Youth Connection | "99 Percent" Occupies Wall Street Via Westlake

The national movement of Occupy Wall Street has arrived at Seattle. In this movement, participants are focused on protesting economic and social inequality, and the influence corporations have over the government.   

“We need the government to act for our interests, not for its own” says a protester in Seattle. “The way the government works, the rich people are getting richer while the 99 percent are getting less and less money. Where is the equality in that?”

Precisely this question led a crowd of people to protest in Westlake Seattle. Near the protest area, signs and tents encourage passersby to join the movement and support the "99 percent." The term "99 percent" comes from figures from the Federal Reserve, that in 2007, the top 1 percent of earners owned 33 percent of the nation’s wealth and that percentage has only been increasing since then. The growing income gap has sparked a national movement that recently became global, spreading to Europe, Africa, and Asia.

“Right now we’re getting ready for the silent reflection,” said a woman in the Seattle crowd. The organization of events such as the silent reflection, Non-Violence discussions, and work-group meetings provide supporters with specific ways to protest.

A diverse crowd of people have come together for a common cause. Men and women of varying ages participate in the nonviolent protests downtown.  One politically involved youth stated, “This government, founded to protect the people, has only made the income gap worse.”

You can support the cause by joining other protestors at Westlake Park in Seattle or donating via the Occupy Seattle website. To learn information, visit http://occupyseattle.org/ or experience it yourself in downtown Seattle.

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