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The Occupy Chicago protest moved its focus from LaSalle Street to an area in Grant Park.
A crowd of about 2,000 people gathered and marched from LaSalle Street and Jackson to a square northeast of Michigan Avenue and Congress Parkway, continuing the three-week old protest against corporate corruption, government spending and a myriad of other issues.
Bearing homemade signs, American flags and printed banners, the crowd settled in the plaza to listed to a variety of speakers while some participants erected tents and set up sleeping bags.
“Look at what we did!” shouted one speaker. “The corporations control the government and the wealth but we have the greatest power of all: the power of the people!”
“This is our Tahrir Square,” said another speaker, referencing the protests in Egypt as part of what has been called the Arab Spring. “We’re not going to take it anymore! We’re going to take these streets!”
Occupy groups nationwide declared Saturday as a Global Day of Action, with protesters in various countries rallying for similar causes.
Dwight Overton of the West Side said he started participating on the fourth day of the movement and got more involved as he participated in the general assemblies and learned more about the issues.
“I want to get everyone aware of corporate corruption and greed,” said Overton, 24, the din of honking horns and drum beats behind him. “I want to give the United States and the world back to its people, and not have corporations influence on the government.”
Erica Weitzel, 26, said she plans to sleep over in the square and has been encouraged by the group’s camaraderie and commitment to its pledge of non-violence.
“It’s beautiful and exciting down here to see people taking care of each other and being kind to each other,” said Weitzel of the Ukrainian Village. “I think that taking time out of your day to come down here and stand up for what you believe in is the most American thing you can do.”
As the demonstration continued, speaker after speaker implored the participants to camp out overnight and to stand firm in their beliefs.
“We hope that you are here in the dead of winter,” one speaker shouted. “The weather is not going to stop this movement!”
Police News Affairs did not immediately have comment on whether protesters would be allowed to remain in the park. Police on the scene, who included about a half-dozen mounted police and two dozen police cars, said about 9 p.m. that they had not yet been told whether the protesters should be allowed to remain in the park past its 11 p.m. closing time.
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