Occupy D.C. demonstrators back to target EPA
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E-mail Xinhua, March 31, 2012
Occupy D.C. demonstrators on Friday started their first protest of the year in Washington, targeting the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Dozens of protesters marched from a downtown park to the EPA, on Pennsylvania Avenue, carrying signs saying "There is no Planet B," a word play on "Plan B." They also carried a blow up model of the Earth and a polar bear model.
Protesters called on EPA to stop the "War on Whistleblowers," protect people, the planet, not "corporate profits." They called on the federal government to stop utilizing nuclear power. Protester also called for justice for Trayvon Martin, the black teenager who was shot to death by neighborhood watch captain George Zimmerman in Florida.
"Too many times, the EPA puts corporate interests in front of people's health and environment," said Kevin Zeese, an activist who is involved in organizing Occupy events. "We are here to send the common message we have always (send), which is no to corporate rule. We want the people's interests to come first."
The demonstration kicked off the first protest of the year for Occupy D.C., and occupiers from all around the country participated in the demonstration. Becky McLaughlin from Wilmington, Delaware, and Jill Epperson from Tampa, Florida, said they are in town to support the occupy movement, and bring awareness to the American people about the movement.
Zeese said after a winter of relatively quietness, the occupy movement is alive and well. He said the movement has evolved "from encampments to working groups working on specific issues."
"The thing we are going to do this month is bring people together so they can talk to each other, and learn from each other, and improve their skills and become more effective advocates," said Zeese.
Zeese and others are using the demonstration at EPA to launch the "American Spring," which includes workshops and protests in the coming month.
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