participate…..There is a mass appeal….The specifics are different from person to person but the message is the same: It’s just not working anymore. People are fed up.”

On the white board in front of the information desk there is a meeting at noon for anyone who wants to be instructed on how to be a “mediator.” The man on the platform mumbles, a girl stands on the edge enthusiastically repeating his words in sign language to the crowd. Another girl repeats in Spanish. The woman in front of me turns to the man and reiterates the words to him as he cups his hand around his ear. Louis, an educator from Oakland says, “Not all voices are being heard, but there are so many voices that not all can be heard.”

But anyone who wants to be heard can be heard. Any and all are invited to stand and speak on the platform. Everyone is given a chance, a venue to voice their opinions, their experiences, and reasoning. Louis goes on to explain, “Just last week we separated into groups of twenty and voted, and it still worked out.” Contemplating this a little longer, Louis comes to the conclusion that, “there are so many voices that one leader is not going to be able to represent everybody.”

Rose Arellano, a student from Oakland, is a bit ambivalent. She says, “We need more organization . . . we need to think on a long-term scale, a bigger scale, not just this small corner.” But when asked if a leader would be a good way to keep the movement organized she replies, “I think it’s good that we don’t have one leader to look towards. I think that there are lots of leaders here and I think that that’s the point – is to find everyone’s leader within themselves.”

Two men climb the traffic light pole and work together to tie a sign diagonally through the intersection of Broadway and 14^th Street. People from the ground look up and call out instructions to the men. One volunteer holds the end of the rope while the two work it quickly around the pole, following the calls from the people below. Across the intersection, two others are doing the same. Three people below the pole hold the rope taught as the others try to secure it. Each person is given the opportunity to lead, to mediate, to be heard, to listen and to act.

The way business is conducted in the Occupy movement challenges the norms of the capitalist system they are fighting – the same system that ultimately renders the people powerless. And what’s the proof of this power potential? Perhaps it can be found in the success of the General Strike I witnessed on November 2 and in the ongoing spread of this movement across the United States and the world.