UPDATE OCT. 17, 4:45 p.m.: Despite the fact that Irvine Police have told Occupy Orange County protesters they cannot camp in the city, the group seems determined to stay put. Several tents have been set up on the lawn located at the intersection of Alton Parkway and Harvard Avenue where the group has been protesting for the past three days.
]
Click here to see a slideshow of protesters.
Irvine
may be sovereign territory of obscenely wealthy right-wing ideologues,
but today the quiet of its streets was shattered by loud voices from a
diverse crowd of fed up citizens.
As many as 1,000 activists outraged
by corporate greed, rallied under the banner of Occupy Orange County
and took to the streets of the city where Taco Bell, Broadcom and Bax
Global are headquartered.
They hoisted signs decrying the abuses of corporations while angrily shouting, “This is what democracy looks like.”
The event began at 10 a.m. with people gathering across the sprawling green lawn in front of city hall. An hour later, a small band of aging rockers armed with a saxophonist played the lulling strains of Pink Floyd's “Us and Them,” as a long line of people snaked for several blocks to the intersection of Barranca and Jamboree.
Marchers were bolstered by constant honking from passing cars and trucks.
Since plans for the protest were first announced through social media more than a week ago, the stated goal was for participants to stand in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street, which is currently camped in Manhattan's Zucotti Park. Similar events have sprung up in Los Angeles, San Diego, Boston and Florida with many in the media criticizing the movement's lack of a clear goal.
In a commentary written by syndicated columnist Mark Steyn, which ran in last Sunday's
Orange County Register, the right-winger belittled the movement and accused patchouli- wearing members of having an “industrial strength lack of self awareness.”
Today's event, which saw little old ladies standing shoulder to shoulder with teenagers and middle class parents, belied Steyn's assumptions. Though, in his defense, there was a smattering of shirtless granola munchers present.
When asked what brought her to the event, Elaine Threadgill of Dana Point said, “The injustices of the banking industry. The social system has gone to pot.”
Irvine resident Leti Stiles, 53, was motivated by what she sees as a lack of opportunities for her son, a business major saddled with student loans. “Kids have become slaves,” she said. “The banking system has enslaved them with debt and no hope.”
Earlier this week, event organizer D'Marie Mulatierri told the
Weekly that activists were planning on occupying the grounds of the civic center indefinitely. At today's rally she said the plan was still in effect. But when asked if she would be among them, she smiled coyly and said, “no comment.”
By early afternoon two tents had been set up on the civic center lawn. One man who didn't give his name said he intended on camping out and was prepared to be arrested if police enforce a 10 p.m. curfew.
RELATED CONTENT
