Derek McGee: From Occupied Iraq to Occupy Wall Street

Derek McGee: From Occupied Iraq to Occupy Wall Street

Derek McGee: From Occupied Iraq to Occupy Wall Street

Iraq vet, former financial adviser and OWS protester Derek McGee reflects on the changes that have occurred in this country since September 11, 2001.

Copy Link
Facebook
X (Twitter)
Bluesky
Pocket
Email

Iraq vet, former financial adviser and OWS protester Derek McGee reflects on the changes that have occurred in this country since September 11, 2001.

In this episode of Nation Conversations, Iraq veteran and author Derek McGee, whose article “An Iraq Vet’s Journey from Wall Street to OWS” appears in this week’s print issue, sat down with Associate Editor Liliana Segura to detail his long journey from US Marine to financial advisor to OWS protester. In light of a poorly justified invasion of Iraq and his experience on Wall Street, McGee now defends the Occupy protesters—with whom he previously felt he had nothing in common—as committed and thoughtful activists. Contrary to what conservative pundits would have you believe, McGee argues that Occupiers aren’t just lazy people who don’t want to look for a job. “I think,” he says, “lazy is seeing stuff wrong all around you and just not bothering to do anything about it.”

Subscribe to Nation Conversations on iTunes for exclusive audio of Nation editors and writers digging into the topics and issues that shape the magazine. Check back for a new episode each Thursday.

Erin Schikowski

Support The Nation’s June Fundraising Campaign

With the midterm elections now firmly upon us, the question is whether Democratic candidates will do more than merely occupy ballot lines as mild alternatives to the red-hot crisis that is Donald Trump.

As Trump spends over $1 billion a day on a globally destabilizing war on Iran and admits that he doesn’t “think about Americans’ financial situation,” millions across the country are struggling with the surging costs of essentials. Democrats must seize this moment and advance bold, small-“d” populist ideas—not settle for cynical caution that once again snatches defeat from the jaws of victory.

The Nation elevates progressive ideas, movements, and elected officials achieving real change across the country into the national conversation. At the same time, our journalists are exposing how crypto and AI-funded super PACs are spending hundreds of millions of dollars to knock out candidates they oppose, reporting on the devastating impact of the Supreme Court’s evisceration of the Voting Rights Act, and sounding the alarm on attempts by red states to quickly redraw electoral maps, disenfranchising Southern Black voters.

We can play this critical role because of support from readers like you. This June, we’re raising $20,000 to power The Nation’s independent journalism in the run-up to November’s immensely consequential elections.

It’s in our power to build a more just society, and your support at this critical moment brings us closer to that bold vision. I hope you’ll donate today.

Onward,

Katrina vanden Huevel
Editor and Publisher, The Nation

Ad Policy
x