Occupy movement plans Iowa protests, 'People's Caucus'

Date: 20 December, 2011
Author: Michael A. Memoli
Publisher: LA Times

Iowa, the location of the nation's first nominating contest, is feeling the presence of OCCUPY members. However, their main target this time is Mr. President himself, not Republican candidates. Members came up to the HQ of the Democratic Party and protested that Obama should veto any legislation that would fund the government in order to preserve the Pell grants. From the Federal Pell Grant website, Pell grants are defined as grants that "...provides need-based grants to low-income undergraduate and certain postbaccalaureate students to promote access to postsecondary education." Eight were arrested on the charge of criminal trespassing. On one hand, they are allowed to exercise their right to freedom of speech, however on the other, they are only inhibiting one of the most important things in the U.S., the election for the next president. Norm Sterzenbach, the executive director of the Democratic HQ in Iowa said, "While we recognize their right to lawful protests, an occupation of our office is not acceptable and only interferes with the work we do to elect Democrats and build a better future for Iowa and our nation. It's unfortunate that some members chose to face arrest, rather than leave as they were asked to do multiple times."OCCUPY members have planned out a "Caucus of the 99%" in which members will split up into groups that will go around and occupy a certain candidate's campaign office. This will take place on December 27rd. These caucuses are private parties and if OCCUPY members are seen as disturbing the peace at them, they can and will be arrested.

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-occupy-iowa-protests-20111220,0,3064237.story?track=rss