Protesters in N.Y.C. blast money in politics

Demonstrators gather in front of a police barricade to call for the occupation of Wall Street, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011, in New York. / AP Photo/Frank Franklin II

NEW YORK - A coalition of groups who say they've been inspired by "Arab Spring" protests against Middle Eastern despots has initiated a large, Tahrir Square-like protest in New York City, in the heart of the financial district.

On Saturday, about 1,000 people converged on Bowling Green Park in Lower Manhattan, near the financial district, to protest the influence of corporate money in American politics. Some will pitch tents with the intention of sitting in for a couple of months.

Organizers of the "Occupy Wall Street" demonstration have called for 20,000 people to "flood into lower Manhattan, set up tents, kitchens, peaceful barricades and occupy Wall Street for a few months."

The protesters seek to persuade President Barack Obama to establish a commission that would end "the influence money has over representatives in Washington."

Their website is occupywallst.org.

"Something is going to happen Sept. 17 on Wall Street. What it's going to be is up to all of us," Bill Csapo, a volunteer organizer for the event, told CBS Station WCBS.

"I don't think anybody that anybody can look at the political and economic landscape we have now in Washington and not come to the conclusion that the system is broken," Csapo said. "The main focus is the toxic and corrupting effect of unlimited money on the political situation, which would be called a Corporate-ocracy, not Democracy.

"We need to get government back into the hands of the 99 percent, not the one percent," Csapo said. "Right now, the law is currently written for the one percent, and we are seeing an incredible amount of wealth being extracted."

Among the affiliates groups is the 99 Percent Project, whose site advocates for the 99 percent who are "getting kicked out of our homes ... forced to choose between groceries and rent ... denied quality medical care ... 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."

The original call to occupy Wall Street was put out by the advocacy group Adbusters. NYC General Assembly and U.S. Day of Rage have joined, and similar occupations are being planned for Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C.

The hacker/protest group Anonymous also reportedly threw its support behind the Sept. 17 protest, according to WCBS.

[Mosaic543]

I have been praying for this to finally happen, and I am praying for all of the protestors, and that more will join in!

[mask2697]

As one of the members of the 1% who get all the benefits I support this also, there is just to much political bull**** on all sides, everyone hates Both Obama, The republicans, and the Democrats equally at this point and I am getting pissed that neither side can get there head out of there a** and deal with the actual issues... So although I wont be with them, I support these protesters cause

[brucearnold]

I hereby openly and before God and the Kleptocracy endorse and stand ready to support the "Occupy Wall Street" event:

https://occupywallst.org/users/ironboltbruce/

I also hereby reverse my previous position and guidance, and reinstate my support for the "Stop the Machine" event:

http://october2011.org/statement

I recognize that in so doing I am allying myself with people who do not share all of my political beliefs, that I will be standing side-by-side in protest with those of the Far Left - including Communists, Socialists and Anarchists - as well as those of the Far Right - including Libertarians, Tea Partyists and Ron Paulists - and that their race, ethnicity and name for the Almighty may differ from mine. But politics makes for strange bedfellows, the enemy of my enemy is my friend, and all who join this protest agree that our Ruling Omnipotent Fascist Kleptocracy is the enemy of all Mankind.

I ask those more closely associated with these events to consider me at their disposal to support to the limits of my resources and abilities any and all actions - including non-violent civil disobedience - aimed at toppling the Kleptocracy, exposing the truth about 9/11, repealing the Patriot Act, reversing Citizens United v. FEC, ending our perpetual wars for oil and profit, retrieving the trillions of dollars stolen from or made burden of the taxpayers, and restoring Jeffersonian Democracy and the Constitutional Republic of the United States of America.

Lastly, I recognize that making this pledge public may have ramifications including and not limited to being placed on no-fly or other surveillance lists, and for that I say Big Brother be damned: I do this for my grandchildren, in hopes they can grow up as free citizens rather than indentured slaves.

WILL YOU JOIN ME?

https://occupywallst.org/signup/

"IronBolt Bruce" Arnold
[e-mail]
http://ironboltbruce.com

[ammo17]

i have finally realized that if you want anything done in this country you have to write to the lobbyist,because our politicians are bought and sold in d.c. by these pimps,therefore the polititicians are their prostitutes and prostitution is ILLEGAL in this country.

[Smokey75]

I wonder if they are protesting Obama? Since he said he plans to spend $1,000,000,000,000 to win re-election. Or are the idiot protestors ignorant enough to think $25 donations will get Obama to that number.

[slappy-mcjohnson]

A trillion? Really??

[msimamaji]

The protestors have my support. Tax cuts for the rich = political corruption.

[Dthunderchicken]

Ya gotta wonder about the logic of occupying a business district on a day that it's closed.

[uraboob]

Good you're capable of wondering, bad you're not capable of figuring out logical answers. Most of the protesters have jobs or school, which if you checked into it you'd find school and most jobs also take place during the week! So maybe they're trying to start when the most possible people would be free to protest! You might also notice, if you can read, that the intent is to stay there for prolonged periods. Then you have to do that thing you have trouble with again, apply logic, and realize that if you continue something for at least weeks, as they plan to, then even if starting on a weekend the protest will in fact encompass weekdays when Wall St. is actually open! wheee! logic! wooo!

[longtree-2009]

1000 protestors out of a population of some 300 million is hardly impressive. the reality is that it would take a major civil war or another revolution to change things and then it would only be for a while until bribery, corruption, lobbyists took over again. there is zero chance of a major civil war or revolution.

[berlinfoto-2009]

Civil War, well there is no way that even the smallest number of citizens, could plan even a small street corner demonstration, and keep it secret.
With that said spontaneous combustion is possible, so one can not completely rule out a Civil War in America. One should familiarize themselves with the revolutions in the former communist satellite nations of Russia.

[celte53]

what is great about the entire quagmire is the very corporations donating get it back with the air time purchases. it's a win-win for them. great investment. God bless the people protesting.

[wdchin]

Should we take it to the street everytime we see something that is not right.