The Occupy movement hand signals are a group of hand signals used by Occupy movement protesters to negotiate a consensus.[1][2][3] Hand signals are used instead of conventional audible signals, like applause, shouts, or booing, because they do not interrupt the speaker using the human microphone, a system where the front of the crowd repeats the speaker so that the content can be heard at the back of the crowd. The signals have been compared to other hand languages used by soldiers, cliques and Wall Street traders.[4]
Between sharing of information on Facebook, Twitter, and other news reports, the hand signals have become common at other Occupy movement protest locations.[5][6][7][8] Some protesters go to neighboring groups to assist in teaching the hand signals along with other general cooperation.[9] There are YouTube videos showing the hand signals, though the signals are not universal at all locations.[10][11]
Example signals
Twinkles and down twinkles are referred to as a "temperature check". They indicate if a group is getting close to consensus. Twinkles are also known as "sparkle" or "jazz hands" or spirit fingers.[13]
Origins
In addition to commonalities with various sign languages, and cultural gestures, these or similar hand signals have been used by other groups and events prior to the Occupy Wall Street protests. These include:
^"The Colbert Report". Comedy Central. Archived from the original on August 14, 2015.
^Erin Alberty, “Occupy SLC protesters vilify elite, camp with destitute” The Salt Lake Tribune, October 28, 2011
^"Water Cooler Wars: Occupy hand signals » Anderson Independent Mail". Independentmail.com. Archived from the original on 2014-01-11. Retrieved 2011-11-17.
^DOUG WARD (2011-10-17). "Human mike, hand signals unify Occupy Vancouver crowd". Vancouver: Vancouversun.com. Retrieved 2011-11-17.
^Andrew, Susan (6 November 2011). "Checking out Occupy Asheville's 'General Assembly' | Mountain Xpress | Asheville, NC". Mountainx.com. Retrieved 2011-11-17.
^"The Literature Of Occupy Wall Street | The Prague Post Blogs". Praguepost.com. 2011-11-04. Retrieved 2011-11-17.
^Woolfolk, Daniel (2011-11-04). "Occupy Oceanside to Send Delegates to Occupy North County - Camp Pendleton, CA Patch". Camppendleton.patch.com. Archived from the original on 2012-05-15. Retrieved 2011-11-17.
^ekai (2011-10-05). "Consensus Decision-Making Hand Signals Explained at #OccupySF". YouTube. Retrieved 2011-11-17.
^KimBoekbinder. "Occupy Wall Street - Hand Signals". YouTube. Retrieved 2011-11-17.
^"Reaching Consensus". October 17, 2011. Retrieved May 18, 2012.
^Chris Barton "'Occupy Auckland' protest speaks with many voices", New Zealand Herald, October 29, 2011
^Polletta, Francesca (May 2, 2004). Freedom Is an Endless Meeting: Democracy in American Social Movements. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 9780226674490 – via Google Books.