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Occupy Albany supporters celebrate 1-year anniversary
Posted at: 10/22/2012 12:38 AM
| Updated at: 10/22/2012 10:52 AM
By: Dan Bazile
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ALBANY - Protesters tied up traffic Sunday on Washington Avenue in downtown Albany as they celebrated the one-year anniversary of the Occupy Albany movement.
As they explained to us, “We got a good group of people here and we're taking it to the man.”
The group held signs and marched from Madison Avenue to Academy Park, the place where the occupation began a year ago. Along the way, they chanted slogans and held banners pointing to what they feel is the problem with the economy.
“Economic inequality is running rampant. Of course New York State is the state with the highest income inequality in the entire country. We still haven't decided to raise the minimum wage,” said protestor Dan Morrisey.
The group is pushing for higher minimum wage among other things. Organizers say it's more of an umbrella movement -- bringing various issues to the forefront.
It all started in New York City and then spread in cities throughout the country and even overseas.
Albany occupiers set up camp at Academy Park, drawing lots of participants for several months. Many of them were eventually arrested.
On the anniversary, some say they expected a better turn out at the rally. But those who showed up insist the movement isn't dead.
“As the capacity of an organizer, it never left. It’s not dead. It’s alive and well. It’s just that most of the organizers like myself, had school to do,” said Eddie Alkubari.
Even though members of the movement said numbers could always be higher, they seem to be satisfied with Sunday’s turnout.
They were back where it all started for some food, music and to discuss the future of the Occupy Albany movement.
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