By Randy Shaw
From April 9-15, thousands of Occupy activists got direct action training in preparation for the “99% Spring.” The goal is recapturing Occupy’s momentum, with a greater focus on targeting specific corporate wrongdoing. But getting large turnouts may not be easy. On April 24, expected massive protests at San Francisco’s Wells Fargo shareholder meeting drew only roughly 1,000 people. The upcoming May 1st protests becomes the first nationwide test of Occupy’s current strength and growth potential. Large turnouts would confirm Occupy’s rejuvenation, reaffirming the movement’s success in defining the nation’s problems. Such turnouts could also help Occupy’s efforts to broaden its base, essential for a movement whose growth requires more than mobilizing existing activists.