Local Spinoff: Occupy Detroit Gathering Support
DETROIT (WWJ) - The Occupy Wall Street protests are now entering their fourth week in New York City and it seems to be inspiring some Detroiters to hit the streets.
Michael Shallal, one of the group's organizers, says so far, flyers and Facebook have helped alert locals of the budding movement.
"We've been on social networks blasting Facebook pages and also flyering the city of Detroit the best we can," said Shallal.
"Foreclosures, homelessness, school closures, poverty, having assistance cut off ... all of those issues are a directly connected to corporations and inaction in Washington," said Shallal.
About a dozen similar groups have sprung about around the country as an extension of the Occupy Wall Street movement.
Shallal says Occupy Detroit will focus on the problems people face here-- all of which-- he says-- are caused by corporate greed and political corruption.
One of the organizers, Jason Ahmadi, says he hopes this is just the beginning.
"We're really excited about the 'Occupy Movement' starting up in cities across the country and we have thousands of people now, and we are looking to see more, if not millions," said Ahmadi.
Saturday, several thousand protesters marched to New York City's Washington Square Park for a peaceful general assembly.
No details about when and where that event may be-- except that the group will quote "occupy" a public space somewhere in the city.
