Occupy Wall Street Protester Delivers Statement To Obama (PHOTOS)

A speech by President Obama in New Hampshire was briefly disrupted Tuesday, when Occupy protesters attempted to upstage him with a so-called "mic check." Though they were quickly drowned out by a chorus of "Obama, Obama," one protester reached the president while he was shaking hands after his address and delivered him their complete message by hand.

(PHOTOS BELOW)

Obama addressed the Occupy Wall Street movement during a broader speech pushing for the passage of elements of his jobs bill, particularly the extension of payroll tax cuts.

After the brief interruption, Obama called attention to the demonstrators and the larger Occupy movement.

"I'm going to be talking about a whole range of things today and I appreciate you guys making your point. Let me go ahead and make mine," Obama said. "I'll listen to you and you listen to me."

The president continued, painting the motivations for getting his jobs bill passed as in line with the concerns of the Occupy protesters.

"For a lot of the folks who have been in New York and all across the country in the Occupy movement, there is a profound sense of frustration about the fact that the essence of the American dream, which is if you work hard, if you stick to it that, you can make it, feels like that's slipping away," Obama said. "And that's not the way things are supposed to be. Not here. Not in America."

The text of the Occupy protesters' message:

"Mr. President: Over 4000 peaceful protesters have been arrested. While banksters continue to destroy the American economy with impunity. You must stop the assault on our 1st amendment rights. Your silence sends a message that police brutality is acceptable. Banks got bailed out. We got sold out."

Photos of the encounter below:

 

Comments

[Johnnie Sanchez]

03:15 PM on 06/25/2012

I don't know what their point is. Do they think Mitt Romney would do anything to help Occupy now or if he becomes President. Protesters get arrested...that's a fact, unfortunate but part of the job.

[sej100]

08:33 PM on 01/09/2012

Agree with the OCCUPY PROTESTERS.
If this nation allows Speech by Corporations in terms of money, its TIME THIS GOVERNMENT RESPECTED THE SPEECH OF ACTUAL BREATHING HUMAN BEING PERSONS!!!!

Arresting protesters while taking money from lobbyists is the denial of speech right to actual PEOPLE!!!!

[Humanitari Leandro]

08:03 AM on 12/01/2011

Obama is like "ooops sorry, not a check dude, not a banker, not interested, I am hired by the war machine, money machine to take their orders..."

sending Michelle to Nascar, I mean come on! this is the guy we voted for? the environmental changer, NASCAR!?
He has Goldman Sachs multiple times at white house, what a betrayal to the people
sure do now tricks to get re-elected in the TWO ring circus, sponsored by Bankas
long live their BANKSTATORSHIP

[Phillip Rhoades]

09:40 PM on 11/30/2011

Obama handled that with grace and tact (his crowd was a little fanatical). The message delivered seemed concise and fair.

The "mic checks" are an interesting technique. Extremely rude and distasteful but powerful and disruptive to those in power, which I assume is the point.

[Dodgers1]

07:06 PM on 11/30/2011

If the OWS protesters again decide to defecate on sidewalks, I ask them to please use pooper scoopers. Obama should be thankful that this guy didn't turn around and pull down his pants. That would have been a real mess.

[voelkercpa]

01:29 PM on 11/30/2011

Gosh, and how many people got arrested while being on the job, or reading the help-wanted ads, instead of defecating and fornicating on the front lawn of City Hall?

[Christine Poynter]

10:17 AM on 11/30/2011

Hey protesters you are as vague and as oxymoronic as the American President who supports you. What do you want? Really? To destroy our parks, cloud our environment with your toxic fumes and debris; vulgarity and hostility? For US to allow you to do so ~~ stand in our way of earning a living and pay in the millions, when our country is trillions in debt -- (largely in the administrations efforts to go green [Solyndra]); and socialist (on your list of many communistic things you want to take away political contributions --- have you looked at OCCUPY's political bank account?); to clean up your diseased mess. I pray your efforts work. To wake up the hard working sleepy Americans who have put up with your lazy asses destroying this country for far, far too long.

[Darrin Germany]

11:04 AM on 12/01/2011

Christine, you're the raging example of all that is wrong in America today. Your head in the sand approach has facilitated unregulated corporate greed, inefficient government, inept politicians, direct transfer of personal ignorance to mass media audiences. You need to get to work. Understand your country, your Constitution, your Bill of Rights. Get out from in front of your television. Go read a book. I suggest you start with the Constitution of the United States of America. You might need easy reader version.

[Johnnie Sanchez]

03:25 PM on 06/25/2012

What happened to the "Love it or Leave It" If I didn't know better I would think you are speaking to the Hippies of the 60's. They got yelled at by the Republican Party of their day in a similar manner. Hell, ask Reagan and Nixon. Christine these are young and old people that are concerned with our the mess our country is in after what your Party's failed policies. They want to help. Your answer is to go back to the old policies of Bush and finish the task of Reagan and Bush Starve the Beast plan. Sorry Christine, we're are going FORWARD and the OWS movement is a light in the darkness. Get used to it. Together we are going to fix this country with or without your Traitorous Party.

[seatheworld1]

04:58 PM on 11/28/2011

I am for OWH... A new occupant in the White House 2012

[Nancy Daniel]

12:26 AM on 11/28/2011

Wow, he looked like he had a shower and a job and handed the President of the United States of America note and didn't get pepper sprayed. how about that FOX NEWS.
www.thegeekwork.com

[Rick Hines]

12:20 PM on 11/30/2011

You really believe this is a real confontation you are nuts. This another of the Obama film presentations. There is no way the Perresidents guards are giong to let a guy they don't know get that close. Just like 99% of his appearances are staged with selected people with democratic ties. I assure you they have been well screened.

[haydengr]

04:23 PM on 11/30/2011

Thats actually a pretty dam good point. The only thing that confuses me is how well thought out the letter is i really could not have put it in a better way.

[Phillip Rhoades]

09:37 PM on 11/30/2011

Bold accusations require strong evidence. Got any?

[Si1ver1ock]

04:57 PM on 11/27/2011

Here is the vbest thing I've read about OWS.

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/how-i-stopped-worrying-and-learned-to-love-the-ows-protests-20111110

[GUITFIDDEL]

05:06 PM on 11/26/2011

Judicial System and Law Enforcement Meeting somewhere a long time ago: "Hey! I have a GREAT IDEA! Instead of legalizing all this stuff, regulating and taxing it like we do with alcohol and prescription drugs, we can generate MORE MONEY$$$ from the taxes those dumb, middle and lower middle class folks WORK FOR and PAY$$$ by making it illegal and criminalizing it. YEAH! This way we can get more of those sucker's tax money$$$ for specialized equipment, court cost, long and costly investigations, prosecutions, jails (some of which we can actually PRIVATIZE$$) propaganda and many, many other things! As long as we can convince the dummies of the tax payers that we're "protecting society" we can CLEAN UP$$$ as long as the stupid TAX PAYERS don't ever figure out that legalizing most of this stuff will put the GANGS$$$ out of BUSINESS and disband them, we can continue our never ending, futile DRUG BATTLE$$$. Mo Money, Mo Money!

[pollclaire]

02:01 AM on 11/27/2011

A lesson we had already learned by 1930. Sucks having to re-learn things.

[supergenius02]

11:26 PM on 11/25/2011

I would be more impressed if they occupied a shower.

[liltrix]

12:14 AM on 11/26/2011

Shut up and go watch the Faux news on your idiot box. You obviously haven't learned anything.

[pollclaire]

02:07 AM on 11/27/2011

Great use of ad-hominem.

Not sure what that has to do with the OWS demands for the introduction of an ethical component in commerce, government and finance. Probably zero.

The right really has nothing to say here. There is never a credible argument against ethics, ever.

[Weeklong Zero]

10:56 PM on 11/24/2011

Donations to Obama from Wall Street:

Goldman Sachs: $1,013,091
JP Morgan Chase: $808,799
Citigroup: $736,771
Morgan Stanley: $512,232

Congratulations Occupiers, you've finally found your hero!

[tab123]

06:59 PM on 11/26/2011

and your point?

[Weeklong Zero]

12:53 AM on 11/27/2011

My point is that if the Occupiers view Obama as their ally against Wall Street gangsterism, than they are completely wrong.

[ChasG]

11:40 PM on 11/26/2011

These numbers are not about corporate giving to the Obama campaign.  For each of these banks, the totals include 80% to 90% individual contributions by people who happen to be employed by these banks.  This is a cheap shot and as big of a lie as we hear coming from the far right.

[SoquiliAsgaya]

11:01 AM on 11/30/2011

If rights are not right well, who pays the price if they are wrong?

[Holly Smoke]

10:39 AM on 11/24/2011

I am glad we still have a people's President.... Let us give him a supportive Congress to get the job done !! VOTE 2012..and OCCUPY CONGRESS

[ChasG]

11:41 PM on 11/26/2011

F&F
And Elizabeth Warren for Massachusetts if you live there !

[Holly Smoke]

11:49 PM on 11/26/2011

Elizabeth Warren for Massachusetts,on the way to the White House 2016

[SoquiliAsgaya]

09:02 AM on 11/30/2011

I feel you are top ded center of the railroad spike. At least our President Barack Obama is not trying to get UNPATRIOTIC ACTS 3,4,5,6,7,8.9,10 but, to bring our Troops home while fighting 2 fronts. 1. Bring Our VALIANT Military Home to THEIR FAMILIES, NEED THEM and to protect our Nation. 2. the neo con, wall street criminals and gopiggylett congressbeings and vandals who have caused more damage of civil infrastructures than OCCUPY WALL STREET PROTESTING AMERICANS COULD EVER DO.

[Robert Gudzikowski]

09:33 AM on 11/24/2011

The headline should read "OBAMA OWNS OWS"

[curiouskitten32]

10:35 PM on 11/28/2011

Pbly started up @ his request to take the spotlight off of him. USA can't stand another 4 years of socialist leaning govt.

[Robert Gudzikowski]

01:42 PM on 11/29/2011

If he aligns with ows he will be relected in 2012. His ability to meet with ows desire is another story.

[SoquiliAsgaya]

10:51 AM on 11/30/2011

Or maybe, wallstreet and 2 unfunded wars based on port barrel oil, drugs and hebrews that gwbush has fostered an illegitment child becaue they would not sign an allied agreemt with the US over 30