Occupy Wall Street marks anniversary with protests

  Eyewitness News

NEW YORK (WABC) -- The anniversary of Occupy Wall Street is dubbed "S-17" since it started on September 17th, 2011.

However, the look of the movement is a little different on their first anniversary. The "99 percent" decided to no longer sit silent on the sidelines, however many feel, it's long been game over, for this movement.

Organizers admit, it was impossible to keep the same level of momentum going, but in the end they insist anything but.

"We've had more time, so that produces more information," said Occupy Wall Street organizer Mina Mehta.

Sunday is a day of celebration with a big concert in Foley Square. Monday is a day of civil disobedience with protests in the Financial District. However, organizers say there are no new plans to re-occupy Zuccotti Park.

"We're not talking about only Tea"party crap, we're talking about the 99 percent, what they need, what they've been missing and how actually, both parties are not working for us," said protestor Mike Toto.

Organizers admit, it was impossible to keep the same level of momentum going...but, the end, they insist anything but. Barricades have been put in place at Zuccotti Park, and there is already significant police presence. However, by holding civil disobedience workshops, organizers hope to avoid the major clashes with the NYPD on Monday that branded the movement last year.

Marches and rallies in more than 30 cities around the world will commemorate the day.

Day one of the three-day schedule of events was full of life on Saturday, but a lot more laid back than last year. At Washington Square Park on Saturday, there were information tables on various social platforms.

Lorna McDermott is against standardized testing.

"It's the vehicle into somebody's stock market portfolio," she says.

64-year-old Lodi resident Daniel Buckley is passionate about healthcare.

"I'm a little bit tired of this drum beat - for profit healthcare system has failed," Buckley adds.

Also one year later, organizers even wore orange safety vests so that those in need of official information can spot them in the crowd.

"We're just people of all ages to our fellow citizens," said OWS organizer Ravi Ahmad.

Police patrolled the crowd Saturday and took at least a dozen people into custody near Trinity Church that borders Zuccotti Park.

Police confirmed they made arrests, mostly for disorderly conduct, but they did not have a total number.

Protesters marched from Washington Square Park and headed south down Broadway to Zuccotti Park, chanting as they went. The group later thinned out.

---
Get Eyewitness News Delivered

Facebook | Twitter | Newsletters | Text Alerts

Get more New York News »

• Comment Now
• Email
• Print
• Report a typo
•