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#OccupyApple Hits iPhone 5 Lines, Sells Spots for Charity

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Occupy Wall Street demonstrators hijack spots in the New York City iPhone 5 line.

With brand ambassadors already grabbing the first few spots in the NYC iPhone 5 line, Occupy Wall Street demonstrator Ryan Lash was one of many who saw the opportunity for some free publicity. On Thursday morning, a group of demonstrators decided to "Occupy Apple", grabbing a handful of spaces towards the front of the line with the intention of selling their spots.

But not to worry, the money wasn't for themselves, it was going to be donated to charity. But according to Lash, who has been doing Occupy demonstrations for a year now they didn't advertise the fact because “If we tell them it’s for a donation, they will not buy our spots.” Although we aren't sure this would be entirely true, some of the Occupy demonstrators in line wanted to share a few words about Apple.

One cardboard sign read, "Apple puts profits in offshore accounts so they can dodge paying taxes," while another one said "Its OK, keep buying things you dont need. #OccupyApple". In an interview with TechCrunch, Lash argued “Technology should be free and incorporated into public services.” When asked which charity the money would be donated to, Lash reported that they hadn't figured it out just yet.

We aren't sure how many, if any, spots were actually sold before the doors were opened today, or whether or not any of the demonstrators ended up buying one. Who knows, they did spend all of that time in line after all.

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Tuan Mai
Tuan Mai
Tuan Mai is a Los Angeles based writer and marketing manager working within the PC Hardware industry. He has written for Tom's Guide since 2010, with a special interest in the weird and quirky.
24 Comments Comment from the forums
  • yobobjm
    2 things are dumb about this, first of all, if you pre-ordered it by mail then it was not hard to get, what's with the lines (my idiot family bought 2 and got them both today). Also, you really think that a protest is going to stop the sheep from buying the latest shiny apple product?
    Reply
  • gorz
    "Technology should be free"

    Pffff like that would ever happen. Nobody is going to take the time in creating a product just to give to you for "the good of humanity". That is not very human like.
    Reply
  • A Bad Day
    There is always an equilibrium of stupidity, from Harvard's professors to CEOs to your average joes.
    Reply
  • frombehind
    No, material goods are generally not given away in our society... because with limited resources, its simply not feasible to make a pile of electronics for every single person on earth. Thats why we have an economic system in place that dictates who will get one and who wont.
    Reply
  • Shin-san
    gorz"Technology should be free"Pffff like that would ever happen. Nobody is going to take the time in creating a product just to give to you for "the good of humanity". That is not very human like.Now, they do give free cell phones out... if you sign up for a 2-year contract. That being said: yep. an iPhone is not a necessity for most people.
    Reply
  • reprotected
    Shin-sanThat being said: yep. an iPhone is not a necessity for most people.But so is a Galaxy S III, but you don't see people blocking phone stores. No one is bitching about how Galaxy S III is no better than an S II. Other than the fact that it has a better DAC which no one cares about, and a faster CPU that once again, almost unnoticable, it's not much different comparing it between older and newer iPhones.

    @OccupyWallStreet GET A JOB.
    Reply
  • idroid
    I don't know who is dumber.... the people in line waiting to buy an iPhone or those protester.
    Reply
  • unksol
    9406094 said:
    I don't know who is dumber.... the people in line waiting to buy an iPhone or those protester.

    I'd have to go with the people waiting in line. Granted, thinking people would rather give him money than donate to charity, and

    "In an interview with TechCrunch, Lash argued “Technology should be free and incorporated into public services.”"

    Is insane. Apparently food, healthcare, unemployment, social security and tuition assistance aren't enough, they need government funded iPhones too.

    That being said they were smart enough to figure out someone would be dumb enough to pay them for a spot in line to buy a phone that everyone with a job just ordered online.
    Reply
  • Kami3k
    reprotectedBut so is a Galaxy S III, but you don't see people blocking phone stores. No one is bitching about how Galaxy S III is no better than an S II. Other than the fact that it has a better DAC which no one cares about, and a faster CPU that once again, almost unnoticable, it's not much different comparing it between older and newer iPhones. @OccupyWallStreet GET A JOB.
    You also don't see people lining up days ahead to buy a android phone.

    Probably be because Android uses have something called a life.

    And I suggest you look at the number of jobs out there, hint there isn't many. But ignore that fact and be just like an apple cultist.
    Reply
  • willard
    Technology should be free? Then I hope you're okay with cutting back our technological level to the point where there is enough production capacity to supply the planet with free electronics.

    So when would you like you free 1980s era IBM PC and cell phone with backpack battery?
    Reply