Hundreds kick off Occupy Philadelphia

The anti-greed and corruption protests sweeping the nation have landed in Philadelphia. Today hundreds of people joined the Occupy Philadelphia movement by gathering outside City Hall. 

Every few minutes someone stepped up to make an announcement that the crowd echoed: “We wanted to give everyone a general welcome to the revolution!”A 31 year old in the crowd said it’s been frustrating to watch his small business suffer and he wishes President Obama had spent more time fighting for the little guy.Larry Swetman, 25, reminded the crowd to be peaceful and not to block traffic.”The Mayor and the Police have been very welcoming,” he said. “Let’s be welcoming back! And last thing: Have fun!”Swetman said some people feel victimized by corporations, some by the government.

“We need to end corporate personhood—the Supreme Court needs to rule that corporations are not people, that way bankers who ruin our economy can be held accountable for their actions, we need to end unlimited campaign financing for politicians,” he said.Swetman also said he wants to end the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Medical student Eldon Peters lives in Center City Philadelphia.

“There needs to be a better way—a different way to support the common middle class and the working class folk of America,” said Peters. “I’ve been privileged largely due to the public infrastructure, public education.  My parents were both civil servants and so I’ve been blessed really with a lot of the public service that is looking to be cut and sacrificed.”

Peters said he had to leave the protest to go to school, but he’d come back later and again over the weekend.

In New York City, Occupy Wall Street demonstrations have led to mass arrests.