A protester behind by a handmade sign during the “Occupy Wall Street” protest.
Coreale Jones of Brooklyn says she’s here because she fears for the future and capitalism doesn’t equally help the working class as it does the rich. “I find it appalling that you have to pay for health insurance,” Coreale says. “But in Europe, you get it for free.”
Elena Carey, center, came out for the first time last week with her fellow musicians to play a few tunes during the “Occupy Wall Street” protest. Elena would like to participate more often with her fellow revolutionaries. But she has a 9-to-5 to tend to.
Elena Carey is Brooklyn native who wishes there were more African-Americans out with her. Then again, “there could be more of everyone out here,” she says.
Many of the protesters, like Aaron Trejo of New Jersey, draw comparisons between “Occupy Wall Street” protests and the African American Civil Rights Movement of the 20th century. He finds the strong police presence keeping a watchful eye over the protest threatening.
A young man expresses his support for the “Occupy Wall Street” protest to a camera crew. If you ask many of the people what exactly they want to come out of all of this, it is obvious that most all of them want a remaking of America’s capitalist system. Many even called for socialism. But some in attendance disagreed.
Iyanya Ukpong, left , and Iqua Ukpong, right, of Brooklyn represented as sister and brother. Iqua, a 27-year-old unemployed visual arts professional says she is disappointed that more of her fellow brothas and sistas are not active in the protest. “But I’m not surprised,” she says. “Even though this is a protest for the marginalized … black and brown people feel excluded.”
Many protesters have been here from day one braving the weather.
Sharon drove to the Big Apple from Detroit to support the “Occupy Wall Street” protest. She’s been here since last Sunday. “We have to show up for things to change,” she says. “We bail out Wall Street. But we don’t forgive student loans. We bail out the banks. But we don’t bail out homeowners who lost their home.
You’ve probably been wondering how well represented African-Americans are at the three-week-long ‘Occupy Wall Street’ protest. Undoubtedly, you won’t find nearly as many black faces camped out here as you would see lined up for a Tyler Perry premiere. But there are plenty of sistas and brothas here representing the race.
VIDEO edited & produced by Todd Johnson>
