OccupyWallStreet Solidarity Protest Today

The growing OccupyWallStreet movement has landed in Palo Alto.

Early this evening the Peninsula Peace and Justice Center is organizing in what they hope will grow into a full-fledged campaign in support of Occupy.

Paul George, one of the event's main organizers, said that Occupy's message is simple, and important:

"Washington policy has far too long favored the wealthy, the powerful, the corporations, and it’s got to change," he said.

The growing movement has garnered national media attention, as well as that of national elected officials, including Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Palo Alto), who expressed guarded support, saying she understands the motivation behind the protests.

"Peaceful protests have always been part of our history -- from the suffragettes to the opposition of the Vietnam war,” said Eshoo. “People are justifiably worried and angry about unemployment, foreclosures on their homes, and their government not addressing the things that have everything to do with their families, their dignity and their future."

George insists that the ever-increasing gap between rich and poor has reached a breaking point.

"The growth in economic inequality in this country is far beyond any other country in the world," he said, "and that’s the result of Washington policy. That’s not bad luck or circumstance. People are saying: we are demanding a change back to equality and fairness."

George said he hopes this first action serves as a catalyst in the local area for more, similar events, adding that Bank of American was chosen as a protest site over other alternatives due to its strong symbolic value.

"Bank of America represents large corporate power—Wall Street power," he said. "Bank of America is the largest bank in the country. They received $45 billion in bailout money and they continued throwing people out of their houses. That’s not right."

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