Occupy Wall Street: Live Blog
By: Gloria McDonough-Taub | Senior Editor For Blogs
This is a live blog of CNBC's "Speaker's Corner" hosted in New York City where the group, Occupy Wall Street has set up camp.
On September 17, 2011 a loosely organized group calling themselves Occupy Wall Street gathered in NYC to protest corporate greed, social inequality and other divisions between the rich and the poor.
On the group’s Web site, Occupywallstreet, they describe themselves as a “leaderless resistance movement with people of many colors, genders and political persuasions.
The movement has spread from a few dozens to hundreds and has spread from New York to many cities including, Los Angeles, Tampa and Portland, Oregon and to Boston.
There are many questions about the group and about the group's goals. It is our goal here at CNBC to give them a chance to share their voices and for those who want to learn more about them, to hear what they have to say and what they're hoping to do in this live blog. (You can read Monday's post here) This is all part of CNBC's Special Report on Occupy Wall Street which you can check out here.
This post will be updated frequently so please refresh and check-in regularly. All times are Eastern. The most recent posts are here at the top.
4:16 PM - When You're in the City, Check Out...
Another visitor to NYC is enjoying the protests - finds it "very inspiring."
And with that - we're shutting down CNBC's Speaker's Corner for tonight. Thanks for reading, that's for sharing your comments.
4:14 PM - Wants More
Paul from Cincinnati, OH is there at OWS 'cause he wanted to hear other points of views. He says it's very peaceful, very respectful and that he's gotten loads of information he wants to review.
4:13 PM - Maybe the Second Time?
Jeff says he's running for president again - it'll be his second time. He says the government is keeping him quiet - that he has proof that GW ordered the bombing of the WTC. Says "America has been overthrown...and urges all .. to tell their friends"
4:12 PM- Glory Days
Ed from Baltimore, who's retired is now talking, is a small businessman and says he's "scared to death of what's happening now." He says the money-class folks are getting too powerful and that they're not happy with just having money - they want power. Ed says it's rallies like this one that helps energize the country and "helps turn around the country to help it return to what it is and what it should be"
4:09 PM - My Favorite Moment
So, I've been watching this non-stop for two days blogging away. My favorite part has to be right now - an elderly gentleman is on his cellphone with his wife standing by the Speaker's Corner holding his sign asking her if she can see him. She can. He's happy - no he's asking her what's for dinner.
Man's gotta eat.
4:00 PM - Still Believes in Hope
Dale from Vermont says he's got a job and he's been involved in politics...and says he has 6 children but sadly believes the "American Dream is long gone."
Says he's not here for himself - but for those "behind me" - meaning the protesters and the future generations.
Says it's time to stand up - that we can't continue to go this way. Dale, who is 55 and has a job (that he's had for 26 years) says despite everything, "there is still hope" because of OWS.
3:51 PM - "Long Live Everything"
Daniel who lives in NYC says he supports OWS - but he believes in capitalism ... and doesn't think it's a contradiction. He says he doesn't mind that the shareholders win more than labor. He says "we won, we're the winners" - everybody likes getting cheaper goods from China...but at the same time a lot people are disasstified with Washington...it's hard to comprehend to bail-out the banks and then cut social security and cut funding for teachers...and that's the real problem... a lot of people are fed up with the tax policy...not everybody here is some Marxist ..we believe in capitalism... but we need help from Washington to help spread the wealth.. The Buffett Tax rule isn't the beginning of Marxism... we're not all against public companies...OWS is great branding....we need balance... Long Live Everything."
3:47 PM - I Like The Harmonica
Singing, "when the helmets hit the ground..."- actually he's pretty good...going to get the video here as soon as I can cause I like this one and he sings way too fast for me to keep up with.
Watch this space -- I'll post it shortly.
Update: Matt singing "When the helmets hit the ground" is right after the "Raging Grannies" in the video clip.
3:39 PM - Raging Grannies
Grannies with a guitar (who kept saying, don't swear, don't swear, it's not good for the grandkids) sang "Good News..... Occupy Wall Street is Good News.... "
Lyrics include: "If you can't pay your mortgage or your rent, welcome to the 99%, Good news, Occupy Wall Street is coming and you don't want us to leave you behind.. We don't want corporate criminals stealin' our bucks, ifyou like to drink the water and breathe the water, Occupy Wall Street is a comin' ... and you don't want us to leave you behindddddddddd."
You can check out their video on the clip.
3:34 PM - Not So Jerseylicious
Lexia from NJ just lost her job last week - but she's not too upset about it. She says she would have quit it anyway to come down to OWS.
And then she dropped the F-bomb
Nice.
Another great representation for JerZey. Thanks 'ppreciate it.
Well this blogger who lives in Jersey wonders what happened to the Garden State's Glory Days before folks from Rhode Island and New York started passing themselves off as Jersey Girls?
3:32 PM - Why Occupy Wall Street Doesn’t Have A List of Demands
CNBC's John Carney just posted this to his blog:
"It’s a question that everyone asks me about Occupy Wall Street.
“What do they really want?”
Unlike many protest movements, Occupy Wall Street has refused — so far — to issue a manifesto or a list of demands. This leads many outsiders to wonder whether or not there really is a point to Occupy Wall Street at all.
In some ways the desire by outsiders to see a list of demands is related to another question: “How long will this go on?” A list of concrete demands would provide a starting place for ending Occupy Wall Street. It would be the beginning of a negotiation to end the occupation.
One of the young women who appeared on CNBC.com's Speaker’s Corner livestream today explained why she thinks Occupy Wall Street should never even begin this process of wrapping up.
“I don’t think we should issue a list of demands at all. That’s not what this is about,” said Katherine Hewlitt of Portland, Maine.
So what is it about?"
You can read John's full post here
