Did Occupy Wall Street protests go away, or were they just hibernating?
The national movement has planned a large number of May Day actions in U.S. cities—both permitted and forbidden by law enforcement.
In New York City, groups of several hundred protesters marched and rallied, and police arrested protesters in front of Bank of America branches. Celebrities who have supported the movement, like Rage Against The Machine guitarist Tom Morello, planned everything from solidarity rallies to music workshops in Manhattan’s Bryant Park.
Ferry worker unions in San Francisco also planned to strike and shut down service, while Oakland Occupy protesters were also calling for a general strike in that city as law enforcement braced for possible violence.
Police raided occupy organizers apartments ahead of the planned events, and organizers denied connection to packages mailed to various financial institutions containing a white powder that was later found to be nonlethal. The day may be a crucial one for the movement, which struggled to stay present in the national conversation over the winter.
Video produced by Paca Thomas.
