'Occupy Houston' Protestors Converge on City Hall

Occupy Houston Protestors Converge on City Hall

October 6, 2011

Houston Chronicle - Several hundred protesters - young and old, healthy and disabled - converged in downtown Houston Thursday to demand greater social and economic justice under the banner of the Occupy Houston movement.

The demonstration was an outgrowth of a New York event, Occupy Wall Street, focused on what protesters call corporate greed and disproportionate influence of the very wealthy. The local protest began at 8:30 a.m. at Market Square Park with about 150 protesters - many carrying placards and chanting - who then marched to the J.P. Morgan Chase Bank Tower before moving on to City Hall.

The crowd grew through the day.

"We have officially occupied Hermann Square Park," a speaker told the crowd, referring to the reflecting pool area on the east side of City Hall. "We are not going anywhere until the people are heard."

The protesters, many chanting, "They (banks) got bailed out, we got sold out," had plenty to say about what they believe is wrong with America.

"I think that money plays too big a role in our political process in this moment in history, and I believe it's damaging the country," said Eugene Hayman, 57, a chemical plant worker from Deer Park. "I'm afraid what the future holds if the people with all the money continue to run this country in way that profits them at the expense of everyone else."

Festive atmosphere

Another protester said she wanted to take part in the New York protest, but her husband didn't approve so she headed to downtown Houston when she learned of the march.

"I'm one of the 99 percent that's getting screwed in this economy," said Sue Ann Schwantes, 59, of Spring. "My savings are in the toilet. We can't make any money on the (stock) market because it is in a mess. I protested in the '60s and I didn't think that I'd have to be out here again doing something like this. I'm too old for this."

The event had a festival-like atmosphere, aided by mild temperatures and partly cloudy skies. The crowd was peaceful, but the chants came loud and furious.

"The people united will never be defeated," the crowd yelled. Others chanted, "Hey, hey, ho, ho, corporate greed has got to go."

The placards they carried were equally provocative.

"Wake up, sheeple," one sign read. "Land of fees, home of the slave," read another. "People, not profit," read yet another.

One by one, protesters took to the City Hall steps to address the crowd. None stated their full names.

"I was a teacher until two weeks ago," said a protester identified as Michael H.

"I was laid off. I am denied employment. I have no insurance because of corporate corruption of our wonderful democratic system. Occupy Houston!"

National attention

The movement held simultaneous protests Thursday in Austin, Dallas, San Antonio, Portland, Ore., Las Vegas and Washington, D.C.

They drew the attention of President Barack Obama, who commented on the protests during a nationally televised news conference Thursday.

"I think people are frustrated and the protesters are giving voice to a more broad-based frustration about how our financial system works," Obama said. "The American people understand that not everybody has been following the rules, that Wall Street is an example of that ... and that's going to express itself politically in 2012 and beyond."

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