LANCASTER – Nearly 50 demonstrators took to THE BLVD Saturday morning as part of the Occupy Antelope Valley march in solidarity with the global Occupy Wall Street Movement.
“I’m out here representing the 99 percent,” said demonstrator Angel Warner. “The people that live in this country, that are tired of watching our wages diminish, while the rest of the 1 percent get richer and richer.”
“We are against the corruptness in capitalism and we are against the greed in capitalism,” Warner continued. “We are against government being bought by all these huge corporations and the 1 percent telling the government officials that we elected what to do, while in the meantime, we are being ignored.”
Another demonstrator, Mike Santos from Palmdale, said a solution to corruption in capitalism on a policy level would be to reintroduce the Glass-Steagall Act (GSA), a 1930s response to the Great Depression, which separated investment and commercial banking activities. GSA was repealed in 1999.
“Glass-Steagall will take away half of the problem because of all the CDO’s [collateralized debt obligations], the CDS’s [credit default swaps] and all the derivatives,” said Santos. “That’s what kind of brought us down.”
He said talking to representatives would not yield real solutions because representatives were too busy listening to lobbyists.
“They’re listening to Wall Street, so that’s why we’re going after Wall Street,” Santos said, adding that it starts at the local level.
“We need to start putting pressure on City Councils for them to divest their holdings from companies and banks that have screwed the American public!” Santos yelled, to cheers from the crowd.
Another demonstrator, Roxie Patterson, said the march was part of a larger movement to establish the group’s presence in the community.
“It will let this conservative community know that we’re here and we have a right to be heard and maybe wake up some people that are sleeping,” said Patterson. “We’ve been relaxed too long… We need to be a government of the people, by the people, and for the people.”
The 50 demonstrators started out at Lancaster City Hall at 10 a.m., and then marched the length of The BLVD, waving signs, pumping their fists, and chanting loudly to the beat of a Bongo Drum.
“TELL ME WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE!” one demonstrator shouted.
“THIS IS WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE!” the group responded.
At other times the group shouted: “WE… ARE… THE 99 PECENT! WE… ARE… THE 99 PECENT!”
Several drivers on The BLVD honked their horns to cheers from the group. Demonstrators stopped in front of each bank on The BLVD to voice their dissatisfaction.
“I had a Wells Fargo Mastercard; interest rate 12.9%,” said Booth McKeown in front of the Wells Fargo bank on The BLVD. “All the payments were on time, but when I lost my job, the interest rate went up to 29 and a half percent.”
“SHAME! SHAME! SHAME! SHAME!” demonstrators screamed at the glass doors to the entrance of Wells Fargo bank.
They also chanted:
“BANKS GOT BAILED OUT, WE GOT SOLD OUT!”
When the group came to the intersection of Sierra Highway and Lancaster Boulevard, half the group crossed the highway and gathered at Boeing Plaza and the other half gathered in front of the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station. Both groups directed their chants to passing cars on Sierra Highway and some drivers honked their horns in support.
The demonstration appeared to be peaceful and non-violent. Several deputy patrol cars could be seen observing the march, however, none attempted to halt the demonstration.
Saturday’s march will be followed by a Move Your Money March and Demonstration on November 5th. The occupation is scheduled to begin immediately following the march on November 5th.
For more information on Occupy Antelope Valley, visit their facebook page.
Abdul Majeed Askia says
I believe we live in the best county in the world. In fact I believe we as
americans are in an ideal situation to serve as a model for the world! Again, we are in a perfect situation in this imperfect world (man’s world)to be a guiding light for humanity. I also believe those who have more should give more and do more. Do more not because it is demanded of you or
tax that requires you to do so but because you love America and its people ! Money serves no purpose if it isn’t used in noble causes and/or if
humanity is not served. To have a billion dollars just for the sake of having billions at the expense of poverty,homelessness,unemployment,crime,
social unrest,bulging prisons is a disservice to the country. Yes, we can hoard, yes we can hold on to every dime we gain (after taxes)but where
is the love when we don’t use our monies in noble causes ! Where is the love when we see our youth in the multitudes needing guidance and we sit
by and say ‘I got mine’ now you get yours and if you don’t tough luck !
Why not create jobs ? Why not create businesses and/or invest in others
that have creativity that can help make our society better and safer for
us all as opposed to just getting rich at all cost and watch your surroundings crumble around you? No,we don’t have to give and we don’t have to volunteer or to serve,but it would be the noble thing to do! I am
an elder person that loves America but I also understand that our younger
generation has concerns and they want to be heard and their views be considered when it comes to the state of this country.Ideally speaking it is no question that america has more and greater opportunity than any
where in the world,but that does not means there is no room for improvement
or consideration for growth! We fail if we think all has been accomplished
or achieved,in fact that type of thinking ‘spells’ a down hill spiral !
We have a great opportunity for excellent human achievements in the realm
of human relations, a regards for all people and respecting the essence
of the human being,the preamble “we hold these truths to be self evident
that all ment are created equal!” Abdulaskia@yahoo.com
Tony says
Wall street has mobilized its army against the 99% in downtown LA.
Josh says
And it’s about time, too.
According to ABC7, “[Mayor] Villaraigosa said the cleanup and repair to the damaged lawn and park facilities would cost the city hundreds of thousands of dollars, possibly more than $1 million.”
William says
The banksters cost the country trillions and ruined lives but people are concerned about a damaged lawn. It will grow back but the country might not.
Jo says
OOhhhhh Noooooooo! Not trampled grass!!!!! LOL
They show pictures of stuff thrown around like it was the occupiers mess. Not to mention that when you tear things out of boxes and strewn them around, it WILL look trashy! Can’t accuse the LAPD of passing up the makings of a good photo op.
Jo says
“The Fed Grants $7.77 Trillion in Secret Bank Loan – Now Do You Understand Occupy Wall Street?”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUpXDZFtEHw&feature=share
Tony says
Then protest the fed government, who caused all this.
William says
Yes, but Reagan is dead and he was the source of all the greed, lax regulation, tax cuts for the rich, income inequality and so on.
We’ve had one crisis, scandal, fiasco, meltdown after another since the 1980s, when Reagan was president. These haven’t been normal, business cycle recessions but failed policies of the GOP which made greed and corruption virtuous. Look at who is ahead in the GOP race, Newt Gingrich. That should tell you everything.
Wall Street’s hands aren’t clean and OWS is correct in focusing on it and then D.C. too.
Matt Keltner says
I’m glad it went well. Good for you guys!!! :-) it’s not as insane as I thought it might turn out.
Palmdale_Steve says
So what are the specials at the 99 cent store?
William says
Since Reagan, the rich got richer not necessariy by working harder but by keeping workers’ wages stagnant, skimming the benefits of increased productivity for themselves and not passing any on to the workers, having their taxes cut, outsourcing jobs to take advantage of extremely low wages elsewhere and other tactics that they paid our elected officials to legislate for them.
Since Reagan turned loose the greed monster, we’ve had one corrupt scheme, fraud, crisis, crash, scandal after another. These haven’t been normal business cycle recessions. We’ve had junk bonds, S & L collapse, dot com, Enron/Arthur Anderson, sub-prime lending and selling bad mortgages to investors while regulations have been eliminated or not enforced. What did anyone expect to happen.
The rich got a big tax cut thanks to Reagan but it wasn’t enough once that greed pump is primed. CEO compensation went through the roof since the 80s. Why weren’t the tax cuts sufficient for them?
Republicans like to credit Reagan’s tax cuts for improving the economy but never mention that he increased defense spending which acts as a STIMULUS. You know STIMULUS. It’s what they oppose now that Obama is in office.
Americans weren’t saving, were maxing out on credit and home equity loans, while jobs were being outsourced and so on. If you don’t change direction, you end up where your headed.