USA: Protest rallies in Washington, joining major cities across the world

Record ID: 588838

  • Title: USA: Protest rallies in Washington, joining major cities across the world
  • Date: 16th October 2011
  • Summary: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (OCTOBER 15, 2011) (REUTERS) VARIOUS PROTESTERS WALKING THROUGH TOWN CENTER (SOUNDBITE) (English) DEMONSTRATOR SAYING: "We are trying to protest the entire banking industry today. We're hitting Bank of America, all the foreclosures and the financial embezzling -- all that's got to go. So that's what we're doing today. The reason I'm here? When you get banks tied up with big corporate industries you get this one per cent taking over the rest of the 99. That's why I am here today. It's a sick, sick industry. It's a sick, sick system we've got with the whole banking thing and that's what I'm doing here. I'm stopping it today." WOMAN WATCHING PROTEST FROM BALCONY VARIOUS PLACARDS CITIBANK VARIOUS PROTESTERS CHANTING BAILOUTS ARE UNFAIR AND PROPOSING TO CLOSE THEIR BANK OF AMERICA ACCOUNTS VARIOUS PROTESTERS STANDING OUTSIDE BANK OF AMERICA SECURITY GUARD INSIDE A BRANCH OF BANK OF AMERICA THAT IS CLOSED DUE TO PROTESTS BANK OF AMERICA PAN TO PROTESTERS
  • Embargoed: 31st October 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa, Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Economy,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVADORNO5M886TNGLORJLKZDZETJ
  • Story Text: About 300 demonstrators marched through the U.S. capital on Saturday (October 15) , demanding good jobs and protesting economic inequality. They joined protesters in cities around the world in decrying economic inequality.
    The protesters marched by the White House banging drums and chanting, "We got sold out, banks got bailed out," "For we are the 99 per cent and you are the 99 per cent," and "Tell me what democracy looks like? This is what democracy looks like."
    Demonstrations inspired by the Occupy Wall Street movement were held in cities in the United States and Canada this weekend.
    But student Nathaniel Brown said it was particularly important for people in Washington to join the protests.
    "Now we have a responsibility being so close to the government to the president, to Congress -- that we have an opportunity more than any other city to show our message and our power as people, hundreds and hundreds of people," said the high-schooler.
    The protesters say they are upset that the billions of dollars in bank bailouts doled out during the recession allowed banks to resume earning huge profits while average Americans have had no relief from high unemployment and job insecurity. They also believe the richest 1 percent of Americans do not pay their fair share in taxes.
    "When you get banks tied up with big corporate industries you get this one per cent taking over the rest of the 99. That's why I am here today. It's a sick, sick industry. It's a sick, sick system," said one protester who refused to be identified.
    Galvanized by the Occupy Wall Street movement, the protests began in New Zealand, touched parts of Asia, spread to Europe, and ultimately resumed at their starting point in New York.
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