Wall Street occupation may grow this week

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about a few hundred American freedom fighters who planned to occupy Wall Street. Police barricades prevented them from taking over the heart of the financial district, and a few of them got their butts kicked pretty good during the first few days.

But they still occupy a park in Lower Manhattan after 12 days, and they have vowed not to leave until democracy is restored to the United States.

(Below you have an opportunity to read a strong appeal by Chris Hedges that everyone support the occupation.)

The protestors refer to themselves as “the 99 per cent” – “the 99 per cent that will no longer tolerate the greed and corruption of the 1 per cent."

"We are the 99 percent. We are getting kicked out of our homes. We are forced to choose between groceries and rent. We are denied quality medical care. We are suffering from environmental pollution. We are working long hours for little pay and no rights, if we're working at all. We are getting nothing while the other 1 percent is getting everything. We are the 99 percent.”

Some protestors have been jailed and beaten. The on-going event has been a hoot for the wealthy bankers who work on Wall Street. Some sit on balconies, drinking champagne, taking in the unusual site below.

The protest just might take off this week. New York City labour unions say they are going to back the occupation. The Transit Workers Union, which has 38,000 members, has voted unanimously to support the protestors. Special rallies are planned for October 5th and 12th.

Who knows, you might soon be able to read about this in the mainstream media!

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Perhaps my favourite radical journalist these days is Chris Hedges. He is always on the mark. He has such an open mind and is such a clear thinker it is hard to believe he spent 15 years with The New York Times. Read his article about why it is important that everyone support the occupation. Truthdig

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