Occupy Cortland Protest

    The Occupy Cortland protest, a local spin-off of Occupy Wall Street, entered the sixth day in typical Cortland fashion--a few resolute older protesters showed up in front of the U.S. Post Office building at 8 A.M., Saturday morning. The young student protesters, who had partied Friday night, were sleeping on the sidewalks, in doorways, and in alleys. The weather was seasonal, the morning was chilly.
    Some protesters waved signs, and some shouted slogans:
    "Down with Capitalism."
    "Wall Street Robbers."
    "Corporate Greed."
    "Fair Tax--Tax millionaires."
    "People Before Profits."
    "We are the 99 Pct."
    "Jail Banksters."
    "Protect Working Families."
    "Honk for Justice."
    A few passing motorists honked their horns. Others ignored the protesters, who were five in number, a mix of retired university and government employees.
    "Shouldn't we be protesting at a bank?" a grey-haired woman said to another protester.
    "We should," answered the other woman. "But where? Which bank?"
    "Let's move our protest to the HSBC bank," the first woman suggested. "It's those bailed-out, bonus-bragging bankers that we want to make accountable. The post office has nothing to do with the economic mess we're in, really."
    The protesters all agreed to this suggestion, and they re-located to the sidewalk in front of the HSBC bank. The farmer's market vendors who lined the west curb of Main Street watched with curiosity.The protesters continued to shout their slogans and sing old civil rights' protest songs.
    "We shall overcome--"
    Someone made the point that the HSBC bank was controlled by Communist China. They paused their protest and huddled in serious discussion. They agreed that Communist China had abandoned socialism and was now a purveyor of capitalism, and that the protest should continue in front of the bank. One of the aged protesters, a retired education professor, summarized their position:
    "The Chinese are building new farms, railroads, airports, highways, skyscrapers, factories and revitalizing neighborhoods. The slums that were the earmark of communism are disappearing. There is inequality everywhere in China--classic signs of capitalism. It's the fault of Wall Street and big greedy banks, like this one, that devour the middle-class and create poverty all over the world. Look what they did to Greece. We shall overcome--"
    One old street vendor, who was watching and listening, commented: "He contradicts himself."
    The retired professor, who was the object of the criticism, didn't hear him.
    The young protesters began to stir about 2 P.M. The partying resumed. Music flowed along Main Street, songs were sung, slogans were shouted. By 4 P.M. there were hundreds of protesters on the street and sidewalks. Vehicular traffic could not pass. Horns were honking. Angry motorists were shouting from open car windows. The police were called by concerned merchants. Vendors packed their produce and left the farmers market.
    Protesters said that they had a permit. Police said that the permit did not allow protesters to block traffic. Both sides sought to avoid a confrontation. Police Chief McCartney said he would supply musicians at 8 P.M. if the protesters allowed traffic to pass. The protesters happily agreed, cleared the streets and allowed traffic to pass. Chief  McCartney contacted Sgt. Pepper and made arrangements for the music.
    At 6 P.M. the older protesters went home. New signs appeared.
    "LEGALIZE ALL DRUGS."
    "Outlaw War."
    "Outlaw Work."
    "Make Love not War."
    "LOVE IS MY RELIGION."
    "Free Tuition."
    "FREE BEER."
    A student leader gave a short vitriolic speech against capitalism and work, and concluded with:
    "We have some serious issues about wealth and greed in this country, but right now it's party time!"
    At 8 P.M. Chief McCartney and Deputy Chief Starr introduced Sgt. Lonely Pepper's Band to the crowd of youthful, enthusiastic protesters. Chief McCartney told the crowd that Sgt. Pepper was the detective assigned to Cortland's unsolved flasher case. The crowd applauded.
    Sgt. Pepper, lead vocalist, began the evening festivities with "Imagine" followed by "Give Me Some Truth."
    Behind the scenes, the mayor praised the chief's decision to control the crowd with John Lennon music.
    "There are arrests and street violence in Denver and New York City," she said. "But we have peace and cooperation in the City of Cortland."

    Click on YouTube below for an entertaining Wall Street protest song suggested by a reader of this blog.


http://www.youtube.com/user/ReasonTV#p/c/3/4QTfNEDgusQ

Readers interested in the subject of unequal income distribution and probable effects in the United States please click on the Bloomberg News and New York Times links below.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-10-13/growing-income-divide-may-increase-u-s-vulnerability-to-financial-crises.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/16/opinion/sunday/kristof-americas-primal-scream.html?_r=1&hp