South Bend is occupied

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Signs and chants filled the air in downtown South Bend Saturday afternoon.

Protestors clutched and hung signs of all different shapes, sizes, and lettering, each had its own message.

But among all of the differences, there was one common theme, “That we do all believe that we’ve been wronged,” Carrie Stein said.

Stein was laid-off about three years ago, since then she said it’s been a struggle to make ends meet. She said hit her breaking point when she was forced to dip into her retirement fund to pay her taxes.
Stein shouted, “We are not second class citizens, we are first class all the way and we deserve them to bail us out, not the other way around.”

Her impromptu speech drew a crowd, people started to gather around Stein to cheer her on. “…We as taxpayers bailed them out, they owe us, the people,” Stein said.

Stein proudly waved a poster board, in neatly printed, all capital letters it read “I WANT MY MONEY BACK!” Stien said the big banks and Wall Street did not and do not deserve her money.

Nearly one-hundred protestors met in front of the Wells-Fargo building all with the same overall goal: ‘Stop Corporate Greed.’
“They’re taking away all of our money and everything we own,” Kylie Krueger said.

The 13-year-old said ever since her dad lost his job, she’s been worried about her future.

“I don’t know how I’ll be able to pay for college if my parents don’t have the money,” Krueger said. “…Cause the government won’t help.”
Krueger’s sign read, “Don’t bail out my FUTURE!”

Even her little brother, Payton is concerned. When asked at what age would he start working, Payton said “…Probably not until I’m 26.”
The 5-year-old still has a long way to go until then, but he was out there to protest. His sign proposed a question, “Will I get a job?”

After about an hour, the group of protestors moved from the Wells-Fargo building and marched down a few blocks to the Bank of America building, but a couple people hung back.

“I mean, I don’t plan on leaving,” Jonathan Deek said.
Deek and a friend have moved out on to the sidewalk along Jefferson Street, indefinitely.

“Wall street got this started and we’re just showing Wall Street that we support those people who have been out there for three weeks.”
Deek said he will stay out there for however long it takes, until something, anything changes.

He said he hopes to continue to spread the information to inspire more people to jump on board and put the pressure on to make a change.