If you’re heading in the general vicinity of Philadelphia’s City Hall today, October 6, add Occupy Philadelphia to your list of reasons to get an early start and allow for increased traffic and congestion. The organized protest will be taking place in the plaza west of City Hall beginning at 9 a.m.
Like other Occupy Wall Street demonstrations happening in other major cities around the country, Occupy Philadelphia is expected to draw a large crowd. For the last week, planning meetings have been taking place at the Arch Street United Methodist Church, with around a thousand people packing in for the final meeting on Tuesday night.
City Hall could see demonstrators in excess of that, though perhaps not all at once. According to an article in the Philadelphia Inquirer, many who plan to participate have jobs. Expect to see the greatest number of protestors after traditional workdays end. The favorable weather conditions will also likely encourage more people to come out.
Occupy Philadelphia is the most recent city to join the Occupy Wall Street movement that began on September 17 (Constitution Day) in New York City and has now spread through major cities coast-to-coast. Inspired by the events that took place in Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt, earlier this year, protestors seek to create a revolution in the United States, one that would bring about greater economic and social justice for all — not just the wealthiest and most privileged among us.
People of all races, nationalities, political and religious beliefs have banded together for this movement, the central statement of which is the following:
“The one thing we all have in common is that we are the 99% that will no longer tolerate the greed and corruption of the 1%.”
“[T]he different issues that they’re concerned about – the economy, Congressional budget cuts, unemployment, the banking industry – are quite frankly issues we need to be concerned about,” Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter said, showing his support for the demonstration.
Organizers have been working to secure necessary permits so that participants have access to food stations, bathrooms, and tents. Security will also be in place.
Occupy Philadelphia is expected to be a peaceful demonstration.
It is anticipated that the movement will touch down in the eye of the storm — Washington, D.C. — next week.
Are you going to Occupy Philadelphia? Have you taken part in any of the Occupy Wall Street demonstrations? Do you plan to? We’d love to hear your reports from the ground!
Got pictures? If you’d like to share your pictures, videos, or demonstration stories (from Philadelphia or any other participating city) with us, send them to [email protected] or tweet them to @writingrenee. Be sure to include your name and city so we can give you credit!
Image Source: JSalvino/Flickr