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Protesters Descend on Wall Street—and Don't Leave

Inspired by global demonstrations, they plan to stick around

By Mark Russell, Newser Staff

Posted Sep 19, 2011 5:05 AM CDT

(Newser) – Some 5,000 people gathered in New York's Financial District for a "Day of Rage" on Saturday, and though just a few hundred remain, those still protesting say they're planning to stick around, reports ABC News. The group, calling itself Occupy Wall Street, fell well short of the 20,000 protesters it hoped for, but with blankets, food, and heaters, they could be in for the long haul. Police say they have no plans to remove the protesters, even though they did not get a permit for their demonstration.

Occupy Wall Street says it is protesting against "the greed and corruption of the 1%," and was inspired by recent demonstrations around the world—“our brothers and sisters in Egypt, Greece, Spain, and Iceland.” They want "accountability on the part of the politicians as well as the corporate owners because they’re completely entangled in each other," said one protester.

Demonstrators gather in front of a police barricade to call for the occupation of Wall Street, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Demonstrators gather to call for the occupation of Wall Street, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011, in New York. According to their website, the mission of the leaderless resistance movement is to flood thousands... (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Participants in the Occupy Wall Street protest meet in a park on Broadway September 18, 2011 in New York. About 1,000 demonstrators gathered to protest the US capitalist system. AFP PHOTO / DON EMMERT (Getty Images)

A police officer covers his ears to block out noise from demonstrators gathering to call for the occupation of Wall Street, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011, in New York. According to their website, the mission... (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

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Protesters Descend on Wall Street—and Don't Leave

Inspired by global demonstrations, they plan to stick around

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