The Virginian-Pilot
©
NORFOLK
With permit in hand, a group of people with Occupy Norfolk slept in Commercial Park downtown on Monday night and said they plan to stay for a while.
The group is part of the Occupy Wall Street political protest that has been taking shape this fall in New York.
"We're right in the middle of the BB&T Building and the Bank of America building," Rex Bonney said Tuesday afternoon from the fountain park off Main Street and Commercial Place, where at least seven tents and an information booth stand. "The primary platform of the movement is to try to take out the influence of corporate money in our political process."
About 20 people slept in the park Monday after the city granted a permit. They have water and food, are nonviolent and will be marching through downtown at times, Bonney said.
The group's parade permit specifies which streets they may use and at which times. That includes a parade at 1 p.m. today down St. Paul's Boulevard to Brambleton Avenue and Granby Street. The permits to camp and parade end on Friday, but they can be extended.
Protesters set up a sign on the Main Street sidewalk directing passers-by to Occupy Norfolk. While the Occupy Wall Street movement has grown large in major cities, Bonney said, he wants to create a plan for it in a mid-size city such as Norfolk.
For weeks, protesters have been camped out near Wall Street in New York, saying they're fighting for the "99 percent" - the vast majority of Americans who do not fall into the wealthiest 1 percent of the population.
Similar to the call of the tea party movement that originated two years ago, Occupy Norfolk members say they are nonpartisan and welcome anyone.
"Everyone that comes here has a right to their own opinion," said Bonney, a Norfolk native who moved to Chesapeake.
"I'm glad to see it," said Jeremy McLean, 31, of Norfolk, who camped overnight. "People are hungry. People are starving. People are scared."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Patrick Wilson, (757) 222-3893, patrick.wilson@pilotonline.com
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Did they strike Don's zoo
Did they strike Don's zoo comment ? C'mon Pilot.
Never thought I'd see it again
It is good to see groups such as this and the Tea Party movement getting active. I thought apathy had taken over America when it came to politics and other major issues. It goes to show you that when people get broke enough, when they see others getting rich while average incomes get smaller, jobs being moved overseas, with medical care and medical insurance skyrocketing and gas prices being so unstable and with runaway government spending and a government that cares more about corporations than people, they WILL rise up.
Let's just hope the high muckety-mucks listen and actually do something positive about it instead of ignoring them. If not, these peaceful protests may not stay peaceful.
Vensuela?
If you concerned about the US becoming a Chavez socialist govt of the people, for the people, and by the people. You had better wake up now and invest yourself, spend your voice and time now. Stand up now and dont wait before they become too strong and knock you down, once they have you down they will keep you there
Parents
Particpants parents should be so proud. But at least they aren't bothering you, right?
quote
"I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country. ... corporations have been enthroned and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until all wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed." Abraham Lincoln
Another fatality of the Civil War was an uncorrupted American Government.
Get a clue
They are all in the wrong place. The street they need to go march on is K Street in Washington D.C. That is where all the lobbiest are.
They are there
but it don't get the coverage it would if it was the Tea Party.
Interestingly enough...
The Occupy Wall Street has already succeeded in one of its main objectives…and that is to promote itself and allow a certain percentage of people be heard. The very fact that there is discussion (and quite a bit of it) on this posting shows that truth in America can have discourse. By the comments on this page, I can conclude that we all agree, somewhat, the system is broken and corrupt. Not everyone and not everything, but enough that it is having an effect on how we think and act in our daily lives. It is time to wake up people. We are starting to make a stand to take this country back away from the few whose self interest hurt others.
Operation kill operation Norfolk
http://www.blackperception.com/2011/10/majority-of-you-want-occupy-wall-street.html
Bribery Q&A
Q: If a cop accepts a bribe, who's the bigger offender, the briber or the cop? A:Obviously the cop, because of the power and trust placed in him by the society he serves.
Q: If a corporation bribes a politician, who's the bigger offender? A:Obviously the politician, because of the power and trust placed in him by the society he "serves".
Q: What is the most common form of bribery that corporations AND special interest groups openly practice in Washington? A: Lobbying.
Q: If it's illegal to bribe a cop, why is it legal to bribe a politician? A: Making lobbying illegal would take the incentive out of public service for a large number of politicians. Washington would change rapidly. Principled people could flourish. Can't have that.