The inside story to new york’s most storied movement, as told by a Movement insider.
Twice featured in the New York Times; also featured in AM New York and Gothamist, and endorsed by OccupyWallSt.NYC — Occupy Tour NYC is presented by city historian and “Day One” Occupy Movement stalwart, Michael Pellagatti. On this tour Michael provides the inside story to Occupy Wall Street, in addition to correlating the movement in relation to other social struggles from the past and in the present time.
In addition to our signature Occupy Wall Street tour, we also conduct standard history tours relative to various neighborhoods in New York City. Our Other tours
Lower Manhattan
Where New York City began, the former seat of the United States federal government and the 1st Congress. This tour has a heavy emphasis on New York colonial era history and the settlement’s role within the American Revolution. 9/11 will also be discussed from the standpoint of a local who lived in the area when this national tragedy occurred.
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(Option 2)
Greenwich Village
Arguably the birthplace of the mid 20th century American counter culture, the Anti-Vietnam war protest movement, and the modern day LBGTQ+ rights movement. This experience will put heavy emphasis on the former haunts of the famous music artists who called Greenwich Village home, and the neighborhood’s overall legacy as related the political culture of the United States.
(Coming Soon)
Central Harlem
No other neighborhood in the United States is as historic and relevant to the African American experience as Harlem is. The national epicenter of jazz during the Jazz Age in the early 20th century. The former home to civil rights leaders from Marcus Garvey, to Malcolm X, to Bayard Rustin. The artistic stomping grounds of Billie Holiday, Lena Horne, James Baldwin, and Langston Hughes. This tour will key in on the neighborhood’s social and artistic history and its overall legacy on the sociopolitical zeitgeist of the United States.
(Coming Soon)
The All Day freestyle.
Do you want to see as much of New York City as possible in one single day, without a set routine or schedule? Another question that should be asked: Do you want to experience New York as a local would experience the city, as opposed to being kept in the “tourism bubble”? Then this is the experience that you are looking for. The concept is simple: This tour will be ten hours long and we will squeeze in as much as we can squeeze in within that allotted time. Want to ride the NYC Ferry and see the furthest ends of Greater New York? We will do that! Want to grab a hot dog in Coney Island and ride the Cyclone? We will do that! Want to catch the sunset at the Brooklyn Promenade? We will do that! Want to go to historic cemeteries to see the graves of famous and notable people? We will do that! Want to see the whole entire island of Manhattan from the Battery, all the way up to Inwood? We will do that! That is what the “All Day Freestyle” is about!
On the All Day Freestyle it would be wise to bring your best walking shoes, along with a camera. We will not be using private transportation, instead we will be experiencing New York as “real people” do, primarily on foot, but also by subway and boat. You should also develop a taste palate for Halal and street food, because we also will be eating like how “real people” eat in the city. If you want that authentic experience that blurs the lines between tourism and local living, then this is the tour that you have been waiting for! (Max Capacity: Four)
About Michael
A licensed and certified New York City tour guide with seven years worth of experience, cited in four PhD dissertations relative to sociology and philosophy — Michael is a fifth generation local to the New York Metropolitan area, of Italian and Puerto Rican lineage. Originally involved with the Jersey City Peace Movement, a local homeless rights advocacy organization; Michael was involved with the online promotion of Occupy Wall Street and present for the birth of the Liberty Square encampment on September 17th, 2011. Before becoming a tour guide, Michael traveled throughout the United States livestreaming protests and demonstrations being affiliated with the Occupy Wall Street media team. Committed to tell the nonpartisan story behind the Liberty Square encampment, Michael created “Occupy Tour NYC” as a means to educate students, university professors, and interested tourists about what it was like to live day-to-day during the height of the Occupy Wall Street encampment, and to discuss the Occupy Movement’s impact on American political discourse and culture.
In his spare time Michael enjoys going on long hikes, and has covered fifty miles in a single day on two separate occasions. He thoroughly enjoys all music genres, although heavy metal and IWW folk songs are among the favorites in his soundtrack. Friends consider Michael to be among one of the top pizza connoisseurs in New York, with very sharp opinions about the local staple (Mention pineapple as a topping around Michael at your own risk.) An avid reader with some 20,000 hours worth of study time under his belt, Michael has a deep passion about history relative to New York, Polynesia, national politics and geopolitical affairs. He also has an interest in architecture, urban design, and general philosophy. Finally, Michael likes to occasionally watch pro-wrestling and South Park.