Occupy Wall Street—A Timeline
The Occupy Wall Street protest, which began in September as a small encampment of mostly young activists with more emotion than clearly stated objectives, was mostly ignored by the media. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the protests quickly became a subject of ridicule. But then something happened: Occupy Wall Street exploded into a nationwide series of demonstrations drawing support from unions and mainstream liberal groups, with comparisons to the powerhouse Tea Party movement and revolutionary pro-democracy protesters in Egypt's Tahrir Square. How did that happen?
Take a look at the key events below.
June 9
Canadian anti-consumerist magazine Adbusters registers the domain name OccupyWallStreet.org.
Canadian anti-consumerist magazine Adbusters registers the domain name OccupyWallStreet.org.
July 13
Adbusters calls for a Sept. 17 protest, where "20,000 people flood into lower Manhattan, set up tents, kitchens, peaceful barricades.
Adbusters calls for a Sept. 17 protest, where "20,000 people flood into lower Manhattan, set up tents, kitchens, peaceful barricades.
Aug. 23
"Hactivist" collective Anonymous releases a video pledging its support for the protest.
"Hactivist" collective Anonymous releases a video pledging its support for the protest.
Sept. 9
Supporters of Occupy Wall Street start posting their photos and stories to a new "We Are the 99 Percent" Tumblr page.
Supporters of Occupy Wall Street start posting their photos and stories to a new "We Are the 99 Percent" Tumblr page.
Sept. 17
The protest begins, with about 1,000 people gathering in downtown Manhattan and walking up and down Wall Street.
The protest begins, with about 1,000 people gathering in downtown Manhattan and walking up and down Wall Street.
Sept. 19
Roseanne Barr becomes the first celebrity to endorse Occupy Wall Street.
Roseanne Barr becomes the first celebrity to endorse Occupy Wall Street.
Sept. 20
Police start arresting mask-wearing protesters, using an arcane law dating back to 1845 that bans masked gatherings unless part of "a masquerade party or like entertainment."
Police start arresting mask-wearing protesters, using an arcane law dating back to 1845 that bans masked gatherings unless part of "a masquerade party or like entertainment."
Sept. 24
About 80 people are arrested during a permit-less march uptown, and video of the event — especially the use of pepper spray on a group of women — earns Occupy Wall Street its first major media coverage. An OWS-inspired protest starts in Chicago.
About 80 people are arrested during a permit-less march uptown, and video of the event — especially the use of pepper spray on a group of women — earns Occupy Wall Street its first major media coverage. An OWS-inspired protest starts in Chicago.
Sept. 26
Filmmaker Michael Moore addresses the crowd at Zuccotti Park. Noam Chomsky sends his regards.
Filmmaker Michael Moore addresses the crowd at Zuccotti Park. Noam Chomsky sends his regards.
Sept. 27
Actress Susan Sarandon and Princeton academic Cornel West show up at the protests.
Actress Susan Sarandon and Princeton academic Cornel West show up at the protests.
Sept. 28
Transport Workers Union Local 100 becomes the first big union to support Occupy Wall Street via a member vote.
Transport Workers Union Local 100 becomes the first big union to support Occupy Wall Street via a member vote.
Sept. 30
An internet hoax that Radiohead will play for the protesters draws a crowd downtown.
An internet hoax that Radiohead will play for the protesters draws a crowd downtown.
Oct. 1
Some 700 protesters are arrested in a march across the Brooklyn Bridge. The mass arrests push the protests to the front page of newspapers and the top of TV news broadcasts. OWS-inspired protests start in Washington, DC, and Los Angeles.
Some 700 protesters are arrested in a march across the Brooklyn Bridge. The mass arrests push the protests to the front page of newspapers and the top of TV news broadcasts. OWS-inspired protests start in Washington, DC, and Los Angeles.
Oct. 3
Protesters dressed as "corporate zombies," in full zombie regalia and clutching fake cash, parade down Wall Street. The protests have spread nationwide, including Boston, Memphis, Minneapolis, St. Louis, Hawaii, and Portland, Maine.
Protesters dressed as "corporate zombies," in full zombie regalia and clutching fake cash, parade down Wall Street. The protests have spread nationwide, including Boston, Memphis, Minneapolis, St. Louis, Hawaii, and Portland, Maine.
Oct. 5
At least 39 organizations, including New York City's largest labor unions and MoveOn.org, join Occupy Wall Street for a march through New York's financial district. Organizers say 10,000 to 20,000 people marched; the media puts the number somewhere below 15,000.
At least 39 organizations, including New York City's largest labor unions and MoveOn.org, join Occupy Wall Street for a march through New York's financial district. Organizers say 10,000 to 20,000 people marched; the media puts the number somewhere below 15,000.
Oct. 6
About 4,000 protesters march in Portland, OR. More demonstrations unfold in Houston, Austin, Tampa, and San Francisco.
About 4,000 protesters march in Portland, OR. More demonstrations unfold in Houston, Austin, Tampa, and San Francisco.
Oct. 7
Mayor Michael Bloomberg criticizes the protesters in a radio interview, saying they are "taking the jobs away from people working in this city" and that the protests are "not good for tourism."
Mayor Michael Bloomberg criticizes the protesters in a radio interview, saying they are "taking the jobs away from people working in this city" and that the protests are "not good for tourism."
Oct. 8
The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC, shuts down after a crowd shows up to voice opposition to U.S. drone strikes abroad. The demonstrators are joined by members of the Occupy Wall Street offshoot Occupy DC.
The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC, shuts down after a crowd shows up to voice opposition to U.S. drone strikes abroad. The demonstrators are joined by members of the Occupy Wall Street offshoot Occupy DC.
Oct. 10
Mayor Bloomberg softens his earlier criticisms, and says protesters can stay in New York as long as they want — so long as they obey the law.
Mayor Bloomberg softens his earlier criticisms, and says protesters can stay in New York as long as they want — so long as they obey the law.
Oct. 14
Owner backs off and avoids a standoff between the demonstrators and police.
Owner backs off and avoids a standoff between the demonstrators and police.
Oct. 18
President Obama delivers a mixed message on Nightline, saying he "understands the frustrations" of the protesters, but that the movement is "not that different from some of the protests we saw coming from the Tea Party."
President Obama delivers a mixed message on Nightline, saying he "understands the frustrations" of the protesters, but that the movement is "not that different from some of the protests we saw coming from the Tea Party."
Oct. 21
The host of an opera radio show aired by NPR affiliates is fired for participating in the Occupy DC movement.
The host of an opera radio show aired by NPR affiliates is fired for participating in the Occupy DC movement.
Oct. 24
Progressive icon Elizabeth Warren takes some of the credit for the movement, telling Newsweek that she "created much of the intellectual foundation for what [the protesters] do."
Progressive icon Elizabeth Warren takes some of the credit for the movement, telling Newsweek that she "created much of the intellectual foundation for what [the protesters] do."
Oct. 25
The Egyptian activists who toppled Hosni Mubarak lend their support to the protesters. In Oakland, CA, police clear about 170 protesters from their encampment outside of City Hall and arrest 97 demonstrators.
The Egyptian activists who toppled Hosni Mubarak lend their support to the protesters. In Oakland, CA, police clear about 170 protesters from their encampment outside of City Hall and arrest 97 demonstrators.
Oct. 26
Big Labor gave an Occupy Wall Street rally in Manhattan a big boost this week, bringing the estimated number of participants in New York alone to roughly 15,000.
New report finds that in the past three decades, the richest 1 percent of Americans have seen their income grow by 275 percent since 1979, compared to the nation’s poorest 20 percent who had only an 18 percent increase (see PDF).
So what is Occupy Wall Street so angry about?
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