A Year Later, Occupy Movement Vows To Push On
CHICAGO (CBS) -- The Occupy movement is now a year old and about 125 people celebrated in the rain at LaSalle Street and Jackson Boulevard Monday night.
As WBBM Newsradio's Terry Keshner reports, Occupy Wall Street began on Sept. 17 of last year in New York City. Occupy Chicago activists soon began demonstrating in Chicago's Financial District.
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One participant, Tiffany, has been a part of Occupy Chicago since last fall.
"We're not afraid to use our rights to speak up after, you know, what's happened in New York and all the people who have been arrested for peacefully protesting," she said.
Speaking up about what?
"Change for the better in terms of getting corporate money out of politics," she replied.
Another participant says focus itself should be the movement's focus.
"People going after every type of social issue, you know, and a lot of social issues, I would think that, yeah, I support it, but I thought they should have been more focused on a long-term campaign strategy to get corporate money out of politics," he said.
Joe from Oak Forest says big money influencing politics, corporate greed and steep student loans all add up to one thing.
"All the money and power is concentrated in a few hands, and democracy in our country is eroding," he said.
For that reason, he believes the Occupy movement still draws support.
"Something needs to be done, and I don't see any other groups out there that seem to be making any progress," he said.
Joe also said those who show up to Occupy rallies wearing masks are missing the point, saying that he believes public relations are a key to civic progress.
