Last night, The New York Observer joined hundreds as they marched, rallied, ate, and protested (generally) during the tenth straight day of Occupy Wall Street. Michael Moore was there. Depending on who you talked to, this event was set up by Adbusters, a group called General Assembly, or Anonymous. There was a press center, although not a lot of information being distributed. There was, at one point, free pizza.
But you don’t need another eyewitness account of the bedlam down on Wall Street. Instead, we thought we’d do something a little different and show you the actual faces behind the protest…have them tell you what they considered the issues they were fighting for/against. Sure, the answers might be have been vague (at best), and apparently 90 percent of the current “Occupy Wall Street” crew ismade up of people who had heard something about it on the Internet, showed up as a bystander, and then decided to stick around. But as one of our more (in)famous faces would say, “At least they’re not being complacent!”
(All photos by Marielle Solan.)
DC misses you, Riley!
what’s the symbol on her neck? doesn’t jive with student loans…
The tattoo? Looks like the Atheist symbol I’ve seen around. Or not.
Riley Waggamon – you sir, are an idiot! Cover the story – you don’t even know what the story is about!
Okay. Calm down, angry Teabagger. We’re all in this together, fellow Teabagger.
So, OK, Robin, what *is* the story about? The necessity of returning to the gold standard? The need to finish the dang fence? The threat posed by the Reptilians?
This slideshow did more harm than good for this movement.
Interesting. I thought the exact opposite.
Then you, my friend, are mistaken. These quotes could be placed next to some of Mike Tyson’s in one of those “Guess who said this” games and they would be completely indistinguishable. Incoherent, aimless blabber.
If you don’t have a message or aren’t smart enough to facilitate a means to accomplish something other than standing around and yelling at buildings, then please don’t act like you know what you’re talking about. We get enough empty sound bites from Washington.
Seriously, the kid who said “I just came down here to get something to eat” was by far the smartest person of the bunch.
You’re making a whole lot of assumptions there, now who’s the idiot?
“We get enough empty sound bites from Washington.” True. But do be careful. You’re parroting them.
Why?
I agree. The pictures are great, but more senior citizens who have lived a long time and seen the changes is needed. I’m one and wish I could be there.
I Agree
I really hope this was not a representative sample from the protests. I believe in this movement, but wouldn’t stand behind these 50. There are people who work with more than light healing there, right?
This does a lot more harm harm than good.
Keep on rockin’ Riley and company!
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Seems likea nice bunch of people. You’re all invited to my house for dinner. BYOB
They really are. Four of them came to cook at my house for an afternoon, and not only did they clean up after themselves in the kitchen, they tidied up my living room, too. (I have two small children. This was not an easy or simple task.) They came from the Bronx, New Jersey, Seattle and Egypt to help make the world a better place. I love them each and every one.
Chase Kruppo is the man in the picture.
Who says this movement doesn’t have a leader? His name’s Kevin. He’s around here somewhere.
Also, #31 has sort of a Penelope Cruz look going on.
Hey, Riley! Cover the shit out of that thing. The revolution is not being televised or radio broadcast, either, apparently.
Portraits of 50 Wall Street protesters:
Aw, hi, Thor! I agree with your message to Wall Street. Please give them a big ol’ one finger salute for me!
Provide for his girlfriend? This is exactly the misogynistic, chivalrous drivel that drives bankers and wall street to fatten their bonuses to find gold-digging wives. Break down the patriarchal framework that enslaves us all and allows this horror to continue, Kyle!
I looked through all fifty. A bunch of kids spouting platitudes who are shocked and appalled that occupations like ‘painter,’ ‘artist,’ ‘musician’ and ‘nothing’ haven’t brought in the big bucks for them to be able to provide for themselves, their families, and their friends. So money is evil, right? The evil money-obsession is keeping them from thriving as painters? — And what will replace money as a mode of peaceful exchange, for these losers? “Love and peace!” Oh, okay, then.
There’s a reason you people aren’t being covered: you’re a bunch of aimless losers with nothing better to do than sit around chanting mindless platitudes all day at people who couldn’t care less.
So money is evil, right?
If case you didn’t notice, Wall Street brought the entire U.S. economy down between 2002 and 2008 via credit default swaps and a massive asset bubble “insured” by same. Since then, the plutocrats who masterminded that debacle have been bailed out.
Now, they and the politicians they own want the rest of us to pay for it (and their wars for corporate profits) with our Social Security and the rest of our safety net.
Was that clear enough for you, Alex K.?
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I am with you on the crony capitalism, government should never be in a position to pick winners and losers, and it was the exactly this collusion and the associated market distortions that led directly to the market collapse that you describe. The best example of this is Fannie and Freddy. This quasi governmental / private Frankenstein’s monster underwrote many of these “risky” mortgages which were then split off into various exotic financial vehicles.
Understand though that the it was the bipartisan legislative policy that owning a home was the key to building wealth that created the bubble. Were there bad actors, yes. But whenever government creates incentives to play the system, the system will be played. The key then is to remove government from the mix.
The solution to regulatory gamesmanship is not creating more regulations to be gamed and more regulatory barriers to jump over to enter then market. Over regulated markets (like the real estate market) are inherently more expensive to enter.
You people are inspiring! Portland, Oregon stands with you.
I’ll be at the Portland, Oregon takeover march October 6th.
As will I.
70′s Vietnam Anti-War Demo in DC met with Cn Gas
011 Anti-Wall Demo met with Pepper Spray
Progress?
Good on you, Bob!
i think Craig is telling it like it is and America should be ashamed!
Happy New Year, Samuel. Keep up the great work!
right, March Young. Our current consumer society-Wall Street $ bottom line is destroying our home, our environment at an alarming rate.
Great that people protest, but they should have a solution in hand, someone Financially savvy in order to make sense, point out specific issues in an articulated manner; by the way what is that Coke doing in the back?
thank you so much, beautiful people <3
solidarity!
NY Times, huh?
End the Wars, end the FED, stop the corruption! Ron Paul 2012!
Riley Waggaman, you’re awesome.
Totally agree. Wish I could afford to be there. It’s time to change the banking system, the presidential/congressional system, the corporate systems, the tax system, the environmental mess, the Wal-Mart system, etc. etc. etc. We are all one people world-wide. We need to support each other and make this world a better place to live.
Amber Oestreich, speak your mind openly. You are right that student loans are crazy. And you are at that time in your life to want to get a higher education. So few can afford it and the banks rape you. Thanks for being there. Kris
I wish I could be there, Dasha S. But can’t afford it.
Go, Felicity!
James Marshall, you’re immature and pointless. This protest is extremely important and you make it look like you did it on a lark and you get publicity saying something stupid. We need people who take these protests seriously. Grow up!
Paulina Dabroska, this protest needs people who really believe the cause, not just following a friend.
Intern Riley is all grown up. Go Waggs!!
Where is Obama
Thank you for these portraits of caring souls.
Ordinary people doing extraordinary things.
Russell Delacruz from California, 20: What brings you here? “I firmly believe in fiscal reform. There’s no reason banks should get bailouts for their mistakes.”
Do you have a message? “Don’t listen to people who say this protest is useless. This will add up.”
This young man is smart, and he demonstrates this is not just some sideshow.
#32 is a strong 7. The rest probably don’t shave. Why do all these hippies have to be so dirty?
25? he’s had a hard life.
To these protesters: Get a better message, please! I have a million messages you can use… Here are some… END THE FED! Abolish the IRS! Federally prosecute Wall Street criminals NOW! Obama hired the same Wall Street execs that caused the 2008 crisis to work in his administration—FIRE THEM ALL! Hang the bankers! Give us our money back! We refuse to pay taxes to bail out these banks! Wall Street IS the Zombie Apocalypse! Restore the Constitution! Restore the Republic! Down with the Police State! LIBERTY OR DEATH! Iran: Because the government wants an excuse to tax you at 100%! BAIL OUT THE PEOPLE! College is a scam! I have to raise chickens guerrilla-style in the city because you bastards stole my omlette money! You can thank Wall Street for tomorrow’s HYPERINFLATION. Crash JP Morgan—Buy silver!
I would like a ginger cracker, an apple and most importantly the “Love”!
What else is the World for? What you people ought to be doing is organising around proper revolution: anarcho revolution.
you guys ROCK!!! thank you soooo much,
that linen looks great. nice to see light airy fabrics on display.
when i think of protest, i’ll remember to replace my mental pictures with hoodies instead of hoods. great pout. but a more liberal use of hair gel might have given this shot a more retro feel.
the shag and bangs are back in, but madras bermudas don’t mix well with the single pocket tee from old navy.
v neck — out
Film Maker, Artist, Freelance etc are all euphemisms for UNEMPLOYED. And more often than not I am assuming its not because of the economy or Wall Street. These people just need a cause while their parents pay for their rent in Williamsburg and their art supplies. Wasting tax payer money while they ridicule people working 12+ hours a day to make something of themselves.
Ah, another generation thinking Washington will hear them…….
His name is J. Behan
Bob Levard +1 to you. “Stop treating the world like it’s a way to make money.” I very much so agree.
These protestors are human vermin. Which is a shame, because it could be a worthy cause.
What a fabulous personification of movement – Music would bring it to life. I believe in the 99% for anyone that has a voice and is less than satisfied with how our country sits today.
The unemployed construction worker breaks my heart, I love his message.
Not everyone in the protest may be able to put into words their discontent, but I think the important issue is that they recognize there is something amiss and they want more acknowledgement. Big businesses just roll us up into numbers that owe owe owe them money or cost them money *gasp* and this is normal. Or is it?
The man in the picture( #7) is me. Thanks for an awesome new pic for my profile.
“I don’t have a financial future set up for me by any institution.”
At what point did people forget that the American Dream involves doing things for yourself?!? These protestors just want to be taken care of, like children, for the rest of their lives.
OK, so the gay woman can’t shave her armpits, gross, and yet she thinks society is misogynistic? Islam is misogynistic, the US isn’t. She wants people to like her better? Start by shaving the armpits!
I have his name:
CUCKOO
those pics must have been taken early on. I was there yesterday 10-26-11 and it looked like a bunch of homeless and burned out people. very few had any idea as to what was going on. maybe all the intelligent clean ones were in committee meetings. it had more of a post apocalyptic circus feel then a protest-revolution movement
The cupboards in her kitchen were full of things she did not need.I don’t think you are right.Take me to the airportplease.I’m sure we can get you a great good dealHe was efficient in his work.The secret was spread among the crowd.The secret was spread among the crowd.I am a football fan.I could hardly speak.We need more than listening.