Occupy Iowa Groups Rallying, Not Backing Down After Occupy Wall Street Raid

Iowa protesters affiliated with Occupy Wall Street awoke to news their fellows in New York City had been cleared from Zuccotti Park early this morning. Rather than being disheartened by the police raid, during which nearly 200 people were arrested, they said they have become even more committed to their cause -- and they think more people, rather than less, will support their movement. “It will only make us stronger,” said Jessica Reznicek, 30, an Occupy DSM organizer who serves as liaison to Occupy groups in Ames, Cedar Falls and Iowa City. “I really, truly believe that the more they push, the harder we’ll push. The more people see this kind of abuse of people peacefully protesting, the more they’ll support us.” In Des Moines, about 25 tents belonging to Occupy DSM members remain scattered on Joseph B. Stewart Square, a small city park about a quarter-mile from the state capitol building. Occupy DSM members plan to march to Des Moines City Hall this evening to demand that local officials speak out about the Occupy Wall Street raids. Occupy DSM had already issued an invitation to Occupiers around the country to join in protests in Iowa during the week leading up to the Jan. 3 caucuses. Members do not plan to disrupt the voting itself but are planning peaceful protests at the campaign headquarters of candidates, and some from the Des Moines group think the New York incidents may draw people to Iowa. “I’m outraged, and now is really time to work even harder to get the word out,” said Natalie Smith, 46, an Occupy DSM member. She believes the New York City police went after Occupy Wall Street members because government officials there were pressured by corporations. “I want the rest of the world to understand that corporations own our government,” she said. “Our system is corrupted, and it’s corrupted by the corporations, and they’ve corrupted the government. It’s not a matter of who’s right and who’s wrong. It’s become a matter of who has the money.” In Iowa City, Shay O'Reilly, 22, was one of the leading voices early on in starting Occupy movement there. At the time, he and other protesters said they were rallying in support of the protest in New York. Since then, the occupations around the country have assumed their own personalities and issues and are less tied to the Occupy group in New York City, he said. On a pleasant fall afternoon, more than 50 tents still dominated much of College Green Park. Occupy Iowa City has been stationed there since early October. "Even, if they are shut down in New York, the occupation that spawned the entire thing, it has grown much larger than the statements coming from New York City," O'Reilly said. "I don't think it will affect what is happening in Iowa at all." O'Reilly said he thinks it's a mistake to assume Occupy Wall Street is done because of the eviction from Zuccotti Park late Monday evening. The "rage" that is coming from the eviction is going to keep the movement going, and O'Reilly said he expects turnout for specific events to surge, although not necessarily more campers. In response to the eviction, Occupy Iowa City is planning a 7:30 p.m. vigil tonight at College Green Park and is encouraging a letter writing campaign. In Des Moines, protestors have put out a call to Occupy Nollen Plaza in the downtown area, "during rush hour tonight in protest of #ows eviction," the Occupy Iowa Facebook page says. Occupy Cedar Valley, in Cedar Falls, was already planning a rally for 4 p.m. this Thursday and will merge that with a call to action to support Occupy Wall Street in New York City. “I think you can’t evict an idea,” said Chris Schwartz, 31, an organizer with Occupy Cedar Valley. “The movement has started. Whether it’s in Oakland or St. Louis or New York, it’s already started. They can’t stop the movement.” Occupy Cedar Valley is also breaking camp, but unlike their New York counterparts, they are doing so by choice. On Thursday after the rally, their tents in Overman Park will come down. But members said having no camp doesn’t mean having no presence – whether in Cedar Falls or New York City. Throughout the winter, they will continue to hold rallies, teach-ins and go door-to-door to talk with as many people directly as they can. “I think as long as people are still active and engaged in keeping the movement visible we really don’t miss a step,” Schwartz said. What do you think of the raid on Occupy Wall Street? Tell us in the comments.