A demonstration that began Saturday at Smith Park continued through the weekend, and supporters of Occupy Mississippi say they do not plan to leave any time soon.
About 50 people rallied downtown Saturday and marched to the state capitol to protest corporate greed. The protest was held at the same time as others around the world in support of the ongoing Occupy Wall Street demonstration in New York City.
Protesters held a "general assembly" Saturday afternoon and voted to continue the demonstration indefinitely. Some camped out Saturday night to "occupy" the park. On Sunday night, a post to the Occupy Mississippi Facebook page said a police officer told the protesters they were not allowed to sleep in the park overnight, so they moved to the sidewalks. Some tried to organize people into shifts so they could take turns sleeping.
By Monday, people taking work breaks outnumbered protesters at Smith Park. But rows of signs on the outdoor stage and a table of fliers weighted down with rocks spoke to hopes for more enthusiasm in the future.
Gabe Porter said many people had left to go to work, but he expected them to return later in the day.
Like several protesters, Porter wears a Guy Fawkes mask, like the one in the movie "V for Vendetta," on the back of his head. Guy Fawkes tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament in England in 1605, but Porter says the masks symbolize standing up for one's beliefs rather than Fawkes' tactics. While Porter talks about banks and politicians using money to control society, he places some of the blame on individuals for buying into "the system."
"Me personally, I think we need to change as individuals; we need to do something ourselves," he said. "We're kind of hardwired into the system, into the society. We already want to buy the new iPhone and always go to McDonald's, when we really need to be teaching our kids how to garden before it's too late and that knowledge is gone. We're kind of devolving."
People participating in Occupy Mississippi have been quick to say they are protesting a collection of issues. They eschew leaders and spokespeople and refer to themselves as facilitators or supporters. Most demonstrators are vocal in criticizing corporations for taking bailouts and laying off workers before posting healthy profits. They also place at least some of the blame on government officials who take campaign contributions from those corporations.
In addition to protesting big corporations, individual protesters have brought with them a variety of grievances that their fellow occupiers may or may not agree with, advocating for more affordable college education, an end to war, doubling the size of the U.S. House of Representatives, legalizing marijuana and voting one way or another on ballot initiatives.
Demonstrators said police allowed them to stay in the park Monday night. Protesters say they will occupy Smith Park indefinitely and are planning more meetings Thursday and Saturday.
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