The “Occupy Wall Street” protests have rapidly become a “big tent” movement that organizers claim has sparked more than 70 similar occupations in public parks across the nation.
What started three weeks ago as a small group of angry college students camped out in Zuccotti Park, a public plaza near the New York Stock Exchange, has drawn thousands — foreclosure victims and union workers, Marines, monks and even a tight contingency of Ron Paul supporters — who all share the sentiment that the government and Wall Street are responsible for “99 percent” of Americans getting the short end of the economic stick.
Now more than 800 people have been arrested in New York, as well as 24 in Boston, and at least six in San Francisco in similar protests. And several hundred were camping out in front of Los Angeles’ City Hall yesterday.
“It’s bringing together a large swath of America,” said Rachel Laforest, executive director of Right to the City, a nationwide coalition lending its union members, faith activists and struggling masses to Occupy movements in 13 cities.
And thousands have pledged to camp out in Washington, D.C.’s Freedom Plaza indefinitely starting on Thursday. That protest had been planned for months but swelled with support once Occupy Wall Street garnered international publicity, said organizer and Vietnam-era Army vet Ward Reilly of Baton Rouge, La.
Reilly claims 173 of his fellow veterans have already been arrested this year outside the White House while protesting corporate control of Congress.
“We’re going to put Washington under siege,” said Reilly.
Back in New York City, Zuccotti Park near Wall Street remained jammed with protesters last night, despite the arrests a day before of more than 700 people who stormed the Brooklyn Bridge, along with nagging drizzle and no major march planned until Wednesday, when four labor unions plan to show up.
Police resistance — and some say mistreatment — has only galvanized support.
“As always, if it is a lawful demonstration, we help facilitate, and if they break the law, we arrest them,” NYPD spokesman Paul Browne told the Associated Press. He said eight people were still in custody.
The Fire Department said it had gone to the site several times over the past week to check for any fire safety hazards arising from people living in the plaza, but there have been no major issues.
Financial District residents and businesses have begun to complain about the disruption, but participating actress Anca Suiu, 36, said it’s “going to be one ugly eviction” if police attempt to force them out.
“They can’t keep us from coming back,” said Milo Gonzalez, 20, a florist who has been arrested twice and is suing the city for injuries. Gonzalez, along with several others, told The Daily that uniformed officers expressed solidarity with them even as they were being cuffed.
Dozens also remained camped in Boston’s Dewey Square last night.
Carolyn Grant, a 52-year-old school principal, was arrested at Bank of America’s Boston headquarters on Friday.
She said her husband was laid off in 2008, and they recently lost their home to foreclosure after two years of unsuccessfully trying to modify their loan.
“They are fighting for the same just cause,” she said of the mostly scruffy young upstart protesters, most of whom have never owned a home. “I will be arrested again, yes, I will. As many times as it takes until [the banks agree to] modify loans and principal reductions.”
There were 212,764 new foreclosures in August, a 7.2 percent increase from July, according to RealtyTrac. Nationwide unemployment remained stuck at 9.1 percent for the second straight month.
Victoria Sobel, a 21-year-old art student at The Cooper Union in New York, has taken on the role as head of the Wall Street protesters’ finance committee, and said she was quickly forced to create a 501c3 nonprofit organization after the group became overwhelmed with small donations from all over the world.
Sobel estimates that thousands of people have contributed a total of $87,000 to three separate funds that are being merged — including one for a weekly broadsheet newsletter called the “Occupy Wall Street Journal” that has raised $35,000.
“It’s only getting bigger,” she said as she directed a group of European tourists carrying bags full of donated food to a makeshift kitchen.
A comment by an angry Marine posted on a Reddit forum drumming up veteran support instantly went viral. “I didn’t fight for Wall St. I fought for America. Now it’s Congress’ turn,” he wrote.
“These kids are so fresh and so alive and so 1969. I’m so encouraged by it,” said Vietnam veteran Billy Perry, who was among those arrested on the Brooklyn Bridge.
Sarah.Ryley@thedaily.com
What started three weeks ago as a small group of angry college students camped out in Zuccotti Park, a public plaza near the New York Stock Exchange, has drawn thousands — foreclosure victims and union workers, Marines, monks and even a tight contingency of Ron Paul supporters — who all share the sentiment that the government and Wall Street are responsible for “99 percent” of Americans getting the short end of the economic stick.
Now more than 800 people have been arrested in New York, as well as 24 in Boston, and at least six in San Francisco in similar protests. And several hundred were camping out in front of Los Angeles’ City Hall yesterday.
“It’s bringing together a large swath of America,” said Rachel Laforest, executive director of Right to the City, a nationwide coalition lending its union members, faith activists and struggling masses to Occupy movements in 13 cities.
And thousands have pledged to camp out in Washington, D.C.’s Freedom Plaza indefinitely starting on Thursday. That protest had been planned for months but swelled with support once Occupy Wall Street garnered international publicity, said organizer and Vietnam-era Army vet Ward Reilly of Baton Rouge, La.
Reilly claims 173 of his fellow veterans have already been arrested this year outside the White House while protesting corporate control of Congress.
“We’re going to put Washington under siege,” said Reilly.
Back in New York City, Zuccotti Park near Wall Street remained jammed with protesters last night, despite the arrests a day before of more than 700 people who stormed the Brooklyn Bridge, along with nagging drizzle and no major march planned until Wednesday, when four labor unions plan to show up.
Police resistance — and some say mistreatment — has only galvanized support.
“As always, if it is a lawful demonstration, we help facilitate, and if they break the law, we arrest them,” NYPD spokesman Paul Browne told the Associated Press. He said eight people were still in custody.
The Fire Department said it had gone to the site several times over the past week to check for any fire safety hazards arising from people living in the plaza, but there have been no major issues.
Financial District residents and businesses have begun to complain about the disruption, but participating actress Anca Suiu, 36, said it’s “going to be one ugly eviction” if police attempt to force them out.
“They can’t keep us from coming back,” said Milo Gonzalez, 20, a florist who has been arrested twice and is suing the city for injuries. Gonzalez, along with several others, told The Daily that uniformed officers expressed solidarity with them even as they were being cuffed.
Dozens also remained camped in Boston’s Dewey Square last night.
Carolyn Grant, a 52-year-old school principal, was arrested at Bank of America’s Boston headquarters on Friday.
She said her husband was laid off in 2008, and they recently lost their home to foreclosure after two years of unsuccessfully trying to modify their loan.
“They are fighting for the same just cause,” she said of the mostly scruffy young upstart protesters, most of whom have never owned a home. “I will be arrested again, yes, I will. As many times as it takes until [the banks agree to] modify loans and principal reductions.”
There were 212,764 new foreclosures in August, a 7.2 percent increase from July, according to RealtyTrac. Nationwide unemployment remained stuck at 9.1 percent for the second straight month.
Victoria Sobel, a 21-year-old art student at The Cooper Union in New York, has taken on the role as head of the Wall Street protesters’ finance committee, and said she was quickly forced to create a 501c3 nonprofit organization after the group became overwhelmed with small donations from all over the world.
Sobel estimates that thousands of people have contributed a total of $87,000 to three separate funds that are being merged — including one for a weekly broadsheet newsletter called the “Occupy Wall Street Journal” that has raised $35,000.
“It’s only getting bigger,” she said as she directed a group of European tourists carrying bags full of donated food to a makeshift kitchen.
A comment by an angry Marine posted on a Reddit forum drumming up veteran support instantly went viral. “I didn’t fight for Wall St. I fought for America. Now it’s Congress’ turn,” he wrote.
“These kids are so fresh and so alive and so 1969. I’m so encouraged by it,” said Vietnam veteran Billy Perry, who was among those arrested on the Brooklyn Bridge.
Sarah.Ryley@thedaily.com
