Thousands, maybe tens of thousands showed up at Freedom Square in DC on a perfect, sunny day.
Some of the Occupy DC protesters participate in an aerial photo, configured to 99%.
The big themes were the ten year anniversary of the Afghan war and getting corporations out of government.
One of the organizers, Kevin Zeese, said, "We are the largest empire in world history-- eleven hundred military outposts around the world. At its peak, Rome only had 37.
.... The People can rule better than the elites.
...This democracy has become a fraud.
...We're in this to shift power-- the regime of corporatism needs to change.
...The youth of this country are in rebellion. They are more in debt than any previous generation. Zeese called for school loan forgiveness.
Kevin Zeese
After a group of speeches and performances, at least 1000 people took off on a protest march past the Whitehouse, to the National Chamber of Commerce building.
(photos by Rob Kall, unless marked otherwise)
Speakers commented that the national chamber of commerce (NCC) does not represent small businesses. It represents the biggest business injecting $200 million a year into political elections. The NCC's building has a huge sign on the front, spelling out "JOBS." Right, like Bush had the Clear Skies Act.
Job applications were handed out to protest participants, then a group of them sat, blocking the entrance to the NCC.
afterwards, Medea Benjamin said to the assemblage of protesters, "We shut down the chamber of commerce and totally, peacefully broke the police line. This is one example of how a non-violent movement works."
More photos and videos will be coming.
If you were there, or at any of the occupations today, post your own diary or article or ad to this one as a comment.
Oh some signs were awesome.
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