Occupy Chicago marches to Grant Park again tonight to try for occupation

[mucifer]

By Jim Jaworski
Tribune reporter
8:50 p.m. CDT, October 22, 2011

Occupy Chicago protesters are back in Grant Park tonight after marching from Federal Plaza.

Initial police estimates put the crowd at about 1,500, but it had swelled by the time the marchers arrived at Michigan Avenue and Congress Parkway.

Protesters made speeches talking up the cause and declared their event peaceful.

Police say 175 people were arrested starting about 1 a.m. last Sunday, Oct. 16, when some involved in Occupy Chicago refused to leave Congress Plaza after warnings from police that staying in the park violated Chicago Park District ordinance.


Chicago Police Central District Cmdr. Christopher Kennedy said that as of 8:15, there had been no incidents or arrests. Protesters leading the crowd and officers were cooperating to keep the march on route.

Speakers, who turned the steps in front of the statue into a stage, said they have no intention of leaving. Some speakers didn't give a name, only referring to themselves as "one of the 99 percent."

"When I am asked to leave, I will not go far, and I will be back," one young man declared to loud applause. "The occupation is not leaving."


more at http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-occupy-chicago-aims-to-try-occupying-grant-park-again-tonight-20111022,0,3226865.story

[Cal Carpenter]

1. I hope they get to hold on to that park

I was there a few weeks ago and there were just a handful of people overnight on the sidewalk at the financial district, the cops wouldn't let anyone sleep. It was right as they were being forced to 'go mobile'. During the day there were tons of people holding signs, a hundred or more at GA meetings, but then everyone left.

I really hope they manage to hold on to their space. They need it. Chicago should have thousands, not just a few...

Occupy, Chicago!!

[elocs]

2. Compare the size of Madison, WI to NYC or Chicago.

We were able to get tens of thousands of protesters, even over 100,000 at times. Why cannot these cities with millions of people get larger crowds of protesters?