Wall Street protests grow over US

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Wall Street protests grow over US

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From New York to Seattle, thousands of protesters took to streets against corporate greed.

09 October,2011 01:06 pm

The movement that started in New York in September has swelled across the nation, with groups holding events in Indiana and Ohio.In New York, Occupy Wall Street protesters marched to Washington Square Park for a peaceful general assembly.Demonstrators marched from Manhattan’s Zuccotti Park, the group’s unofficial headquarters where protesters have been camped out for the past 22 days.In Washington, DC, a confrontation between protesters and security guards at one of the Smithsonian Institution museums forced the closure of the National Air and Space Museum for the remainder of the day.Smithsonian spokesman John Gibbons said a large group of demonstrators, estimated at 100 to 200 people, arrived about 3 p.m. Saturday and tried to enter the National Mall museum. When a security guard stopped the group from entering, saying they could not bring in signs, he was apparently held by demonstrators, Gibbons said. A second guard who arrived used pepper spray on at least one person and the crowd dispersed.A number of groups have been demonstrating in the city in the past week. The group that arrived at the museum Saturday included individuals affiliated with the October 2011 Stop the Machine demonstration, which has been going on in the city’s Freedom Plaza and has an anti-war and anti-corporate greed message. The group also included protesters affiliated with Occupy D.C., a group modeled on the New York group.In Indianapolis, more than 1,000 people gathered at Veterans Memorial Plaza to take part in Occupy Indianapolis.The protesters carrying signs with slogans including “People not profits” and “Stop corporate greed” were surrounded by war memorials and the American Legion’s national headquarters. The throng broke into occasional chants of “You are the 99,” referring to the 99 percent of the American people they say government and corporations take for granted.As they marched several blocks to the Soldiers and Sailors Monument, the crowd chanted, “This is what democracy looks like.” One man waved a U.S. flag bearing corporate logos instead of stars.Many people said they joined the protest out of frustration, while others said they were fed up because the government seems to listen more to corporations than it does voters.“I feel like I’ve been robbed, and I’m just letting it out,” said Mark Gilbert, 52, of Fishers, who said he’s watched the economy slash his 401(k) by 42 percent since 2008.Occupy Indianapolis spokesman Joh Padgett said Saturday the group planned to move Saturday to the Statehouse grounds, where the protest would continue indefinitely.Protesters in Cincinnati gathered on downtown’s Fountain Square on Saturday. They said they plan on occupying it either indefinitely or until arrested.“There may be a chance people get arrested tonight, and if that’s the case, we’ll just keep coming back,” Kristin Brand said. She said the morning started with 250 people marching around downtown to the square, but at its peak the crowd numbered more than 800.In Cleveland, demonstrators are on their third day of occupation. Thirty-four spent Thursday night on a sidewalk, and some told the Plain Dealer newspaper that they intend to camp out indefinitely.Demonstrators in Columbus held a rally last weekend and plan another on Monday.Cincinnati police said about 6 p.m. Saturday that there had been no incidents with the downtown protest.In Seattle, about two dozen protesters set up tents at Westlake Park last weekend.On Saturday, the Seattle Times reported that about 500 people turned out following a call from labor leaders to join the movement. About 100 police officers were on hand.