Occupy contingent descends on train station, labor rally
About 50 people gathered for a brief Occupy Philadelphia demonstration at 30th Street Station on Friday that was followed by a guest appearance at a labor rally.
About 50 people gathered for a brief Occupy Philadelphia demonstration at 30th Street Station on Friday that was followed by a guest appearance at a labor rally.
Shortly before 6 p.m., the movement's familiar call to attention - "mic check!" - was shouted inside the station as the participants congregated near the main train-schedule board.
For several minutes, they chanted that their "fight for fairness will never die" while Amtrak police tried to figure out what was going on.
The only negative reaction they received came from a man in the taxi queue as the demonstrators left the station. "Take a bath," he yelled.
Train service was not disrupted and no one was arrested.
Most of the participants then marched to the nearby headquarters of AFSCME District Council 33 to attend a labor rally that was part of a coordinated national event led by the Rev. Al Sharpton on his live MSNBC talk show.
"Hello, occupiers!" was the friendly greeting from U.S. Rep. Bob Brady (D., Pa.) as he spoke to the crowd, which included union members and Democratic Party activists.
Herman "Pete" Matthews, president of D.C. 33, praised Occupy Philadelphia for raising awareness on issues of economic inequality and injustice.
"We are the 99 percent. Everybody understands that," Matthews said.
"I thank God for the Occupy movement," said State Rep. Vanessa Lowery Brown (D., Phila.). As long as the protesters remain public and vocal, she said, they can "spark a fire, a light, in somebody walking by."
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