success at occupy wall street west
http://www.nationofchange.org/success-occupy-wall-street-west-1327335618
It was January 20th, one day before the two-year anniversary of the infamous Citizens United court ruling. Despite cold and rainy weather, Occupy Wall Street West filled out San Fransiscos financial district in large numbers.
Thousands of people organized together to protest against predatory bank eviction and foreclosure practices, and demanded an end to state recognition of corporations as people. The demonstrations targeted for-profit corporations and banks in the area which have proved disruptive to the community and trying to send the message that enough is enough! NationofChange was on the scene and successfully met its fundraising goal to provide $10,000.00 to the event for food and other essential supplies.
Protesters went on-site to financial institutions in the area to demand an end to foreclosures in the area, they demonstrated by making human chains, chanting as a group, and even binding themselves to the doors of the Wells Fargo Corporate Headquarters on Montgomery Street. At least eleven people were arrested as a result of the demonstrations or being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Sonia Alexander-White, communications director for NationofChange was among those arrested. Mrs. White described the experience as a both a humiliating and eye-opening experience and stressed a belief that law enforcement had been overly aggressive and that their tactics seemed more prone to create problems than solve them. In addition to being detained, Sonia was grabbed by her coat by an officer and thrown out of the way without warning. Aggressive law enforcement was a common sight. One man had his iPad broken in the street by an officer without reason. At least a dozen people marching on Van Ness Avenue at Geary were doused in pepper spray. Occupiers successfully shut down bank branches in the Bernal, Excelsior, and Mission areas.