Occupy Wall Street: 'day of action' underway

Justin Lane / EPA

Protestors march up Broadway during a day of action by the Occupy Wall Street movement in the area near the New York Stock Exchange and Wall Street in New York on Nov. 17.

Two days after the encampment that sparked the global Occupy protest movement was cleared by authorities, demonstrators marched through New York's financial district Thursday and promised a national day of action with mass gatherings in other cities.

Richard Drew / AP

New York City Police officers prevent protestors from entering Wall Street from the east on Thursday, Nov. 17.

Thursday morning, over 100 protesters blocked access to Wall Street. Though already barricaded by police, NBC's Steve Wende reports protestors blocked the single path that allowed employees to enter.

At one point during the standoff, a NYPD Lieutenant told NBC News' Mara Schiavocampo that a protester pepper sprayed a police officer.

Update at 11:34a.m. EST: WNBC confirms that at least 4 police officers were injured after an unknown liquid was thrown in their faces.

John Minchillo / AP

Spencer Gray, 23, of Brooklyn, speaks to a line of police officers blocking the path of protestors attempting to get near the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday, Nov. 17.

Live updates from people on the scene: Occupy protesters take to the streets

Related photos: Occupy Wall Street

Seth Wenig / AP

An Occupy Wall Street protester yells as he is arrested by police after blocking an intersection near The New York Stock Exchange in New York on Nov. 17.

John Minchillo / AP

Police officers stand with their batons at the ready during a march of Occupy Wall Street protestors on the Financial District in New York on Thursday, Nov. 17.

Story: Occupy Wall Street organizers plan to mark two-month point with flash mobs, student strikes, rallies and musicals.

See more images from Occupy Wall Street's day of action in our slideshow.

Discuss this post

I think I am tired of this movement. It is like dealing with a kaleidoscope. Everytime you touch it, the occupy group changes. Surely these Americans have something else to do. Vote, maybe. However, there are no voting booths on the street. Move on!

  • 1 vote
Reply#1 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 10:31 AM EST

Perhaps, Andy, you have the luxury of being tired of this movement. Millions do not. Millions have lost jobs and have not had any for months, even years. My wife is one of them. My own job is teetering on going belly up. We are in our 50's where it is difficult to find work so that we are able to keep our home that we have paid on for 12 years. Millions like us are in a home that is underwater in value. Many more have had to walk away, like my brother and his family, who paid their bills on time for many, many years. Millions are strapped with expensive health care cost and many more millions have no care (like my adult children) because they cannot afford it.

So Andy, thank your lucky stars you can be simply "tired" while others are fighting for a future that obviously is wrapped around the top 1% of this country of which 400 have more wealth than 150 Million people COMBINED. Yes, Andy, these protestors are tired too, tired of a Corporate run Government that is taking care of its own while the average citizen scrambles for what is left under the table. So enjoy your sleep Andy while Millions are trying to take back a country that has been sold out from under us.

  • 1 vote
#1.1 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 10:48 AM EST

Thank you COTW. I agree whole-heartedly. I, too, tired of being under the threat of financial ruin by the actions of some nameless banker that bribed our elected officials to de-regulate the financial industry only to turn that opportunity to aid their fellow man into another excuse to garner more money than any moral person could ever spend in ten lifetimes.

I favor capitalism. I am loathe to any form of socialism. Particularly the evil form we now find ourselves burdened with here in the USA. These theives that call themselves capitalists, and then manipulate the government to do their dirty work, are merely products of a great evil called greed. The only bail out they should be given is the one that their families should be forced to consider to gain their release on a jail bond.

I recently read that the big banks are not worried about all the accounts migrating to credit unions. To those bankers I would suggest they and their stockholders look closely at the protestors outside their windows. It can readily be discerned that the youth of the world are out in the streets. In ten years, when that youth have brought those bankers back in line, the same youth will be new economic powerhouses. Just as the bankers are short-sighted today in thier greed for short term gains, they will miss out on the next generation's wealth.

Keep strong protestors!

  • 1 vote
#1.2 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 12:48 PM EST
Reply
VanderleunDeleted

The nypd are just paid buffoons of the Rich.....protecting the rights of the people...lol thats a joke don't you mean protecting the rights of the rich?.....They are there to snuff out the OWS folks ...so the rich don't look too bad...If the March was on Martin Luther King Blvd. in Newark there would be 2 squad cars and 4 officers...tell me i'm wrong

  • 4 votes
Reply#3 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 11:23 AM EST

hey dimisur - don't you think the nypd might actually just be protecting the rights of the people who happen to have an office address on wall street and are just trying to get to get to work today? people like my husband, who is working hard to make a living for our family, who is part of the 99% because we are by no means wealthy? because i would hate to have to explain to my kids why daddy was hurt on the way to work today because protesters are diluting their powerful message with aggression, violence and the assumption that any and everyone who works on wall street must be corrupt...

    #3.1 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 3:17 PM EST
    Reply

    We The People will NOT be silenced!

    • 1 vote
    Reply#4 - Thu Nov 17, 2011 12:24 PM EST
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