Today marks the two-year anniversary of Occupy Boston.

The Occupy Wall Street movement originated in New York City over two years ago and sparked similar protests across the country before ultimately fizzling out. The Occupy Boston movement was the longest standing encampment at the time of its shut down, Dec. 8, 2011.

Boston occupiers in Dewey Square fought with City Hall over safety hazards presented by the encampment during the month leading up to their eventual eviction. Today, a gathering is expected at the former campsite to commemorate the historic event.


A nuance for many, and a symbol of hope for countless others, the occupy movement left its imprint on history, warranting worldwide media attention; protesters drew attention to the economic gap in America proclaiming “we are the 99 percent.” The tent cities that sprung up in the weeks and months following the founding of Occupy Wall Street provided iconic visuals of the socio-economic discrepancies separating protesters and the “one percent” — the holders of 39 percent of the world’s wealth.

Two years ago, suits clashed with flannel, and law enforcement came face-to-face with protesters of all ages. Below is a slideshow of images from Occupy Boston, and a quick glimpse of today’s Twitter conversation.

Featured Photo from Tyler Wells

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