--- author: Wikipedia title: Occupy movement hand signals source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occupy_movement_hand_signals clipped: 2024-06-19 published: 2024-02-11 topics: tags: - clipping --- # Occupy movement hand signals - Wikipedia From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/69/Hands_signals-Occupy-A4.svg/220px-Hands_signals-Occupy-A4.svg.png)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hands_signals-Occupy-A4.svg) Occupy movement hand signals, grouped by function. The **Occupy movement hand signals** are a group of [hand signals](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hand_signals "Hand signals") used by [Occupy movement](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occupy_movement "Occupy movement") protesters to negotiate a [consensus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consensus_decision-making "Consensus decision-making").[\[1\]](#cite_note-1)[\[2\]](#cite_note-2)[\[3\]](#cite_note-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](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_microphone "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](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hand_signaling_(open_outcry) "Hand signaling (open outcry)").[\[4\]](#cite_note-4) Between sharing of information on Facebook, Twitter, and other news reports, the hand signals have become common at other [Occupy movement protest locations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Occupy_movement_protest_locations "List of Occupy movement protest locations").[\[5\]](#cite_note-5)[\[6\]](#cite_note-6)[\[7\]](#cite_note-7)[\[8\]](#cite_note-8) Some protesters go to neighboring groups to assist in teaching the hand signals along with other general cooperation.[\[9\]](#cite_note-9) There are YouTube videos showing the hand signals, though the signals are not universal at all locations.[\[10\]](#cite_note-SF-10)[\[11\]](#cite_note-11) ## Example signals\[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Occupy_movement_hand_signals&action=edit§ion=1 "Edit section: Example signals")\] | Meaning | Gesture | Notes | | ------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Agreement | "Up twinkles"; both hands raised with fingers pointing up and being wiggled. | This handsignal was borrowed from the [Green Party](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Party_(United_States) "Green Party (United States)"), who borrowed it from the [ASL](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Sign_Language "American Sign Language") word for applause. It may be referred to as simply "twinkles". | | | [Thumbs up](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thumbs_up "Thumbs up") | Some locations use thumb gestures to show approval, neutrality, or disapproval. | | Disagreement | "Down twinkles"; arms raised but showing the back of both hands with fingers pointing down and wiggling | One will be asked by the facilitator to clarify one's objection. In Occupy Boston (possibly other sites), down twinkles go by the alternate name of "squid fingers".[[12]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occupy_movement_hand_signals#cite_note-12) | | | Thumbs down | | | Neutral / unsure | Flat hands | One may be asked to clarify one's position. | | | Thumb to side | | | Direct response | Both hands moving alternately front to back on each side of the head, directed at an individual | Indicates that critical information was missing from something that was just said. | | Clarifying question | Single hand formed in the shape of a _C_ | Means that a person has a question that needs to be answered before they can vote on an issue. | | Point of process | Triangle formed by two hands with the tips of index fingers and of thumbs touching | Conversation has strayed from the original topic. | | Wrap it up | Both hands moved in a circular motion about each other | Suggests that the speaker should make their points and finish speaking. | | Raise the roof | Both hands with palms facing up being moved up and down above shoulder level | Suggests that the speaker should speak up. | | Hard block | Arms up and crossed | Firm opposition to the proposal, a break from the consensus that cannot be supported by this individual. | ## Origins\[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Occupy_movement_hand_signals&action=edit§ion=2 "Edit section: Origins")\] In addition to commonalities with various [sign languages](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sign_language "Sign language"), 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: + [Camp for Climate Action](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camp_for_Climate_Action "Camp for Climate Action") + [The Woodcraft Folk](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Woodcraft_Folk "The Woodcraft Folk") + [Direct Action Network](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_Action_Network "Direct Action Network")[\[14\]](#cite_note-14) + The [15-M Movement](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Spanish_protests "2011 Spanish protests") beginning in Spain 2011[\[15\]](#cite_note-15) + [UK Uncut](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UK_Uncut "UK Uncut")[\[16\]](#cite_note-howker-16) + [Civil rights movement](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_rights_movement "Civil rights movement")[\[17\]](#cite_note-newyorker-17) + [Quaker](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quakers "Quakers") meetings[\[16\]](#cite_note-howker-16) + [Global Justice Movement](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Justice_Movement "Global Justice Movement")[\[18\]](#cite_note-18) ## Influence\[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Occupy_movement_hand_signals&action=edit§ion=3 "Edit section: Influence")\] [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/07/ClimateStrike-Lausanne-August9th2019-078.jpg/220px-ClimateStrike-Lausanne-August9th2019-078.jpg)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:ClimateStrike-Lausanne-August9th2019-078.jpg) Heart signs at a [school strike for the climate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/School_strike_for_the_climate "School strike for the climate") ([Lausanne](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lausanne "Lausanne"), Switzerland, 2019). Some followers of [agile software development](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agile_software_development "Agile software development") processes have drawn on the Occupy movement's hand signs in an attempt to improve communication during meetings, notably the UK's [Government Digital Service](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_Digital_Service "Government Digital Service").[\[19\]](#cite_note-19) After the Occupy movements, these hand signals were used by other social movements such as the [School strike for the climate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/School_strike_for_the_climate "School strike for the climate"), [Ende Gelände](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ende_Gel%C3%A4nde_(disambiguation)&action=edit&redlink=1 "Ende Gelände (disambiguation) (page does not exist)") and [Extinction Rebellion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extinction_Rebellion "Extinction Rebellion").[\[20\]](#cite_note-20) ## See also\[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Occupy_movement_hand_signals&action=edit§ion=4 "Edit section: See also")\] ## References\[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Occupy_movement_hand_signals&action=edit§ion=5 "Edit section: References")\] 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1 "Jump up")** [*Occupy Portland - DownTwinkles*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaVvzTyMcls), retrieved 2020-05-02 2. **[^](#cite_ref-2 "Jump up")** ["The Colbert Report"](http://www.cc.com/shows/the-colbert-report). *Comedy Central*. 3. **[^](#cite_ref-3 "Jump up")** [Erin Alberty, “Occupy SLC protesters vilify elite, camp with destitute” The Salt Lake Tribune, October 28, 2011](http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/52799991-75/park-pioneer-homeless-occupy.html.csp) 4. **[^](#cite_ref-4 "Jump up")** ["Water Cooler Wars: Occupy hand signals » Anderson Independent Mail"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140111090311/http://www.independentmail.com/news/2011/nov/11/water-cooler-wars-occupy-hand-signals/). Independentmail.com. Archived from [the original](http://www.independentmail.com/news/2011/nov/11/water-cooler-wars-occupy-hand-signals/) on 2014-01-11. Retrieved 2011-11-17. 5. **[^](#cite_ref-5 "Jump up")** DOUG WARD (2011-10-17). ["Human mike, hand signals unify Occupy Vancouver crowd"](https://vancouversun.com/news/Human+mike+hand+signals+unify+Occupy+Vancouver+crowd/5564376/story.html). Vancouver: Vancouversun.com. Retrieved 2011-11-17. 6. **[^](#cite_ref-6 "Jump up")** Andrew, Susan (6 November 2011). ["Checking out Occupy Asheville's 'General Assembly' | Mountain Xpress | Asheville, NC"](http://www.mountainx.com/article/37179/Checking-out-Occupy-Ashevilles-General-Assembly). Mountainx.com. Retrieved 2011-11-17. 7. **[^](#cite_ref-7 "Jump up")** Poisson, Jayme (2011-10-22). ["Hands up, Toronto"](https://www.thestar.com/news/article/1074347). *thestar.com*. Retrieved 2011-11-17. 8. **[^](#cite_ref-8 "Jump up")** ["The Literature Of Occupy Wall Street | The Prague Post Blogs"](http://www.praguepost.com/blogs/blog/2011/11/04/the-literature-of-occupy-wall-street/). Praguepost.com. 2011-11-04. Retrieved 2011-11-17. 9. **[^](#cite_ref-9 "Jump up")** Woolfolk, Daniel (2011-11-04). ["Occupy Oceanside to Send Delegates to Occupy North County - Camp Pendleton, CA Patch"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120515062728/http://camppendleton.patch.com/articles/occupy-oceanside-to-send-delegates-to-occupy-north-county). Camppendleton.patch.com. Archived from [the original](http://camppendleton.patch.com/articles/occupy-oceanside-to-send-delegates-to-occupy-north-county) on 2012-05-15. Retrieved 2011-11-17. 10. **[^](#cite_ref-SF_10-0 "Jump up")** ekai (2011-10-05). ["Consensus Decision-Making Hand Signals Explained at OccupySF"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2yYiULZ0hA). YouTube. Retrieved 2011-11-17. 11. **[^](#cite_ref-11 "Jump up")** KimBoekbinder. ["Occupy Wall Street - Hand Signals"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xV3zTlgu3Q). YouTube. Retrieved 2011-11-17. 12. **[^](#cite_ref-12 "Jump up")** ["Reaching Consensus"](http://www.occupyboston.org/general-assembly/reaching-consensus/). October 17, 2011. Retrieved May 18, 2012. 13. **[^](#cite_ref-13 "Jump up")** Chris Barton ["'Occupy Auckland' protest speaks with many voices", *New Zealand Herald*, October 29, 2011](http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10762353) 14. **[^](#cite_ref-14 "Jump up")** Polletta, Francesca (May 2, 2004). [*Freedom Is an Endless Meeting: Democracy in American Social Movements*](https://books.google.com/books?id=snugO8KeC2EC&q=twinkling&pg=PA190). University of Chicago Press. [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_(identifier) "ISBN (identifier)") [9780226674490](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780226674490 "Special:BookSources/9780226674490") – via Google Books. 15. **[^](#cite_ref-15 "Jump up")** ["Signos asamblearios"](https://15mpedia.org/wiki/Signos_asamblearios). *15Mpedia*. Retrieved 2016-04-20. 16. ^ [Jump up to: ***a***](#cite_ref-howker_16-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-howker_16-1) Howker, Ed (2011-04-10). ["Hands up to protest"](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/apr/10/hands-up-to-protest). *Guardian Online*. London. Retrieved 22 November 2011. 17. **[^](#cite_ref-newyorker_17-0 "Jump up")** Schwartz, Mattathias (2011-11-28). ["Pre-Occupied. The origins and future of Occupy Wall Street"](http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/11/28/111128fa_fact_schwartz?currentPage=all). *The New Yorker*. Retrieved 2011-11-22. 18. **[^](#cite_ref-18 "Jump up")** Ramírez-Blanco, Julia (2018). *Artistic Utopias of Revolt*. New York: Palgrave. pp. 72–73. [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_(identifier) "ISBN (identifier)") [978-3-319-71422-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-3-319-71422-6 "Special:BookSources/978-3-319-71422-6"). 19. **[^](#cite_ref-19 "Jump up")** ["Platform as a Service team takes even-handed approach to meetings"](https://gds.blog.gov.uk/2016/10/07/platform-as-a-service-team-takes-even-handed-approach-to-meetings/). GOV.UK GDS. 7 October 2016. 20. **[^](#cite_ref-20 "Jump up")** [NVDA Handouts](https://www.risingup.org.uk/nvda-handouts), [Rising Up!](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rising_Up! "Rising Up!") (page visited on 4 October 2019).