Wall Street protesters march to Times Square
Demonstrations expand to cities across the US, and abroad

NBC News and news services


NEW YORK — Thousands of anti-Wall Street protesters rallied in Times Square on Saturday, buoyed by a global day of demonstrations backing their month-long campaign against economic inequality.

Protesters tromped through the streets of the city's financial district to protest the role that big banks played in the nation's financial crisis, banging drums and chanting, "We got sold out, banks got bailed out," and "All day, all week, occupy Wall Street."

Over the past month, the protests have expanded from New York's financial district to cities across the United States and abroad. Demonstrations were called this weekend in the U.S., Canada and Europe, as well as in Asia and Africa.

In New York, where the movement began when protesters set up camp in a Lower Manhattan park on September 17, organizers said the protest grew to at least 5,000 people as they marched to Times Square from their makeshift outdoor headquarters.

The Times Square mood was akin to New Year's Eve, when the famed "ball drop" occurs. In a festive mood, protesters were joined by throngs of tourists snapping pictures, together counting back from 10 and shouting, "Happy New Year."

The protest arrived in Times Square at a time when the area was crowded with tourists and Broadway theatergoers.

Another 5,000 marched through Los Angeles and gathered peacefully outside City Hall.

"These protests are already making a difference," said Jordan Smith, 25, a former substance abuse counselor from San Francisco, who joined the New York protest. "The dialogue is now happening all over the world."
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New York police said 24 people were arrested at a Citibank branch in Manhattan's Greenwich Village neighborhood, mostly for trespassing. Protesters said those arrested were trying to close their accounts. A Reuters reporters saw another five people arrested as the protest neared Times Square.

"It's not every day that you get to be at the most significant uprising in a generation," Occupy Wall Street said on its Facebook page. Protesters said they did not have any police permits for the New York demonstrations.

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