Citizens ‘Occupy Pittsburgh,’ protest government corruption

Students, leaders among 'Occupy' group in Market Square

Published: Tuesday, October 18, 2011

A major union leader told a crowd of frustrated individuals at Occupy Pittsburgh that it is time to finally stand up and represent the "99 percent" of Americans who are suffering from corruption within the country.

University of Pittsburgh economics major Pooja Dindigal expressed concerns for her future with the current economic system, facing massive student loans and a dwindling job market.

Rapper Jasiri X, who provided an emotional crescendo to the day-long event, might have put the concerns of the crowd best.

"This country's wealth gap is an unbalance," Jasiri X said. "It's evil."

Kelly Cline

Participants of Occupy Pittsburgh display signs and flags

of their personal views.

Thousands of citizens, including students, teachers, veterans and the unemployed, marched on the streets of Pittsburgh last Saturday in support of the Occupy Pittsburgh movement, promoting solidarity and empowerment of the "99 percent."

Protestors spoke out against the corruption they claim is occurring within one percent of the population, which includes government officials and corporations.

The march kicked off Saturday morning at Freedom Corner in the Hill District neighborhood. People proudly displayed signs dawning statements such as "Corporate Greed Kills" and "Change Must Happen Now," announcing their disappointment in the current system of politics and finances, among other things.

The group traveled to Market Square, chanting phrases such as "Banks got bailed out, we got sold out" and "Stand up, fight back" along the designated path. Roads were closed for the protestors to peacefully march to the rally location.

Leo W. Gerard, international president of the United Steelworkers, joined the mass of people and expressed his disgust with the current system.

"Because of the ‘one percent,' in the last 10 years they closed 58,000 factories," Gerard said. "When they close those factories, workers lose their jobs, they lose their health care, they often lose their homes."

Others frustrated with the way government and corporations are currently run included students from local universities that made their voices heard, including Pitt student Dindigal.

"I'm going to be $100,000 in debt in another three years," Dindigal said. "I'm an econ major. I'm probably not going to get a job, and I don't know what to do about it."

Still, Dindigal finds hope in the Occupy movement, which is occurring across the country in many cities, including New York City and Seattle.

"It's a chance to have our voice heard finally," Dindigal said. "We can no longer be apathetic; we can no longer let the owners of our society just get away with whatever they want to."

Another student, Point Park University sophomore acting major Joe Rittenhouse, expressed his concern that people at the protest were not targeting those responsible for the corruption.

"You're attacking the wrong people," Rittenhouse said. "You should be attacking government as opposed to attacking individuals who are just trying to succeed."

Among the crowd was local hip-hop artist Jasiri X, who attended the rally and performed for the crowd with powerful lyrics.

"If you want to see terrorists then look higher," Jasiri X said. "They're in them skyscrapers."

Kelly Cline

Frustrated participants of the Occupy Pittsburgh movement

march from Freedom Center in the Hill District to

Market Square, where the rally kicked off.

The vocal crowd eventually relocated to the Mellon Green park area where many campers plan to stay indefinitely. Ben Forbeck, a junior at Riverview High School in Oakmont, Pa., plans to camp at the site and has been inspired by the movement.

"I felt empowered that we could actually make a difference and stop the corporate greed that has been plaguing this country for, well forever, but in the last few years has grown so dramatically," Forbeck said.

With no arrests and the Occupy Pittsburgh march and rally panning out peacefully, people proved that nonviolence could be used to spread a message of frustration. Chad Whitacre of Ambridge, Pa., spoke of the importance of the movement, where people meet face-to-face to broaden their perspectives and discuss without violence.

"Love is our one demand," Whitacre said. "I want a society where you don't have to be afraid."

Grouping together for a common purpose, the "99 percent" proclaimed that they hope their voices as a whole will be heard, and that this movement can cause changes to the corruption they see within government and corporations.

"We have to stand together, never give up, never give back," Gerard said. "The one percent need to finally understand that it's not class warfare until the 99 percent fight back. United we stand, divided we fall. Solidarity forever."