"Occupy" protests enter their 4th week

A New York City police officer runs over a National Lawyers Guild observer as Occupy Wall Street demonstrators march through the streets near Wall Street, Friday, Oct. 14, 2011, in New York.

The protests against income inequality, joblessness and the political influence of financial firms are now entering their fourth week in New York City. They have attracted the attention of major unions and religious groups as the movement continues to grow in influence across the nation.

Meanwhile, conservative figures have blasted or mocked the protests. Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., warned radio host Laura Ingraham that the movement must not gain "legitimacy," and said the protesters must not be allowed to influence public policy. "We can't allow that to happen," he said.

GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain called the protesters "un-American," and said their demonstrations against bankers merely indicated "jealousy" of bankers' success.

Miami, Fla.

A sign is seen on the grounds of the Occupy Miami tent encampment that has been built in front of the Miami-Dade Government Center, on October 17, 2011 in Miami, Florida.

Miami, Fla.

An unidentified protester holds a sign during an Occupy Miami rally in downtown Miami, Monday, Oct. 17, 2011. More than 100 people have been camping out by the city government building after a rally Saturday attended by more than 1,000 people.

Atlanta, Ga.

AP Photo/Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Curtis Compton

Occupy Atlanta protester Natalie, who would not give her last name, sets up a wall of beliefs and demands in Woodruff Park Monday, Oct. 17, 2011.

Some of the messages prefaced with "I believe" read, "People should ask more questions"

Chicago, Ill.

AP Photo/Chicago Sun-Times, Scott Stewart

Protesters take part in an Occupy Chicago march and rally at Michigan and Congress for the Global Day of Occupation, Saturday, Oct. 15, 2011.

About 2,000 people participated in the demonstration, and about 500 pitched tents in Congress Plaza that evening. When protesters refused to remove their tents and leave the park at closing time, Chicago police began cutting down the tents and making arrests.

Phoenix, Ariz.

A man holds an American flag upside down during an Occupy Phoenix protest October 17, 2011 in Phoenix, Arizona. The movement which started with protesters occupying Wall Street in New York City has spread to cities around the United States.

Augusta, Me.

Paul Slattery of New Mexico (front), Derrick White of Augusta (center), and Howard Little of Augusta, Maine wave to passing motorists in Augusta on Monday, Oct. 17, 2011. More than two dozen Occupy Augusta activists who camped out during the weekend in an expansive park across the street from the State House said they'll stay indefinitely in hopes of getting across their belief that government has failed the people by choosing instead to bow to the wishes of major corporations.

Lincoln, Neb.

AP Photo/Lincoln Journal Star, Brynn Anderson

Sarah Jones stands outside the Nebraska State Capitol, where people have set up tents on the lawn as part of the Occupy Lincoln protest, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2011.

Cleveland, Ohio

Occupy Cleveland protestors camp along a sidewalk Monday afternoon, Oct. 17, 2011, in downtown Cleveland. The protest, modeled after the Occupy Wall Street camp in New York, is in its 12th day.

Cincinnati, Ohio

Occupy Cincinnati protester Lolita Taylor cleans up Platt Park, Monday, Oct. 17, 2011, in Cincinnati. The group of protesters has been camped out in the park for 10 days in support of the Occupy Wall Street movement.

New York, N.Y.

A participant who asked not to identified and a dog begin the day along with others at the Occupy Wall Street protests at Zuccotti Park in New York, Monday, Oct. 17, 2011 as the protest enters its 30th day.

Supplies fill a storage space donated by the United Federation of Teachers to support the camp of Occupy Wall Street protesters in New York, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2011.

As the protest movement entered its second month, Occupy Wall Street announced it has received $300,000 in donations to its website.

Occupy Wall Street participants march on their way to a demonstration at Times Square in New York, October 15, 2011.

Occupy Wall Street participants march to a demonstration at Times Square in New York, October 15, 2011.

Demonstrators affiliated with the Occupy Wall Street rally in New York's Times Square, Saturday, Oct. 15, 2011.

Occupy Wall Street participants stage a protest on Times Square in New York, October 15, 2011. Thousands of demonstrators protesting corporate greed filled Times Square, and some 15 demonstrators were handcuffed and loaded into a police van following a confrontation with police.

Occupy Wall Street participants stage a protest on Times Square in New York, October 15, 2011.

Demonstrators associated with the "Occupy Wall Street" movement protest in Times Square on October 15, 2011 in New York City.

Demonstrators protest in Times Square on October 15, 2011 in New York City. Thousands of people are taking to the streets in cities across the world today in demonstrations inspired by the "Occupy Wall Street" protests against the global financial system that began here in New York.

Riot police arrive to break up an Occupy Wall protest on Times Square in New York, October 15, 2011.

Occupy Wall Street participants give peace signs as mounted police block them from taking take their demonstration past a police blockade onto the street, at Times Square in New York, October 15, 2011. The Occupy Wall Street movement went global with groups spanning the globe from Asia to Europe, and in every U.S. state, staging demonstrations and other actions.

Mounted police stop Occupy Wall Street participants trying to break trough police barricade set stop them to take their demonstration onto the street on Times Square in New York, October 15, 2011.

Mounted police stop Occupy Wall Street participants trying to break through a police barricade set to prevent them from taking their demonstration onto the street, at Times Square in New York, October 15, 2011.

Riot policemen break up an Occupy Wall Street protest at Times Square in New York, October 15, 2011.

Demonstrators associated with the "Occupy Wall Street" movement protest amidst steam in Times Square on October 15, 2011 in New York City.

Philadelphia, Pa.

Plates of food are provided in the park around City Hall Sunday, Oct. 16, 2011 in Philadelphia. The demonstration at City Hall is one of many being held across the country in support of the ongoing Occupy Wall Street demonstration in New York.

Miami, Fla.

Midorie Padin, Elizabeth Loveday, Estefania Parada and Mariana Keene (from left to right) participate in an Occupy Miami protest on October 15, 2011 in Miami, Florida. An estimated 1,000 people showed up to participate in the Miami protest.

Denver, Colo.

A Colorado State Patrol officer stands guard at the Occupy Denver protest in front of the Colorado State Capitol, Oct. 14, 2011.

Members of "Occupy Wall Street" face off with police during a celebration march after learning that they can stay on Zuccotti Park in New York, October 14, 2011. Amid what was described as a celebratory march by a small group of protesters, scattered clashes with the police broke out, who bulked up their presence at the Zuccotti Park location, which has been home for hundreds of protesters.

A New York City police officer shoves a demonstrator affiliated with the Occupy Wall Street protests as they march through the streets in the Wall St. area, Friday, Oct. 14, 2011 in New York.

A police officer warns a protester of impending arrest if he does not remove himself from the path of police scooters, as hundreds of Occupy Wall Street protesters march on the financial district Friday, Oct. 14, 2011, in New York.

A police officer shoves a demonstrator carrying a drum as hundreds of Occupy Wall Street protesters march on the financial district after being heartened by a postponement of a scheduled cleanup of their camp at Zuccotti Park, Friday, Oct. 14, 2011, in New York. At least a half-dozen arrests were seen in the surrounding blocks.

Demonstrators associated with the "Occupy Wall Street" movement face off with police in the streets of the financial district after the deadline for their removal from Zuccotti Park was postponed, October 14, 2011 in New York City.

Demonstrators confront New York City police officers as they march in the Wall Street area, Friday, Oct. 14, 2011, in New York. The cleanup of a plaza in lower Manhattan where protesters have been camped out for a month was postponed early Friday, sending cheers up from a crowd that had feared the effort was merely a pretext to evict them.

Mounted police officers prepare to defend Wall Street as hundreds of Occupy Wall Street protesters march on the financial district, Friday, Oct. 14, 2011, in New York. Some arrests have occurred after a few hundred protesters left Zuccotti Park and marched to the area around the New York Stock Exchange. There are barricades and mounted police around the exchange.

A New York City police officer, right, makes photographers back off as others arrest a National Lawyers Guild observer as Occupy Wall Street demonstrators march through the streets near Wall Street, Friday, Oct. 14, 2011 in New York.

An Occupy Wall Street protester presses his head into a police officer's chest as hundreds march towards Wall Street Friday, Oct. 14, 2011, in New York.

Police officers arrest Occupy Wall Street protesters as hundreds march towards Wall Street after being heartened by a postponement of a scheduled cleanup of their camp at Zuccotti Park that many saw as a de facto eviction, Friday, Oct. 14, 2011, in New York. There are barricades and mounted police around the exchange.

Members of the Occupy Wall Street movement fill Zuccotti Park in New York, on October 14, 2011. The real estate company that owns the public space decided to put off its planned cleaning of the square.

Members of Occupy Wall Street clean Zuccotti Park near Wall Street in New York on October 13, 2011. Mayor Bloomberg had demanded that demonstrators temporarily leave the park by 7 a.m. Friday morning so that it can be cleaned, but protesters feared that was a pretense to keep them out entirely. At the last minute the city announced it would postopne the cleaning, and the demonstrators stayed.

A New York Police Department guard tower looms over the Occupy Wall Street protest encampment at Zuccotti Park in New York, Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2011, as the protest entered its fourth week.

A member of the NYPD looks over demonstrators with the "Occupy Wall Street" protest at Zuccotti Park, October 13, 2011, the morning after Mayor Bloomberg gave a message to protesters that the park needs to be cleaned.

Marie Antoinette offers, well, not cake but at least bread to a passer-by at Zuccotti Park in New York, October 13, 2011.

"Occupy Wall Street" protesters hold a meeting in Zuccotti Park October 13, 2011.

New York City police officers arrest a demonstrator affiliated with the Occupy Wall Street protests after they started marching through the streets near Wall Street, Friday, Oct. 14, 2011 in New York.

"Occupy Wall Street" members stage a protest march in New York, October 12, 2011.

"Occupy Wall Street" protesters march in front of the Chase Manhattan Bank headquarters on October 12, 2011 in New York City. The activists have been converging on the financial district for more than three weeks to rally against the influence of corporate money in politics, among a host of other issues.

An "Occupy Wall Street" member is arrested during a protest march in New York, October 12, 2011.

Police arrest marchers from Zuccotti Park's Occupy Wall Street, during a protest near One Chase Manhattan Plaza on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2011 in New York. The protest is now in its fourth week.

An "Occupy Wall Street" member is arrested during a protest march at the JP Morgan Chase Bank tower near Wall Street in New York, October 12, 2011.

Two elderly "Occupy Wall Street" members sit on the ground after being arrested during a protest march at the JP Morgan Chase Bank tower near Wall Street in New York, October 12, 2011.

Police arrest two elderly protesters as outside the JP Morgan Chase Bank tower near Wall Street in New York, on October 12, 2011.

Occupy Wall Street protestors drop an oversized bank check in front of the house of hedge fund manager John Paulson as they stage a "Millionaires March" around Manhattan's Upper East Side, October 11, 2011. Protesters visited the homes of some of New York City's wealthiest residents, including News Corp. CEO Rupert Murdoch, JP Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, and Tea Party funder David Koch.

Occupy Wall Street protesters stage a "Millionaires March" in Manhattan's Upper East Side, one the city's wealthiest residential neighborhoods, October 11, 2011.

A construction worker holds up a sign in solidarity with the "Occupy Wall Street" movement as protesters walk to Park Avenue after briefly demonstrating in front of the residence of NewsCorp CEO Rupert Murdoch, October 11, 2011 in New York City.

A dog carries his own message during Occupy Wall Street's "Millionaires March," in Manhattan, October 11, 2011.

An Occupy Wall Street protester lights a candle on a shrine at Zuccotti Park where hundreds of other activists are living on October 11, 2011 in New York City.

Atlanta, N.Y.

Protesters move a tent as they prepare to spend the night at an encampment in Woodruff Park Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2011 in Atlanta. The demonstration is one of many being held across the country recently in support of the ongoing Occupy Wall Street demonstration in New York.

Atlanta, Ga.

As "Occupy Atlanta" demonstrators march back from a protest against joblessness at the Bank of America building Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2011, motorist Jonathan Cave yells for protestors to "get a job."

Kalamazoo, Mich.

AP Photo/The Kalamazoo Gazette, Jonathon Gruenke

Garret Schuelke and other Occupy Kalamazoo protesters chant while demonstrating on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2011, in downtown Kalamazoo, Mich.

Washington, D.C.

Demonstrators walk through the makeshift tent city as part of the Occupy D.C. demonstration at Freedom Plaza, in Washington on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2011. The group began camping last week, coinciding with another protest marking the 10th anniversary of the war in Afghanistan.

Los Angeles, Calif.

Workers from various unions and participants from Occupy LA protest against the Southern California Gas Company in downtown Los Angeles, October 13, 2011. The unionized gas company workers are preparing for the possibility of a strike in response to wage and benefit cut demands from SoCalGas.

Oakland, Calif.

A sign is posted on the side of a tent at an Occupy Wall Street tent city in front of Oakland city hall on October 13, 2011 in Oakland. Hundreds of activists affiliated with the "Occupy Wall Street" demonstrations have been living in front of Oakland's city hall to rally against the influence of corporate money in politics, among a host of other issues.

Washington, D.C.

A protester wraps up his sleeping bag during the "Occupy DC" demonstration in downtown Washington, D.C., October 12, 2011.

San Antonio, Texas

Teodoro Zavora, left, takes part in an "Occupy Sen. John Cornyn's office" protest, Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2011, in San Antonio.

Providence, R.I.

Jay Wills, of Providence, R.I., below right, paints a sign in preparation for a march from downtown Providence, R.I. to Brown University, Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2011, in support of the Occupy Wall Street protests.

Providence, R.I.

Carrying signs and chanting slogans in support of the Occupy Wall Street protests, Amanda MaGee, front right, marches with others from downtown Providence, R.I. to Brown University, Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2011. The march concluded with a talk at Brown held to discuss the demonstration in New York and its offshoots, including Occupy Providence.

Las Cruces, N.M.

AP Photo/Las Cruces Sun-News, Norm Dettlaff

Mick Smith gets supporters of Occupy College pumped up Thursday, Oct. 13, 2011, at New Mexico State University before marching through the campus to the bookstore at NMSU. The protest was inspired by Occupy Wall Street.

The Las Cruces Sun-News reports about 120 students participated in the protest.

Philadelphia, Pa.

Police keep a group of Young Republican counter-demonstrators from Temple University separate from Occupy Philadelphia marchers, in front of the offices of Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., Thursday, Oct. 13, 2011 in Philadelphia. The demonstrators' encampment at City Hall is one of many being held across the country in support of the ongoing Occupy Wall Street demonstration in New York.

Denver, Colo.

Police in riot gear cleared out Occupy Denver protesters from the park across from the State Capitol building at about 6:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 14, 2011. Some protesters who refused to leave were taken away in what appeared to be handcuffs. More than 20 were arrested, reports CBS Station KCNC.

About 3 hours earlier, police started clearing out protesters who had camped in Civic Center Park, giving them an ultimatum to pack up and leave.

KCNC reported from that it appeared some protesters were taken away in large trucks.

Seattle, Wash.

Seattle Police carry away an Occupy Seattle protester at Westlake Park on Thursday, October 13, 2011. Ten protesters were arrested for refusing to move from a makeshift structure in the park.

Seattle, Wash.

A protester holds a banner in view of police in front of a downtown Seattle hotel, protesting the appearance of Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney Thursday, Oct. 13, 2011. About 50 Occupy Seattle protesters made the walk of a few blocks from Westlake Park to the hotel where the former Massachusetts governor was holding a private fundraiser.

Washington, D.C.

CodePink cofounder Medea Benjamin, center, and other protesters affiliated with Occupy DC, wait in a hallway on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 13, 2011, hoping to enter a House Armed Services Committee hearing where Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey were to testify.

Cleveland, Ohio

Protesters march through the streets of downtown Cleveland Thursday, Oct. 13, 2011. The demonstration is one of many being held across the country in support of the ongoing Occupy Wall Street demonstration in New York.

Lansing, Mich.

Members of the group Occupy Lansing and other anti-Wall Street protesters gather near their encampment at Reutter Park in Lansing, Mich., Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2011.

Brainerd, Minn.

Showing unity with the Occupy Wall Street movement, more than 50 people demonstrated in front of City Hall in Brainerd, Minn., Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2011. Passing motorists showed their approval or disapproval with horn blasts or shouts from passing cars.

Occupy Wall Street protesters march around One Chase Manhattan Plaza on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2011 in New York. The protest is in its fourth week.

Grand Rapids, Mich.

AP Photo/The Grand Rapids Press, T.J. Hamilton

George Bartnick, left and Mike Gionfriddo carry a sign as the Occupy Grand Rapids group marches through the city, Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2011.

Houston, Texas

AP Photo/Houston Chronicle, Brett Coomer

Police push people away from the Mickey Leeland Federal Building during a protest Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2011, in Houston. More than 200 protesters, some of whom went inside the building, rallied around the federal building. Several who got inside and staged an impromptu sit-in were arrested.

Kalamazoo, Mich.

AP Photo/The Kalamazoo Gazette, Mark Bugnaski

About 200 Occupy Kalamazoo protesters gather in front of a Bank of America building on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2011, in downtown Kalamazoo, Mich.

Philadelphia, Pa.

Zip ties hang from a police officer's bicycle as he escorts protesters marching from a City Hall encampment to a Wells Fargo bank Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2011, in Philadelphia.