These activists in NYC have been planning the #OccupyWallStreet movement for about 3 months before the Sept 17, 2011 launch. I think their target is correct. American need to understand that the ULTIMATE VILLAINS are Wall St. bankers who have not been prosecuted for their crimes, but instead received taxpayers' bailout. I talked to many people, they understood immediately what this #OccupyWallStreet movement is about, they are thankful for these people protesting in Zuccotti Park in Manhattan.
The reason American immediately understand the movement is that, we are all frustrated by the corruptions going on - both the Republican and Democrats are at fault - nothing gets done for the middle-class or poor family, both sides only look out for the super-wealthy. The politicians all accept big campaign contributions from wealthy Wall St. and Big Corporations, the wealthiest people in America OWN and CONTROL the US government via their big campaign contributions.
There is a separate group organizing the #OccupyDC in Freedom Plaza in Washington, DC today (Oct 6). That group spent about 6 months organizing their protests, they have similar grievances about Wall St., about the direction of the country, etc.
One of the organizer in NYC is a friend & former College classmate of my neighbor. He is a very decent young man, I had communicated with him numerous times on other issues unrelated to the OccupyWallStreet movement. He was arrested a few days after the Sept 17 launch. Before the mass arrest of 80+ on Sept 24, and 700+ on Oct 1. I watched his arrest via a YouTube video. He did not do anything, the NYPD "white-shirt" (aka: white-shirt = high ranking police captain, inspector, etc), the "white-shirt" came back & forth trying to make eye contact with this young man, then the "white-shirt" threw him on the ground & arrested him. I was so outraged, he truly didn't do anything to deserve the arrest. He was released almost 10 hours later.
It is quite smart to have a leaderless movement, to let everyone's voice be heard. The NYPD and FBI cannot trace back to any single person. The protesters in Zuccotti Park are intentionally "vague" about their demands. Yet, if you ask any American on the street, I can tell you 8 out of 10 American are dissatisfied with the US Gov't and the direction of the country.
The beauty of this movement is that, once they get National attention (Note: Ben Bernanke talked about the OWS protests early this week. Obama also made comments about OWS today at a press conference). Once it receives National attention, there will be many other American people forcing changes to happen.
From history, the civil rights movement, the women's rights movement, etc. were all started by ordinary folks. Their initial message may not be polished & coherent. But after more people learn about the movement, they all stepped in & forced changes to happen.
I think Occupy Wall Street will get a big mass of people to force changes to happen, similar to Civil Rights movement and Women's Rights movement.
It's useless to start protest in Washington DC, Obama doesn't have any backbone. He has been accepting Wall St. campaign money. The change will not happen from him. I say this eventhough I'm a registered Democrat. I once supported him, but I am currently very disappointed in Obama.
It is ridiculous for Obama & his fellow Democrats to claim that Occupy Wall Street is a "lefty, pro-Democrat" movement. From what I learn, there are conservative Republicans supporting Occupy Wall Street. They are all united against all the fools in Congress (both Republican & Democrat).