Dozens in New York were arrested Saturday for so-called “Occupy Wall Street” movement. The protests also took place, on a smaller scale, in DC, where protesters say big money is playing too big a role in government. Derrick Ward reports.
For the last two weeks, demonstrators have taken their grievances to Wall Street, railing against what they see as excessive corporate influence on government and society. They call it a "Corporatocracy."
On Saturday, that movement came to D.C. Sort of.
As of early Saturday afternoon, you could find tour groups that outnumbered the group called "Occupy DC," which held a self-described general assembly in McPherson Square. At the peak of participation, between 40 and 50 people braved the rain and the chill.
"You gotta start small," said Justin Rodriguez, one of the participants. "Everything has to start somewhere."
Like their fellows in New York, these hardy souls were brought together out of dissatisfaction with the government and what they see as the too-close relationship between money and power.
"We're united around a sense that the country's gone in a bad direction, allowing corporate interests to govern where the people should be governing," said Micah Bales, another protester.
What they lack in numbers, they make up for in devotion to their cause. And despite the fact that their protests were often drowned out by a women's percussion practicing across McPherson Square, the men and women of "Occupy DC" believe that this is just the beginning.
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"We're locals, and this is a homegrown movement," said Bales. "We're not just gonna come in and do our little thing. We're here for the long haul."
