Wall Street Protest Plans Global Rally Ahead of G20

By Michelle Nichols
Reuters via www.commondreams.org
October 24, 2011

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2011/10/24-11

(Reuters) - An anti-capitalist group which sparked the Occupy
Wall Street movement has called for global protests on
Saturday to demand G20 leaders impose a "Robin Hood" tax on
financial transactions and currency trades.Adbusters

Canada-based Adbusters wants the Occupy Wall Street protest
movement against economic inequality to take to the streets
to call for a 1 percent tax on such deals ahead of a Nov. 3-4
summit of the Group of 20 leading economies in France.

"Let's send them a clear message: We want you to slow down
some of that $1.3 trillion easy money that's sloshing around
the global casino each day -- enough cash to fund every
social program and environmental initiative in the world,"
the activist group said on its website, www.adbusters.org.

Adbusters put out the initial call for Occupy Wall Street and
since protesters set up camp in a park in New York City's
financial district on Sept. 17, they have inspired solidarity
demonstrations and so-called occupations around the world.

Thousands turned out for a global day of protests on Oct. 15,
which were mostly peaceful apart from in Rome, where there
were riots.

Occupy Arrests, a Twitter feed compiling arrests related to
Occupy Wall Street, said that since the movement began five
weeks ago nearly 2,400 people have been arrested around the
world, including in New York City.

Occupy Wall Street prides itself on not having any leaders
and doing everything by consensus at daily general
assemblies. Adbusters has asked protesters to approve its
plan for a "Robin Hood" tax and global protests at their
general assemblies.

The proposal by Adbusters comes as some people question
whether the movement can sustain momentum and and ask what
will happen next. Critics accuse the group of not having a
clear message.

"As the movement matures, let's consider a response to our
critics. Let's occupy the core of our global system. Let's
dethrone the greed that defines this new century," Adbusters
said on its website.

The protesters say they are upset that the billions of
dollars in bank bailouts doled out during the recession
allowed banks to resume earning huge profits while average
Americans have had no relief from high unemployment and job
insecurity.

They also believe the richest 1 percent of Americans do not
pay their fair share in taxes.

Occupy Wall Street is urging protesters to close their bank
accounts and transfer their money to credit unions, a move
that is due to culminate with a bank transfer day on Nov. 5.

(Editing by Cynthia Osterman)

© 2011 Reuters

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