- 1
- 2
- next
- | single page
The Occupy Wall Street protests that began in New York last month and have since spread across the nation generated mixed reactions Tuesday among area residents.
Glenn Young of Williamsport said it was important that the protesters continue to exercise their right to nonviolent protests.
“These protests are protected under the Constitution, and the people need to take advantage of that,” Young said. “There’s too much inequity in income; people are making millions in bonuses, and other people are just barely scraping by.”
Young said that whether the protest makes it to Hagerstown depends on who would organize it, but he would probably not participate, even though he supports it.
The protests began in New York City on Sept. 17. The protesters have laid out a series of demands and proposals for the federal government, with a focus on ending the influence corporate money and lobbyists have over politicians.
Bill Alberts of Duncansville, Pa., said he thought the protests were not about any specific issue but rather a display of general frustration from the American public.
“This shows who we are; it goes back to the idea of nonviolent protests that Martin Luther King was talking about in the 1960s,” said Alberts, who was on his way to work in Hagerstown. “Depending on the issue, I might protest with them if one came to Hagerstown, which is quite possible.”
Mike Rice from Hagerstown said that the protests reflect a wealth gap in the United States.
“These protests are for a good reason because we’re in a bad situation,” he said. “While the poor man gets nothing, the rich get richer.”
Rice said that he thinks the protesters would come to Hagerstown if one or two people organized it, noting that he would support it.
On the other side, however, Randy Fletcher of Mercersburg, Pa., said he did not think the protesters have reason to complain about anything, including the wealth gap.
“They bring up nonsense; people that have wealth earned it and deserve it,” said Fletcher, who was walking past Columbia Bank in downtown Hagerstown. “These people are nothing like the tea party protesters; the tea party is about smaller government.”
Fletcher said that he does not think the protests will reach places like Hagerstown, because they are not that significant.
Hagerstown resident Buddy Nigh said he agreed with Fletcher that people who earn wealth deserve it, but he noted that he supports the protesters because the government cares about Wall Street too much.
“You call your congressman and Senators, they don’t listen to your complaints, but they listen to the big banks,” Nigh said as he was pumping gas at the Exxon on Dual Highway and Edgewood Drive. “I hope they (the protesters) come to Hagerstown because I’d go to show them my support.”
Chad Smith, also from Hagerstown, said that the protests, although well intended, were pointless.
“Nothing is going to come from these protests,” he said. “The change is going to have to come from the government; they need to stop protecting the wealthy class.”
But Smith, who was standing outside of Skyline Coffee Co. in downtown Hagerstown, said he would still take part in a protest if it came to Hagerstown, just for fun.
Government policy
Glenn Young of Williamsport said it was important that the protesters continue to exercise their right to nonviolent protests.
“These protests are protected under the Constitution, and the people need to take advantage of that,” Young said. “There’s too much inequity in income; people are making millions in bonuses, and other people are just barely scraping by.”
Young said that whether the protest makes it to Hagerstown depends on who would organize it, but he would probably not participate, even though he supports it.
The protests began in New York City on Sept. 17. The protesters have laid out a series of demands and proposals for the federal government, with a focus on ending the influence corporate money and lobbyists have over politicians.
Bill Alberts of Duncansville, Pa., said he thought the protests were not about any specific issue but rather a display of general frustration from the American public.
“This shows who we are; it goes back to the idea of nonviolent protests that Martin Luther King was talking about in the 1960s,” said Alberts, who was on his way to work in Hagerstown. “Depending on the issue, I might protest with them if one came to Hagerstown, which is quite possible.”
Mike Rice from Hagerstown said that the protests reflect a wealth gap in the United States.
“These protests are for a good reason because we’re in a bad situation,” he said. “While the poor man gets nothing, the rich get richer.”
Rice said that he thinks the protesters would come to Hagerstown if one or two people organized it, noting that he would support it.
On the other side, however, Randy Fletcher of Mercersburg, Pa., said he did not think the protesters have reason to complain about anything, including the wealth gap.
“They bring up nonsense; people that have wealth earned it and deserve it,” said Fletcher, who was walking past Columbia Bank in downtown Hagerstown. “These people are nothing like the tea party protesters; the tea party is about smaller government.”
Fletcher said that he does not think the protests will reach places like Hagerstown, because they are not that significant.
Hagerstown resident Buddy Nigh said he agreed with Fletcher that people who earn wealth deserve it, but he noted that he supports the protesters because the government cares about Wall Street too much.
“You call your congressman and Senators, they don’t listen to your complaints, but they listen to the big banks,” Nigh said as he was pumping gas at the Exxon on Dual Highway and Edgewood Drive. “I hope they (the protesters) come to Hagerstown because I’d go to show them my support.”
Chad Smith, also from Hagerstown, said that the protests, although well intended, were pointless.
“Nothing is going to come from these protests,” he said. “The change is going to have to come from the government; they need to stop protecting the wealthy class.”
But Smith, who was standing outside of Skyline Coffee Co. in downtown Hagerstown, said he would still take part in a protest if it came to Hagerstown, just for fun.
Government policy
