By Courtney Collins, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-989163.mp3
Dallas, TX – Members of the group "Occupy Dallas" plan to camp out in protest tonight after marching to the Federal Reserve to support Wall Street activists. KERA's Courtney Collins explains.
Crowd: "Tell me what democracy looks like! This is what democracy looks like!"
There was no lack of fervor in Pike Park as a crowd of more than 300 gathered before marching to the Federal Reserve.
Benjamin Vail: "This is my student debt folder and it has all of my student loans from the Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corp and the U.S. Department of Education and after a four year Bachelor's Degree I owe $61,544.69."
Stories like Vail's are the motivation for what this group is trying to accomplish. They call themselves, "the 99 percent" because they want the wealthiest one percent out of power.
Benjamin Vail wore his debt folder like a necklace, with the bottom line bolded for dramatic effect. He, like many others in the crowd, is underemployed.
Vail: "I graduated right in 2008 when the bubble collapsed and we've been living hand to mouth ever since."
Police lined the route during the protesters' march to the Fed, but their main concern was safety.
Sgt. Mitchell: "Everyone has a right to speak their voice that's what makes this country so great. We just want to make sure it's peaceful."
And according to Sergeant Warren Mitchell, it was. Police won't discuss arrests, if there are any, until after the "Occupy Dallas" event wraps up.
Protesters say that may not be for some time.
Crowd: "Banks got bailed out, we got sold out!"
Members of "Occupy Dallas" plan to continue this demonstration, but they're still pledging to do it peacefully.