By Paul Tuthill
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Springfield, MA – The " Occupy Wall Street" movement marked its one month anniversary Monday, as demonstrations spread to new places. But, questions remain about whether the protests can turn into political action. WAMC's Pioneer Valley Bureau Chief Paul Tuthill reports.
The various protests under the "Occupy Wall Street" theme are not centrally organized, but are unified by the believe that too much power and wealth rests in the hands of just one percent of the population. The demonstrators have tied this to all matter of social ills, including the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the foreclosure crisis and high unemployment.
Tomeka Ligon came Monday to demonstrate in downtown Springfield Massachusetts, because she can relate.
Ligon and other demonstrators gathered in Court Square..a small park in the heart of downtown Springfield. They held signs demanding housing and jobs and denouncing the rich.
Another of the protestors, Vincent Bator of Southampton said democracy is being usurped by corporations. He said the Occupy Wall Street movement, while lacking a political objective, is raising public awareness.
Margaret Molloy of South Hadley, a member of Arise For Social Justice, said the best outcome from the Occupy Wall Street movement would be an increase in the number of people voting.
Massachusetts Congressman Richard Neal said the Occupy Wall Street movement ,like the Tea Party protests, both stem from a frustration over the county's economic malaise. But the Springfield Democrat said whether the Occupy Wall Street movement can have political influence, as the Tea Party does remains to be seen.
The demonstration in Springfield, which began with just a handful of protestors in the morning, than increased to 50 by early afternoon, and swelled into the hundreds in the evening, drew a mixed response from passersby. John Ortiz of Springfield was sympathetic.
Rich Sorcinelli of West Springfield said the goal of Occupy Wall Street is to destroy capitalism.
The Occupy Wall Street protests have been peaceful,although arrests for civil disobedience or trespassing have occurred in some cities. In Springfield, Police Commissioner William Fitchet said authorities took no chances. Police were deployed to keep a watch on the demonstrators, the street in front of City Hall was closed to traffic, and a mobile police command center was parked nearby.
The Occupy Springfield protest ended Monday night, after many of the demonstrators packed a city council meeting to urge the city to withdraw the less than 5 thousand dollars it has on deposit at Bank of America. The council voted to refer the matter to committee for further study.