While
some people demean the cause and others support it, members of Occupy Kc occupy
the lawn across from the Federal Reserve, to be in solidarity with the Occupy
Wall street protests across the country.
The protests aim to end what they call corporate greed
amid the economic crisis in the United States. Occupy Kc started on September
30th. GA meetings, known as general assemblies, form every night
between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to discuss the group’s ideas.
“We need to make decisions that best satisfy the group as
a whole,” said Marci Razleplaz, a participant of Occupy Kc and student at UMKC.
Currently, Occupy Kc is facing gridlock over its current
location and is discussing whether the location is visible enough to draw
people. Many participants want to move downtown to capture more diversity and
attention.
“It needs to be more than just a bunch of college kids
hanging out and camping,” said Razleplaz.
Some participants have mentioned the idea of occupying Ilus
Davis Park located in the business district of Kansas City, while others prefer
to stay on the Federal Reserve’s lawn.
“I’ve been here the very first day and I don’t care where
we go. I just know I am dedicated to the movement and will go where the group
goes,” said participant and resident Steven Harris.
Occupy Kc’s first big march is planned for Sunday,
October 10th at 3:30 p.m. from Liberty Memorial to the JC Nichols
Fountain on the Country Club Plaza.
Wearing an American flag pin and smoking a cigarette,
recently unemployed participant Steven Kalra said,
“We handed America over on a silver platter…It’s our time
to be heard.”
