Occupy Wall Street Goes Global In Over 82 Countries

Check out these posts from across the internet.  Do you believe that this is a worldwide movement?

Although the 99 Percent Movement is stressing non-violence and violence has been notably absent from protesters there is a danger of violence breaking out.  Let us all stress that violence solves nothing!

Protesters march through Berlin, Germany today as part of the Occupy Wall Street movement's call for global action (AP)

Occupy protests spread to cities around the world

By Faith Karimi, CNN

updated 10:58 AM EST, Sat October 15, 2011

(CNN) -- Massive crowds across the globe rallied against corporate power Saturday as the Occupy Wall Street movement spilled onto the streets in Europe, Asia and Australia.

"We're giving people a real voice against a government that just ignored us," said Peter Vaughn, a protester in London, reflecting the mood of many in the crowd. People are intent on changing financial institutions that have "gambled away our money," he added.

"We've very much been inspired in London by what's been happening on Wall Street and all across America," Vaughn said.

"If we are here, it's also to say that we can't have a dialogue with you," another protester said in Belleville, France, referring to the country's leaders.

"You are not listening to us, whatever we do, however we vote, however we demonstrate. It does not give any result. Quite the opposite, as poverty and austerity plans continue. So we can't go on like this so we are getting out and showing ourselves," he said.

United for Global Change -- the central site for the movement organizing worldwide protests -- said 951 cities in 82 countries were to take part in the demonstrations after online organizers called for a worldwide rally. Protesters marched, listened to speeches, and displayed banners reading anti-corporate slogans, including the now ubiquitous "we are the 99%."

Vandalism erupted in Rome, where witnesses saw car fires and broken windows at shops and a bank at the scene of the Rome demonstration, where many thousands turned and faced a large police presence.

Still, the demonstrations across the world were peaceful overall.

In London, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange spoke to demonstrators.

A few hundred people gathered in Hong Kong.

"We should not let the banks get away with being big bullies," said retired businessman Wong Chi Keung.

Debbie Chen works for a group protesting against Apple's treatment of its workers in China and what she calls its "greed."

"As the world's most valuable company they earn the lion's share while the workers on the production line earn only 1% of the selling price of an iPhone. We hope there can be more even distribution of profits," she said.

In Japan, about 200 people marched through Tokyo carrying various signs, including "No More Nukes and "Free Tibet." The crowd included children jumping and skipping behind the adults. Some protesters wore costumes -- including a giant panda.

"I'm here because young Japanese people are suffering for losing their jobs, but not many speak out their issue to the public," said Kesao Murakami. "I really want to young people appeal forcefully to the public saying, 'We are in trouble.' "

Occupy protests spread to Tokyo

Occupy protests hit Melbourne

Murdoch heckled by Occupy protesters

In South Korea, Arthur Fragoso rallied with a small group outside a bank in Seoul. He said his protest is a solidarity move with the Occupy movement and not a reflection of any discontent against his government.

"We are protesting mostly for economic issues worldwide," he said. "We need to come up with ideas to solve the world problems."

In the Indonesian capital of Jakarta, about two dozen people -- some wearing masks -- gathered near the U.S. Embassy.

"We wanted to show that the American regime, its system of imperialism needs to be destroyed," said Rudi Daman, leader of the International League of Peoples' Struggle.

The group urged its chapters to stage a global day of action against "imperialist plunder, repression and war."

Australian cities of Melbourne and Sydney joined rallies against "corporate greed" as protesters aligned themselves with the global movement.

"Our protests are to show our solidarity with Occupy Wall Street and also protest various problems -- from indigenous issues in this country to government problems," said Alex Gard, one of the Melbourne organizers. "We know we have it better than the protesters in the States ... but there are still problems in this country."

Organizers urged protesters to bring sleeping bags and other soft items to sleep on.

"I've heard people say they plan to be there for days, even months," Gard said.

Organizers worldwide started social media pages on Facebook and Twitter devoted to "October 15" — #O15 on Twitter — urging protesters to join the global call for protests.

The worldwide movement is galvanized by the Occupy Wall Street movement started last month as a backlash against the economy and what demonstrators say is an out-of-touch corporate, financial and political elite.

Occupy Wall Street organizers say they are inspired by the Arab Spring that led to the toppling of regimes in Tunisia and Egypt.

The founding movement in the United States has spread to other major cities in the nation.

CNN's Junko Ogura, Kathy Quiano, Per Nyberg, Laura Perez-Maestro, Livia Borghese, Erin McLaughlin, Diana Magnay and Tim Schwarz contributed to this report

http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/15/world/occupy-goes-global/index.html

Protesters in Rome burn cars, break windows

Protests inspired by the Occupy Wall Street movement have become violent in Rome as 'black block' militants smash shop windows and set fire to two cars.

4:02PM BST 15 Oct 2011

As the Occupy Wall Street protests spread around the world, in Rome police were out in force where 100,000 protesters were expected.

Two cars were set on fire and shops and banks had their windows broken during the protests in violent scenes that have been notably absent from other Occupy Wall Street protests, leading to claims that 'black block' militants have infiltrated the movement in Rome.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/financialcrisis/8829083/Protesters-in-Rome-burn-cars-break-windows.html