Wall Street protest shows no signs of losing momentum
Among those planning to join the clamour are the liberal group MoveOn.org and community organisations like the Working Families Party and United NY. The growing crowd will also include members of the Chinatown Tenants Union and the Transit Workers Union, signalling that a protest that started out small is showing no signs of running out of steam.
Meanwhile, organisers have called for students at college campuses across the nation to walk out of class in protest. “I think they’re capturing a feel of disempowerment, feeling like nobody is listening to them,” said Camille Rivera, executive director of United NY. “What do you do when no one is listening to you? You speak up, you take action.”
The groups were set to embark on yet another march yesterday evening, this one from Foley Square in Lower Manhattan, which was named for “Big Tom” Foley, a former blacksmith’s helper who became a prominent New York Democratic Party leader.
The marchers were headed to Zuccotti Park, the unofficial headquarters where protesters have been camped out in sleeping bags.
It was unclear how many people would be joining the march, but some organisers said they were expecting thousands.
MoveOn.org is planning a “virtual march” on its website by encouraging people to post photos of themselves with the caption: “I’m the 99%” — a reference to those people not among the wealthiest 1% of Americans and the debate over whether they should be taxed more.
The group’s executive director, Justin Ruben, called the protesters “brave young people” who have successfully inspired others to join them.
“From our perspective, we’re protesting kind of the greed that led to the collapse of our economy,” Ruben said. “The fact that these banks aren’t paying their fair share.”
Many of those who work on Wall Street say they don’t take the protests personally. Indeed, some even sympathise.
“It’s really incredible to me, the passion and conviction these people have,” said Lou Crossin, who works for a company that sells corporate governance research to large investors. “I don’t think these are violent people. They’re just standing up for their beliefs.”
The protest campaign — which uses the hashtag #occupywallstreet on the microblogging site Twitter — began in July with the launch of a campaign website calling for a march and sit-in at the New York Stock Exchange.
Over the past two weeks, demonstrations have addressed issues such as police brutality, union busting and the economy, the group said.
In less than three weeks, the movement has become a magnet for countless disaffected Americans and led to police arresting around 700 protesters last weekend.
