Notes on the Activist New Yorker and Their Symbolic Home: Union Square

A walk through the winding paths of Union Square on a quiet fall morning is a poignant reminder of the beauty of New York City. A gentle breeze cues the release of the most delicate leaves from the gilded oaks, a constant chatter echoes from the market as New Yorkers negotiate the price for the best ears of corn, and statues of leaders from generations past stand as sentinels of the park. A visitor to the park in 2020 will notice Black Lives Matter posters peppered throughout the various intersections surrounding Union Square as well as the newly installed “Climate Clock” on East 14th Street, which reflects the time window for action to slow human-caused climate change in ominous red lettering. It is not the beauty of this location that holds significance for New Yorkers, but rather its symbolism as a space for activism and justice, upheld by a rich history.

A social movement caused the birth of Union Square itself. In the 1830s, urban planners pushed for more parks in cities in order to mitigate the negative effects of overcrowding, which led to the establishment of the park in 1839. Before becoming a park, Union Square was used as a graveyard for unidentified bodies (Goicochea). Its first prominent use as a space for advocacy occurred during the American Civil War, when large crowds gathered in support of the Union cause. This event defined the park as a place that could amplify the voice of the public (Merwood-Salisbury 541). Later that century, the Central Labor Union (CLU) used the park as ground zero in the fight for better labor conditions for the working class. Union Square would regularly host over 10,000 protesters for this cause, showing unity and solidarity for the labor movement. The media covered these events, and the CLU gained international recognition (Merwood-Salisbury 550). Movements like these led to Union Square adopting the reputation of a gathering place for radicals. The park was renovated in the early 1900s with the intention of establishing the space as a monument of patriotism that would keep political gatherings as part of the past. The efforts were futile; the space continued to be a meeting place for radical political movements. This battle between the local government establishing the park as a patriotic location and the acts of public resistance continued throughout the remainder of the century and continues today (Merwood-Salisbury 555).

Union Square is not solely associated as an activist space by its rich history. Landmarks peppered throughout the park embolden its status as a significant location for protest. Near West 14th Street, a sculpture of Mohandas Gandhi serves as a trailhead on a winding path through the lush gardens of the park. The plaque which rests at his feet reads “my optimism rests on the belief in the infinite possibilities of the individual to develop nonviolence […] in a gentle way you can shake the world.” As one of the most known activists of our time, Gandhi’s presence invites those who wish to follow in his footsteps to this place (“Union Square Park Monuments – Mohandas Gandhi”). Directly opposite to this figure, perched atop One Union Square South, the “Climate Clock” counts down the predicted window of time remaining until the damage from human-induced climate change is irreversible. Environmental injustice is one of the most significant issues of the twenty-first century, and its representation in Union Square leaves no room for interpretation (Moynihan). At 16th Street, Marquis de Lafayette, a major figure in the French revolution who championed social equality, overlooks the south side of the park. Such landmarks represent the activism that has occurred within and set the stage for the park to be designated as a place of protest (“Union Square Park Monuments – Mohandas Gandhi”). Union Square and its visitors are a microcosmic representation of the diverse collective that shapes activism. The location is not simply a farmer’s market or a place to skate, but it is also a congregation space for activists.

The perception of Union Square as a site for activism has been shaped by a history of protests that have occurred over the past few centuries. When President Donald Trump was elected in November of 2016, thousands of anti-Trump protestors marched from Union Square to Trump Tower to advocate for the protection of civil rights and the environment (Helmore). Fast forward to November 7th, 2020, and New Yorkers once again gathered in Union Square to celebrate the promised activism from the Biden administration when President Trump was officially projected to lose the 2020 election. New York City has been and continues to be on the bleeding edge of social justice issues because of activists’ efforts. Activists are a distinguished group of New Yorkers that fuel the spirit of the city and contribute to the larger perception that New Yorkers are socially conscious.           

Union Square is a gathering place not only for established activists but also for collective public outrage of pressing issues within the city. When a judge ordered the NYPD to release information about their stop-and-frisk policy to the media in 2008, New Yorkers were enraged at not only the magnitude of unwarranted searches but also at how the searches were conducted disproportionately more frequently on people of color. This led to a series of demonstrations, including many at Union Square, to roll back the policy. The protesters were not established activists; rather, they were people who saw injustice in their community and felt compelled to take action to stop it. The collective actions of these New Yorkers eventually were successful. Many media outlets began covering the civil disobedience of the protesters, which pressured the New York Police Department to reduce the occurrence of stop-and-frisk and begin to reform the policy (“New York Activists”).

This movement and the subsequent social change illustrates how activism in New York City can take many different forms. Activists may pursue action on behalf of a long-standing cause, but they may also take action when they see an issue majorly affecting their community. For either type of activist, however, Union Square is a recognizable location which represents social change and the power of collective action. The park is a part of the surroundings that define it; it is a symbol of change and a disruption of the status quo that has existed for generations. It is up to the New Yorkers who are the activists of today and the future to continue this legacy, and that duty and responsibility is personified by Union Square.

Works Cited

Helmore, Edward. Anti-Trump Protests Continue across US as 10,000 March in New York. 12 Nov. 2016, http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/nov/12/anti-trump-protests-new-york-portland-shooting.

Gallagher, Julie A. Black Women and Politics in New York City. University of Illinois Press, 2012.

Goicochea, Julia. “A Brief History of Union Square, New York City.” Culture Trip, 21 Dec. 2017, http://theculturetrip.com/north-america/usa/new-york/articles/a-brief-history-of-union-square-new-york-city/.

Merwood-Salisbury, Joanna. “Patriotism and Protest: Union Square as Public Space, 1832-1932.” Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians, vol. 68, no. 4, Dec. 2009, pp. 540–559.

Moynihan, Colin. “A New York Clock That Told Time Now Tells the Time Remaining.” The New York Times, 20 Sept. 2020, http://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/20/arts/design/climate-clock-metronome-nyc.html.

“New York Activists Helping Turn Public Opinion Against NYPD’s ‘Stop and Frisk’.” YouTube, uploaded by The Real News Network, 6 Dec. 2012, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dqxz-Sk4VsQ.

“Union Square Park Monuments – Marquis De Lafayette.” NYC Parks, The City of New York, http://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/union-square-park/monuments/884.

“Union Square Park Monuments – Mohandas Gandhi.” NYC Parks, The City of New York, http://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/union-square-park/monuments/884.