Occupy Wall St. Comes To Southeast Idaho

For the last three weeks, the Occupy Wall Street movement has been going on in New York City, and now it is starting to spread across the nation.

That includes Idaho, where a protest was held earlier Wednesday in Boise. And it does not stop there: The Occupy Pocatello movement held its first meeting at Idaho State University on Wednesday night. The group is working to make protests happen in the Gate City like protesters are in New York.

Inside ISU’s student union, those gathered looked like any other group of students. But the nine people said it is no study club, it is a “revolution.”

“I would categorize them as a revolution. It’s a revolution for humanity as a whole. If we can stray away from this corporate corruption and the old system we all know is broken, and which it was never supposed to be, maybe we can find more economic equality for everyone,” organizer Scott Richardson said.

By “everyone,” Richardson meant the “other 99 percent” — a slogan the Occupy movement is using based on the fact that one percent of the country holds 40 percent of its wealth.

Richardson started the group and said he is not afraid of small starting numbers because Occupy Wall Street started with just 12 people. The meeting brought in ISU freshman Ryan Hand.

“In Idaho we have what is pretty much a one-party state and one-party rule, and minority voices just aren’t heard. And a lot of people here have tried a lot of different things to make themselves heard, and it hasn’t worked,” Hand said.

Richardson said Wall Street definitely hurts Idahoans, citing campaign contributions as one huge issue.

“If the elected officials are being paid by corporations instead of the individuals, they’re making their decisions off of the corporate influence. So we’re victim to it here, as well,” he said.

And though this is just one small spark, the group is hoping it grows into a flame.

“This is really the only option we have now — is to fight fire with fire,” Hand said.

Richardson said people can connect with the group through the Occupy Pocatello Facebook page.

An Occupy Idaho Falls protest is happening Saturday at 5 p.m. on the Greenbelt near the falls.