ASHLAND —
When crowds gathered on Judd Plaza in October 2011 in support of the Occupy movement, Tina Webb and Liam Eddy had no idea they would be the last ones standing on the corner a year later.
“If that had been the case we probably would’ve turned around and left that first day,” Eddy said with a chuckle.
“I thought they were all as passionate about it as I am,” Webb added.
Eddy, a retired educator technical writer and member of the local Steelworkers union, says the “Get a job!” comments from passing motorists have settled down to a minimum as they’ve stood near the corner of 15th Street and Winchester Avenue.
“I’m a retired secretary and it says so on my sign, which makes me laugh when they say ‘Get a job,’” Webb said. “I’m a grandmother, retired secretary and a veteran. We are the 99 percent that want to help America, not the 1 percent that wants to help themselves.”
The couple plan to keep up their vigil, encouraging passersby to simply vote for the candidate they prefer. At 65 and 63 years old, both say they aren’t trying to accomplish anything for themselves, but instead hope to help spark meaningful change for their children, “grandchildren and great-grandchildren.”
“We’re still occupying the space at least an hour a day,” Eddy said. “The movement is still alive. We’re still trying to get the money out of politics.”
When they started, the couple said they were “lucky” if they got a 20 to 30 percent response from people driving by, although in recent days they’ve noticed roughly half of those who see them either show support or stop by to talk. With a big grin, Eddy explained he managed to get a photo of one man whose response was to circle the block and pass back by while “mooning” them.
“I think people are talking and forming opinions, and that is why we’re out there,” Eddy said. “Sometimes when people come up and talk they really just want to argue and tell you why you’re wrong.”
Some people are surprised to find neither Webb nor Eddy will offer advice how to mark a ballot on Election Day.
“We are not telling anyone who to vote for. We just want them to think,” she said. “Nobody has said they believe the 1 percent should run the country, or that they like all the money poured into campaigns.”
“You would not believe how many people have come up and asked, ‘Who should we vote for?’ We want them to do some research and decide who is the best candidate to suit their needs and then just vote,” he added.
The couple encourage people to stop and talk, explaining they really can’t get much from anything shouted from a passing vehicle.
“You can tell by the tone of the voice whether it’s positive or negative, but you really can’t hear what they are saying,” Webb said.
TIM PRESTON can be reached at tpreston@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2651.
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