"Rage" against Wall Street power clogs sidewalks

[steve2470]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/09/19/us-wall-street-protests-idUSTRE78I51D20110919


(Reuters) - Protesters complaining about the unchecked power of the financial industry staged noisy demonstrations that slowed pedestrian traffic on Wall Street for a third day on Monday, vowing to continue "for as long as it takes" to achieve vague demands.

Up to 150 protesters near the New York Stock Exchange held up signs saying "we must end corporate tyranny and corruption" and "debt is slavery". The protesters claimed up to 350 demonstrators had come and gone throughout the morning.

Police reported eight arrests -- two for attempting to enter a Bank of America office on Saturday, when larger crowds amassed for a protest billed as a "Day of Rage," and six more on Monday. At least four on Monday were held for wearing masks, which is illegal for groups of two or more, police said.

"The elite corporate power have hijacked democracy," said Alexander Penley, an international lawyer from New York. "The economic depression we are experiencing today has something to do with how Wall Street is run."

[librechik]

1. "vague demands"

thanks Reuters for understanding the situation so well NOT

[Speck Tater]

3. In truth I think the protester's demands are vague.

Read the signs. There's not much there that is specific. "Capitalism is Evil" Yup, that's a concrete solution. "Debt is slavery" What do they want, to squirm out of paying their legal, voluntary debts?

I don't think the protesters really understand the problem, or have any kind of solutions to offer. It's a circus. A little bit of media entertainment that has the Wall Street Master of the Universe not worried at all. They stand on the balcony above and snicker at the protesters while they drink champagne. And why? Because they know the protester will just go away after a while and nothing at all will change.

[Dreamer Tatum]

6. Are we freeing Mumia, too? nt

[librechik]

8. that is true. But my rebuke to Reuters is their essential misunderstanding of

if not complete ignoring of the Wall Street problem. If they were aware of what Wall Street has done to the US, there would be no question what the protestors were there for, even if they carried no signs. Instead the press are comfortable, well paid and lazy, on the side of the Wall Street Traders no doubt. No need to figure out what the problem is and go from there. What problem? That is infuriating.

[Speck Tater]

9. The media is too deeply invested in the system to be able to see fault with that system. nt

[Luminous Animal]

12. That is because it was a call to activists to gather and encamp in order to

hash out demands.

The main call to action was the corruption of money in politics. I read plenty of signs that were on point in that aspect.

http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=occupy+wall+street&s=rec&z=m

[sabrina 1]

13. Actually they are not vague. But since the media hasn't bothered

to cover this story too well, it's no surprise that they either do not, or don't want to understand what they are protesting.

For one thing, they are holding Assemblies to make the process democratic and to get input from as many people as possible to add to the main cause of the protest which is: Corruption on Wall St. and Accountability for it. On Sat. and Sunday they held assemblies where they worked to coordinate their strategy for the long haul and to outline in more detail, what the demands should be.

But there really is no doubt about the main reason for the 'occupation'. Major corruption and actual criminal activity took place in the Mortgage industry and the Financial sector, and despite even a recommendation from Sen. Levin's Committee's two year investigation that the findings of corruption and criminal activity be referred to the DOJ, no action has been taken so far.

[WCGreen]

10. Well, that cocaine girl that was featured as the lead in the political

video over in the video forum pretty much sums it up as to why anyone would think the issues are vague....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=385&topic_id=617489&mesg_id=617489

[gateley]

2. Really?

"At least four on Monday were held for wearing masks, which is illegal for groups of two or more, police said."

Wonder if that's recent (post WTO, for example) or if it was implemented during the good 'ol KKK days.

[RoccoR5955]

7. That law has been on the books for a long time

I remember as a kid, I couldn't wear one of those winter hats that cover your face. Apparently, it is only legal to wear a mask in NY on Hallowe'en.

[gateley]

11. Interesting - thanks! nt

[daggahead]

4. I wonder if we'll see any ...

... coverage of this on ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN "liberal" news programs ...

I would bet the only reason Faux would cover this is to ramp up the class warfare angle.

[tama]

5. Not bad

for Reuters. They actually let some of the peoples voices be heard by their media.