Occupation Movement grows into Kentucky and Illinois

Protests are spreading across Kentucky and southern Illinois following the model of Occupy Wall Street, the mostly college student led campaign that began in the center of Manhattan.  A sign of growing anger at Wall Street, the symbol of corporate wealth in America, young people are settling in and spending days and nights in a park in New York. The protests has already led to multiple arrests in New York. Other protestors have been arrested in cities as close as St. Louis.

The movement seems to have picked up speed as it moved west from the coastal cities. From Lexington to Murray, it appears that wherever there is a student population, the phenomena is spreading.  

Murray State University students in the Occupy Murray campaign will have a teach in on Tuesday, October 11^th at 5:30 in the Curris Center according to their facebook page.Occupy-Murray on facebook 

The movement in Carbondale Illinois is actively supporting the faculty and staff at Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC). Four unions that represent university employees voted to strike as of Thursday. No date has been set for the walk out to begin. The administration and union continue to negotiate. 

Organizing of Occupy Carbondale is happening on line. The group posted information on a peace march on Saturday, October 15^th.  See Occupy Carbondale facebook page 

Efforts to organize an Occupy Paducah movement are ongoing. 

Participants to the Kentucky League of Cities meeting in Lexington this week who ventured out of the Hyatt and Rupp Center were treated to a sight not seen in urban Lexington in many years – protesters. 

Students and supporters of the occupation movement occupied a corner of Main Street in Lexington before Chase J. P. Morgan Bank this week.  Coolers, camping bags and blankets filled park benches as occupiers slept on the concrete sidewalk across the street from the Kentucky Theatre.

The movement, called disorganized by its detractors, relies on “general assemblies” to make decisions. Volunteers take over duties like march organizing, outreach, teach ins and site management.