Occupy Wall Street Comes To Votee Park

More than 60 protesters came out in the rain today to bring the message of Occupy Wall Street to suburbia, at in Teaneck. 

Jeanette Friedman, a New Milford resident who lent her voice to Occupy Wall Street, helped orchestrate today's protest, citing that Nov. 17 has been designated as an international "Day of Action" to continue the message of demonstrators at the original protest, in Lower Manhattan. Demonstrations were being held across the tri-state area — two days after police dismantled the protesters' camp at Zuccotti Park. 

 "I think it's good we're out of Zuccotti Park," Friedman told Patch. "It's forced us to take it to the streets and to our communities."

She added, "Occupy Wall Street was successful in changing the entire conversation about politics in America among the middle class."

Julian Ellison, Ph.d, a retired economist from Teaneck had a slightly different opinion about the protests. Although he found them to be reminiscent of the 1960's in the sense that large groups of people are coming out in support of a social cause, he said Occupy Wall Street lacks "the absence of a central message" and the appearance of a "philosophical leader."

Teresa Rissmeyer came to the Teaneck protest because she recently lost her job of over five years with a commercial/financial printer.

"I'm 51 years old," she said, "and I haven't been able to find a job."

Rissmeyer's friend, Susan Lazar, came to support her friend and others who have worked all of their lives only to find themselves without jobs or the immediate prospect of employment, she said.

"Coming here is a good way to air our frustrations," she said. 

Friedman intends Occupy Teaneck to be the first of a monthly event that brings the message of a frustrated middle class home to the local communities. 

Many people who were present at today's Occupy Votee Park will be joining a planned march across the Brooklyn Bridge this afternoon.