Minnesotans inspired by Wall St. protests plan to occupy Minneapolis site Friday
Monday, October 03, 2011 at 10:09 am
- 5 Comments
Photo: Wall St. protesters rally in New York; Source: Flickr, _PaulS_
Minnesotans sympathetic to Wall Street protests that are stretching into their third week are planning their own occupation Friday.
Protesters are planning to rechristen the target, Hennepin County Government Plaza in Minneapolis, as “The People’s Plaza,” according to the group’s website.
The Minnesota group is just the most recent sparked by Wall Street protests in New York, where over 700 people were arrested this weekend. The protests have spread to other North American cities like Albuquerque, N.M., Boston, Mass., and Toronto, Canada.
An organizer told the Star Tribune that the group is ”trying to be transparent, because we want to be totally nonviolent.” He said he wants everyone to be able to get involved in the protest. Organizing is being discussed on Twitter and Facebook. One thread announces outreach efforts at local unions, with Facebook followers chiming in to mention their own union connections.
The Star Tribune reports that members of the group have spoken to police about their plans: “It is not illegal to spend the night in public parks or plazas,” a police spokesman said, warning that the presence of protesters would only become an issue if they caused disturbances or blocked access.
The group is holding a “general assembly” in Stevens Square Park Monday evening to organize the action.
OccupyMN’s Facebook page has already gathered almost 2,000 supporters. They’re also raising money on the internet site WePay.com, and had already raised almost $600 by Monday morning.
“It is time to establish a new system that values people over profits,” a statement on the group’s website reads. “We are the 99% and we are moving to reclaim our mortgaged future.”
Follow Jon Collins on Twitter5 Comments
Comment posted October 3, 2011 @ 2:55 pm
The movement is gaining momentum in its THIRD week now and Occupations are popping up all over the country! Stand up together and use your voice to give to those without through peace and solidarity. Tax the rich and feed the poor- you are the 99%! See my Occupy Wall Street painting and Anonymous homage on my artist’s blog at http://dregstudiosart.blogspot.com/2011/09/occupywallstreet.html where you can also see videos of the protests and police brutality as well as get other sources for coverage of the movement.
Comment posted October 5, 2011 @ 10:09 am
Question everything about this. Who, What, When, Why, Where and How Research those who are financing and running this. Examine their demands. Will it truly benefit you?
Comment posted October 5, 2011 @ 12:42 pm
My question is Who, What, When, Why, Where and How should there be credence to Peter Nordstrom? One of the 1% or one of the 99%?
Comment posted October 6, 2011 @ 4:28 pm
We should also be protesting multi-millionaire CEOs who make millions and millions of dollars while the employees barely make it paycheck to paycheck, and the company doesn’t give decent wages or raises. They keep laying off more and more, not replacing employees who leave or retire, so the rest of us have more work, less money, less benefits and more stress. The CEOs are flying around on corporate jets and living high while the majority of Americans can’t pay their bills, buy food, make mortgage payments and support their families. The American dream is now only for the mega-rich. We are getting down to a two-class system in this country. The rich and the poor. Let’s protest against that. Corporate greed. Filthy rich who don’t pay their fair share because of tax loopholes. The list goes on and on. Corporations also spend millions on lobbying Congress to get interests heard.
Comment posted October 6, 2011 @ 9:21 pm
this movement needs a set of solutions not just frustrated people. change the capitalistic system . produce more american goods, insist on american goods, increase the GDP, change how our politicians campaign, how they win the nomination, how they win the presidency. for the people, by the people!
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