Protesters enter NYC bank buildings before rally

NEW YORK – Noisy protesters with signs took over two bank building lobbies on Thursday in a prelude to a Wall Street rally by workers and union leaders angry over lost jobs, the taxpayer-funded bailout of financial institutions and questionable lending practices by big banks.

Hours before the scheduled rally, more than 100 people entered a midtown Manhattan building housing JPMorgan Chase offices. They handed a bank executive a letter requesting a meeting with the CEO, and chanted "Bust up! Big banks!" and "People power!" A half-hour later, they were calmly escorted outside by officers, who remained expressionless as the protesters chanted, "The police need a raise."

They then walked a few blocks up Park Avenue and crowded into the lobby of the Seagram Building, where Wells Fargo and the bank it merged with in 2008, Wachovia, have offices. The protesters held up signs reading, "Save Our Jobs" and "Save Our Homes."

One included a Great Depression-era photograph. Police arrived on horseback as curious office workers watched the scene unfold from their windows. "We're here today to stop the corporate greed that is ruining our neighborhoods," said Andrea Goldman, 59, of Springfield, Mass., who's part of a group called Alliance to Develop Power.

news.yahoo.com...

Didn't know about this one...so much going on right now. They actually entered to bank lobbies to protest.

Oh wow, I haven't heard of this.

Power to the people, they should start taking back their power for godsake!

They should have just handed the letter to them and protested outside, they probably could have stayed much longer.

reply to post by David9176


I would have been more impressed if they would have been proteting at the DNC HQ, who helped finace thebailouts as well as the RNC HQs. Put no there puppets and attack the banks, with bust up chants.. Do we want freedom or a nanny state>

I liked the part where they said "The police need a raise".

Now THAT is how you protest!

By showing the Police you are on THEIR side; there is a very good chance they will treat the protesters with a lot of RESPECT.

See RESPECT is a TWO WAY Street!

Kudos to the protesters for playing their cards right!

I am very impressed. They have some rational thinkers in their group obviously.