Just over a month into the protests, the Occupy Wall Street movement showed no signs of slowing down. It has spread to other cities across the nation, even inspiring a few abroad in Europe, Asia, South America and Australia. Michael Heaney, a political scientist from the University of Michigan who studies social movements, examined reasons for the continued momentum. He identified three elements as fueling the movement: continued economic discontent, growing media coverage, and a need to push back against harsh law enforcement tactics initially used against protesters.
According to Heaney, it is unclear at this moment if the demonstrations will become the liberal counterweight to the tea party movement. The backing now of labor unions could lend organization to the movement.
