Thousands Swarm To Massive Protest On Wall Street (PHOTOS)

"Bust up big banks! Shame on you!" chanted protesters in bank building lobbies in midtown Manhattan this afternoon as Wall Street staffers carrying lunch back to their trading desks hustled by.

The initial scene, which unfolded in the building lobbies of JPMorgan, Wells Fargo, and Wachovia, was just a prelude to today's rally on Wall Street led by National People's Action and the AFL-CIO. Ten thousand workers, union members, and community groups are expected to show for the "bank showdown," with thousands of others gathering in cities across the country.

The AP reports that the protesters held signs reading, "Save Our Jobs" and "Save Our Homes." "We're here today to stop the corporate greed that is ruining our neighborhoods," Andrea Goldman, 59, of Springfield, Mass., told the AP.

In an interview with CNBC reporters, Richard Trumka, the president of the AFL-CIO said the group demands that Wall Street "pay their fair share" to create the 11 million jobs they destroyed, stop sending legions of lobbyists to obstruct Wall Street reform, and start lending to small and mid-size businesses so that they can create more jobs.

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National People's Action members storm JP Morgan Chase's headquarters.

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National People's Action members storm JP Morgan Chase's headquarters.

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Comments

[pathwalker]

09:18 PM on 05/01/2010

The media's omission of these rallies against financial elitists was intentional; most major print and broadcast media are owned and controlled by the very interests that brought on this economic catastrophy. The underlying assumption? The folks on main street are stupid and gullible. Tell them what we want them to know and belive in order to control them.

[peaceandfreedom]

02:05 PM on 05/02/2010

Fanned! I saw not one word about it in my New York Times owned local paper!

[DrRoberts99]

07:03 PM on 04/30/2010

It is well known that pictures can say a thousand words but has anyone listened to the CNBC video with sound of these protestors being interviewed? To say that they are very confused would be a gross understatement.

[Matt12]

11:47 AM on 04/30/2010

Good stuff. Calling Michael Moore, calling Michael Moore, coming please: I hope they are able to organize the 8 million unemployed, plus millions of members of their families they have to support march on Wall Street and Washington. Where is the rage?

[dpooch]

09:20 AM on 04/30/2010

Bull there were no ugly signs no guns and no pay.

[vippy]

08:18 AM on 04/30/2010

This won't have an impact - the whole country should have taken to the streets.

[Frank Choi]

04:30 AM on 04/30/2010

Rock on- give 'em hell!

[PhilipTaylor]

04:26 AM on 04/30/2010

HEROES! SIMPLY HEROES!

If I could have traveled 2,500 miles I would have!

THANK G0D for what REMAINS of our GREAT UNIONS!

The only ones left that represent the PEOPLE!

[daultman463]

09:06 AM on 04/30/2010

Heroes?? You mean the union workers who were paid by unions for this stunt.

[peaceandfreedom]

02:08 PM on 05/02/2010

When the oligarchs are paying 35 cents an hour for your labor, and you're standing in line with a thousand other guys hoping to get that job, I hope you have a copy of your reply in your pocket to eat!

[mcmutter]

03:54 AM on 04/30/2010

Meanwhile these same banks are still getting away with charging 30.99% interest on credit cards ..... in effect, laughing all the way to the bank while robbing all the suckers who came to them for financial services ....

[vippy]

08:22 AM on 04/30/2010

I keep saying vote both parties out of office NOW! Vote 3rd party, Independent or whatever. We all have to do it. 40 years of jumping from one party to another or just sticking with one got us into this mess. Let us tell them that we are fed up. Then after 4 years throw them out again, so they can't get to comfortable with the lobbyists and their own deep pockets. The recent energy bill, the credit card reform bill, the healthcare reform bill (actually insurance reform bill), now this bank reform bill are all just too weak and only serve one purpose "to make it look like our dear congress did something for us." Get it yet?

[maxhardon]

03:18 AM on 04/30/2010

It's about time we see protests. Our politicians would rather let these big banks continue to destroy the US economy. It is is an act of terrorism against Americans and it is high time we closed the banks down.

[menlopian]

02:03 AM on 04/30/2010

the definition of astroturf. get paid to yell stuff and exaggerate... i like that deal.

[billyfitz]

10:54 AM on 04/30/2010

Were most of these people getting paid to be there? I doubt it. How about backing up your comments with some kind of proof - base them in reality. The truth isn't what you want it to be. It is what it is.

[loki]

01:35 AM on 04/30/2010

They are darn lucky Puttins Twin the CEO of GoldenSachs didnt have the police and blackwater come in and cut them all down where they stand.

[Kane]

12:34 AM on 04/30/2010

After more than a year of headline coverage devoted to the every move of the tea party crowd, it's disheartening to see how little media coverage this protest of Wall Street received.

[neon bandicoot]

02:16 AM on 04/30/2010

There has to be more than 27 people there for the media to show up.

[billyfitz]

10:57 AM on 04/30/2010

Judging by the photos, there were a lot more than 27 people there - but conservatards like you usually can't do math.

[pathwalker]

09:12 PM on 05/01/2010

Kane, you are so right. The lack of coverage was intentional, and is a reflection of a long-held tactic of the media omitting important info from the public. Much of the major media in this country is own by Wall Street power houses, i.e., a financial elite commited to self-preservation at any cost; even if it the consequence is catastophic for America.

[DebtNavigation]

09:06 PM on 04/29/2010

The left and the right will make common cause just as they did in Mexico. They will triumph together or they will go down separately.

In Mexico in the mid-'90s Wall Street engineered a currency coup that tripled the debt owed by small businesses and family farms and also allowed for them to be massively ratejacked on top of it. Mexicans consequently formed the "el Barzon" movement and pushed back Wall Street and deposed their ruling party of 60+ years. In this country YouTube phenom Ann Minch has already declared the debtors' revolt and begun going after them http://www.revoltstartsnow.com

If you've been pushed under, you can read every other page of my book for free: http://www.scribd.com/doc/25443175/Debt-Hope-Down-and-Dirty-Survival-Strategies-Evaluation-Version-Complete

[Maschine]

08:04 PM on 04/29/2010

Nice to see people taking this to the street. I would urge people to get out of the markets in a sign of real protest.

Until they make the markets safe, no one should think they are safe or can beat the house. After all , the markets should be the investors ally in helping them choose a good investment. Buy and sell companies on their performance.

[americaforme]

07:50 PM on 04/29/2010

Its like starting a canvas with know idea of what direction. Can you believe that the people who demonstrate really are after a goal. Abstract doesn't get it, yes !we need teeth in marches. We need a clear picture, for example, shut down outsourcing, cap interest rates at 10%, bring our companys home, close down the doors to banking in foreign countrys. This march looks contrived, like a redherring to side tract real movements. Its like bills passed in congress, nothing is clear, and the out come warrants a serious inspection. We could get lulled into a sleep, without clear goals. Anything is not better than nothing, we have learned this in from the incomplete bills thrust on the American people.