‘Occupy Wall Street’ Protesters Express Frustration With Government, Economic Crisis

Demonstrators From Across Nation Descend On NYC To ‘Occupy’ Wall Street

September 17, 2011 6:18 PM

Occupy Wall Street Protest (credit: CBS 2)

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NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – People from all over the country gathered in Lower Manhattan Saturday to voice their frustration with both the economy and Wall Street.

Thousands marched, chanted and some even did yoga, all to get their message across.

“The banks got bailed out. The people have yet to be bailed out,” protester Elias Holtz told CBS 2′s Ann Mercogliano.

LISTEN: 1010 WINS’ Terry Sheridan reports

Holtz is a struggling freelancer who moved to New York three years ago with big dreams. Like many others, he says he’s struggling to pay his college loans.

“This is just an expression of frustration with the lack of solutions by our government to address the economic crisis,” he said.

Demonstrators From Across Nation Descend On NYC To Occupy Wall Street

Police surround the Wall Street bull (credit: CBS 2)

The protest’s centerpiece was the iconic Wall Street brass bull, which was surrounded by barriers and police officers.

“The financial sector has too overwhelming a presence in our governmental system,” one protester told 1010 WINS’ Terry Sheridan.

Many of the protesters looked like they were going camping instead of protesting, with backpacks, sleeping bags and tents, and handing out SpaghettiOs and peanut butter.

Word of the “Occupy Wall Street” protest spread over the Internet, and organizers hoped for a crowd that in the tens of thousands would have an overnight stay.

They marched from Bowling Green down Broadway with no shortage of police keeping a watchful eye. At one point, CBS 2 we caught a glimpse of Police Commissioner Ray Kelly driving through the controlled chaos.

Police said there were no arrests during the day, and that while no permits were sought, plans for the protest had been made public.

Police called it an orderly day.

“I’d like to stay till Tuesday or Wednesday. I have to go back to Ohio for a little bit of work, but I’m praying that the movement’s so strong that I’ll come back next week. I want this to be a month-long thing if possible,” one protester said.

What do you think of the protest? Sound off in our comments section below…

Gene Bresler

I guess when people are hurting, it is hard to distract them with sports, TV and Entertainment.
Rich Zubaty

This is the best thing that’s happened since the 1970s. Value it and nurture it, so that it grows. The financial services industry is controlling our government and stripping the wealth of this country and someone has to take a stand to stop it. What WAS that bank bailout about?

Jeffrey Goldstein

The Bailout was so the rich could get richer and steal it all from taxpayers. Geithner was a crook when he headed the N.Y. Fed. I totally agree with your feelings about this wonderful movement.

Front

It’s interesting to see in these comments that those who support the protests are, for the most part, making rational, informed arguments and those who do not are spouting misinformed (sometimes vitriolic) nonsense. One of the most daunting problems in America is that there is such profound misinformation and lack of basic knowledge among the public.
Front

It’s interesting to see in these comments that those who support the protests are, for the most part, making rational, informed arguments and those who do not are spouting misinformed (sometimes vitriolic) nonsense. One of the most daunting problems in America is that there is such profound misinformation and lack of basic knowledge among the public.

(And why is that despicable comment against Muslims still here?)
jj

Looks like Obama is losing another faction of his support.

Kevin Schmidt

Looks like the GOP and the DINOs are losing another faction of their support.

rsak

What about the corruption of the unions? GE? All the corrupt companies that took millions of gov’t bailout money then went bankrupt? Will the protesters have the b@*ls to fight ALL the corruption or just be stupid enough to fight Obamas political agenda so he can get re-elected?
ann23

I am very suspicious of these protests. They clearly are manipulated (by La Rouche? someone similar).
The entire focus on Wall Street is a distraction. This is not the left protest, more like proto-fascist.

Kevin Schmidt

You better look up the definition of the word “clearly”. For you to even bring up LaRouche’s name proves your thinking is muddled at best!

The big banksters and the Wall Street fraudsters stole trillions of dollars from the entire world, and then threw the entire world into the Great Recession. Worst of all, they are paying them selves billions of dollars in bonuses. This is “clearly” an anti-fascist protest.

Jim

And you should look up the definition of the word “fascist”. Sigh, the blind arguing with the blind.

Jeff

Wonderful. So glad people are begining to realize their (peaceful, nonviolent) power. Next stop, Washington DC: http://www.October2011.org

Bruce Goldensteinberg

Jeff, you and your ilk should be arrested for seeking to overthrow this nation. It’s a shame the police must cower in fear of you and the rabble instead of arresting all of you.

Felix

Have you ever read the Declaration of Independence? Some people think it’s kind of a big deal. Here, I’ll copy and paste the relevant section for you. The bit in the stars is the part I’d like you to pay attention to:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — ***That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.***

pugphan

Wow what a great idea a protest on Wall Street…on Saturday when all the big shot are there, uh? smokersodyssey.com I see a lot of socialist, commie and marxy peeps here. Oh wait they were expected.

Felix

Why is it that simply believing in socialist, communism, or the beliefs of Karl Marx is seen as so crazy by some people it’s actually an insult of its own? Do you actually know the fundamental teachings of these political philosophies, or are you just repeating whatever Glenn Beck tells you?

Rubysnan

This whole back and forth makes me sad. It shows why “compromise” is an irrelevant term these days.. While there are a few serious commentators who make sincere and useful suggestions, the rest are egotists like JC, who attacks anything that doesn’t fit into his agenda, and people who attack him (I agree he asks for it, but responding to him negatively adds nothing useful and positive to the conversation.)
Vic Anderson

(Occupy Wall $treet) OW$! Until they HELP!! Thank y’all for Also Manning The BARA¢KADE$!!!

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Demonstrators From Across Nation Descend On NYC To ‘Occupy’ Wall Street

September 17, 2011 6:18 PM

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