May Day Protests Occupy Manhattan

Mayday, which has never been much of an event in the United States, was marked by the Occupy gang with gusto. The red flags and calls for a more equitable distribution of wealth are growing louder every month, say observers here.

Cuckoo Paul
Updated: May 3, 2012 12:33:41 PM UTC
MaydayB

New York mayor Michael Bloomberg was the lead hate figure for thousands of protesters in Manhattan yesterday, as the Occupy Wall Street movement came back to life. The billionaire mayor, who cleaned out the protesters camp at Zucotti park last winter and advised them to 'find jobs- and do some work’, was on several placards right up with Citibank chief Vikram Pandit and other bankers. The Fat Cats are under fire from the other 99%, for their multi-million dollar paychecks.

Tens of thousands of protesters, mostly left wingers filled the city baiting policemen from the NYPD with slogans and taunts through the day. The department was out in full force,  ready to control and guide the crowds away from Wall St into other open areas in the city. For all their efforts, for scores of students, migrants and ordinary people, the street has become the biggest symbol of greed and avarice.

New Yorkers and tourists alike flocked to all the protest locations to follow the parade and cheer the protesters. Everyone was keen to capture the color on their iphones and tablets. Innovative slogans and costumes got the loudest cheers- while policemen were heckled if they were anything other than polite. "That’s maah tax money, that’s paying your salary officer,’’ shouted a lady to a police captain who was trying to get her to fall in line.

I spoke to David Frank, a young lawyer working at one of the firms on Wall street, who was watching the parade on his way home.  "Not everyone working on the street is what they think- most of us are trying to make a living. Just like them,’’ he said.

Mayday, which has never been much of an event in the United States, was marked by the Occupy gang with gusto. The red flags and calls for a more equitable distribution of wealth are growing louder every month, say observers here. Everyone with any grouse against the system seems to be on the picket lines. So there were those who want more pensions, better healthcare coverage, free education and more liberal immigration laws! Younger folks wanted to know where the after-party was going to be. Whether it makes a difference to Pandit's paycheck or not- the movement is certainly not going away in a hurry.

Some of my favorite signs- at least those that can be printed on this blog:

  • 1. I Think, therefore I Occupy.
  • 2. Occupy the Future.
  • 3. On Wall St- Slumlord Billionaires.
  • 4. Pay your Interns!

The thoughts and opinions shared here are of the author.

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