'We Are The 99 Percent': Stories Of The Great Recession's Victims (PHOTOS)

As protesters share their stories in Zuccotti Park, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Chicago and other cities across the country, some are taking to the web to express their discontent with the wealthiest one percent of America.

"We Are The 99 Percent," a Tumblr started in connection with Occupy Wall Street, features hundreds of personal stories from Americans affected by the Great Recession. The site, which launched Aug. 23, asks readers to submit their stories along with a photo. The Tumblr's introduction highlights some of those stories:

We are the 99 percent. We are getting kicked out of our homes. We are forced to choose between groceries and rent. We are denied quality medical care. We are suffering from environmental pollution. We are working long hours for little pay and no rights, if we're working at all. We are getting nothing while the other 1 percent is getting everything. We are the 99 percent.

The website showcases a variety of stories about the economy's effect on ordinary Americans. Among them are a recent college graduate who is struggling with mountains of student loans and no means to pay them off beyond a part-time job. A 13 year-old girl worries if she'll have the chance to go to college at all, while a father of two fears for his children's futures. A victim of job cuts late in his career doubts if he'll ever find employment again, and a veteran of Iraq questions the sacrifice he made to serve his country.

Now in its third week, the Occupy Wall Street protests, criticized for lacking a clear objective, now seems only to be growing in strength despite this weekend's arrest of 700 protestors.

Here are some of the stories of contributors to "We Are the 99 Percent" on Tumblr.

Editor's Note: The Huffington Post takes no position on the veracity of the claims made or the opinions expressed by individuals in the slideshow below:

 

Comments

[marqus]

11:32 PM on 10/22/2011

My 3 - Sisters, Susie Littler, Roxanne M.Vetter, & Gwendoln A.Wiegensteim has "Jobs" but their "Jobs"
went to "China"

all 3-Sisters kill their Mother, (June Ann Fischer) at the age of 75
Why ?
they was out of work dur to G.W.Buch and as you know California is high also the Rent is high
as my Mum work foe St.June Hospital so one hot night my Mum was Dead at 8:30pm.

top it off all what it was for, was ("Money") so don't get mad at your Wife & Kids

God Bless you, & the Men & Womens who out on the Steet may the Lord be with you
thank you,
marqus
ps
do you think the "Republicans will help you or your "Kids"?
No !

[marqus]

11:16 PM on 10/22/2011

to All American-people,

Mr. Obama is doing his best.

by you do-not have a job now is the ("Republians") is "Mucking about with your heard" and mr.Obama is doing his best, so say with Mr.Obama

God Bless you & May the Lord be with the Mens & Women with Kids
Thank you for your time,
marqus fischer
Setember 22,2011
time, 10:16 pm

[marqus]

11:07 PM on 10/22/2011

for the 99%, Top of the day to all of you,

if you think about what going on, It was 2001 when G.W.Bush went to the "White-House" you as "America" put G.W.Bush in!!.
2002 alot of you didn"t have a "Job. it went to the Tem Jobs. In "2003" alot more "jobs went to "China", but I saw alot of "America" lost their "Jobs" & alot of you "Cry".
But in "2005" the "America-poeple" put G.W.Buch back in the "White-House", & all so I re-call G.W.Bust told CNN New that the people put me back in Now it going to be my (G.W.Bush) "Way"

in ("2004, 2005, 2006, & 2007, 2008") all the Jobs was going "Over-Sea" and to "China"
also if you think about it "Wal-Mart" went all "China", But if you go by a "Wal-Mart"
(they are doing a good job as people like you go to "Wal-Mart"

That way the {"Tea-Party") are vMad because Wal-Mart is doing a good job !
alli-So in October 22,2010 the "Republican" was on the "NEW" & said if you (America) put the "GOP" in, We will have a jobs for the "America-people" So do you have a "Job " ?

No the Republican are a "Lier"
So if you put the Republican in ? look what going to be ?

Thank you for your time,
marqus fischer

[bbekampis]

11:01 AM on 10/11/2011

Last time I saw this type of protest was when Nixon was president. I guess Obama's presidency is no better than Nixon's.

[SlinkyTWF]

12:58 PM on 11/14/2011

False equivalency. Unlike in the Nixon era, they are not protesting the presidency.

[bbekampis]

02:14 PM on 11/14/2011

That's the problem, Slinky......they should be

[Rondon]

12:55 AM on 10/10/2011

Tea-baggers, libertarians, socialists, right-wingers, left-wingers, mudslingers, you must know that our government is bought and paid for by corporations and the wealthiest. The vast majority of politicians serve corporations, not us. We can argue all day and night about policies, but it don't mean squat if we have a corrupt government (btw, it is corrupt). We can pretend to work this coming year for the winning side. You know what? We won't be on the winning side no matter who is elected president. The most powerful and wealthiest will win. They always will as long as they can divide us. Get the money out of politics first, so our politicians will serve us and our interests. Then you and I can argue about how it's spent or how the debt is paid down.

[bbekampis]

11:03 AM on 10/11/2011

well stated

[jdollinter]

10:49 PM on 10/09/2011

Will the Egyptian activist bring this Country to it's knees or will the protesters go back home to their parents before the weather gets cold?

[BrianPK80]

05:10 AM on 10/17/2011

Don't shoot the messenger. You know things in America are awful.

[xeronius]

03:52 PM on 11/14/2011

America is a utopian wonderland and nothing bad ever happens here! USA! USA! We're number 1! We're number 1! (If we repeat it long enough, it will be true, right?)

[gsandersjr]

06:23 AM on 10/09/2011

All of this is direct reaction to governments effort to regulate. Every time some silly "victim" based law is passed the banks or whoever have to find new ways to make a profit. This makes people angry. Profit is not the enemy. Without it there could be no growth or prosperity. Free markets will respond to inequities on it's own. All of this gov't manipulation just makes things worse.

[Rondon]

12:16 AM on 10/10/2011

You and I know that Dems and Repugs do NOT serve us, but their corporate masters. Well, I hope you know we are owned. They shape laws to serve corporations, not powerless masses. Btw, Bank of America stands to increase its profits this year by 13% after so-called regulations. And please do not kid me that we have free, open markets.

[Debbie Goodwin]

02:41 PM on 10/08/2011

Show your support! Great t-shirt to customize if you like on the back with your event or logo!
http://www.zazzle.com/we_are_the_99_tshirt-235325832138944913?rf=238140136582405574

[Alimy Maryola]

10:50 AM on 10/07/2011

What we need to do is hold companies responsible because here are the facts the middle class now makes less than they ever have in the past 30 yrs. LESS. We have less benefits, less opportunity. Companies offer less benefits, but expect more work. GE didn't pay ANY federal income tax for jimmeny christmas! I am not saying that there should be handouts, but I am saying we need to demand of employers to treat their employees like people. Companies have been making RECORD profits but are STILL laying people off because they can. The people there will work their asses off because they want to be able to feed their kids. Its GREED that is all that it is.

[Alimy Maryola]

10:43 AM on 10/07/2011

I feel there are too many comments bashing these people. It could have been you. People of the 99% don't realize you are the 99%. When companies lay people off it has nothing to do with performance. You fit the matrix and poof your gone. If you can't find another job, you lose everything. Do you think people want to go from having a home, a car, and a nice life to being on welfare? How many people are now accepting jobs paying way under what they were getting paid just to have a job? I am tired of people not trying to put themselves in this position because in my honest opinion those who aren't feeling the pinch of the recession are just lucky. I am not hurting, but I am not disillusioned that it couldn't have happened to me.

[movieluver77]

03:35 PM on 10/06/2011

They make it sound like they are neglected, forgotten, and people need to be aware of the plight of the 99%. How can the 99% (?!?!?!) be forgotten?

99% of the population should already be aware of this; exactly how is this supposed to raise awareness?

[tayinnewin]

02:50 PM on 10/07/2011

To make Wall Street and corporate America AWARE that we are AWARE of this financial injustice.....we're not going to sit back and let them take away everything we own and have worked hard for.

[ByThePowerOfGrayskull]

03:31 PM on 10/06/2011

I was going to write my story, take my picture and post it, but I was too busy working at my job. So I had to settle for this comment.

[JBDenver]

03:15 PM on 10/06/2011

It is enlightening to see all these photos and read the stories of those whose lives are revolving around making choices that involve deciding which bills cannot be paid: Excessive Student loans, excessive housing, excessive healthcare...

However, it seems that the posters are having little trouble paying for cell phones with cameras and their internet fees. They may also need to cut back on their cable packages too.

[Michael Deangelo]

02:48 PM on 10/06/2011

This is all Obama has left...Disorder, Radicals, Mayhem - Michael Moore Says "Non violence"..Hey Mikey, 700 Arrested in the first day....In 3 Years, there hasn't been 1 not ONE arrest at TEA PARTY RALLIES....Oh, you can bet someone will say different but that's only because they know how they're looking on Wall St. now....

So Obama, You created this......Sweet! Unions, and OBAMA, a Marxist Dream

[19random35]

03:25 PM on 10/06/2011

After reading some of your comments, all I can say is, wow, you REALLY hate Americans!

[Juiceman1982]

03:31 PM on 10/06/2011

Not that I am going to speak for Micahel, but I for one don't hate Americans. I don't like the fact that so many of the so-called 99% made really bad decisions and now expect me to dig them out of whatever hole they dug themselves in.

[Michael Deangelo]

02:40 PM on 10/06/2011

Crack me up....So the Lazy, the irresponsible, the takers of the world, the people who support Roseann Barr & Michael Moore and now "Victims"....ha-ha-ha! And this is their response to the TEA Party? Umm, lets compare...in 3 Years there hasne't been one TEA Pary Arrest....The first day of any LEFT movement? 700 Arrested....

The Left, always causing problems, always crying "victim"...And Always How they work...Destroy, Take, Destroy Take...etc...etc.etc.

[BrianPK80]

05:17 AM on 10/17/2011

You're hilarious. The Tea Partiers don't get arrested because they are the low-information vessels for corporate propaganda. 700 people were arrested in Brooklyn because the police used a technique called "kettling" from Canadian protest control. They were directed to a bridge, told they could move there, and then boxed in from both sides and arrested.