Occupy Wall Street in the financial district this morning (Mike Segar/Reuters)
At the start of
the national day of action, Occupy Wall Street protesters
held a large rally and engaged in civil disobedience in New York's financial district in an attempt to delay the opening of the stock exchange:
Hundreds of protesters from Zuccotti Park clashed with the police as they tried to reach the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday morning, and at least 50 were arrested.
Protesters had vowed to prevent traders from reaching the stock exchange on Wall Street, and some traders did appear to have a hard time reaching the building. But the stock exchange opened for trading as usual at 9:30 a.m.
Many members of the group pushed through lines formed by police, waving signs and banging drums as they moved. The police started taking protesters into custody who had sat down on the street about a block away from the exchange.
More actions are planned later in the day:
At 2 p.m., a student protest is scheduled in Union Square.
At 3 p.m., protesters will occupy the subways.
They are planning to meet at 16 subway stops and transportation hubs in each of the boroughs, sharing stories with straphangers.
At 5 p.m., protesters will gather along with several labor unions at Foley Square for a rally to demand jobs.
The city says it is preparing for a huge number of protestors, perhaps in the tens of thousands.
From there, the group is expected to march to the Brooklyn Bridge.
More details, regular updates, and multiple livestreams can be found at Occupy Wall Street's main website. Right here at Daily Kos, OllieGarkey is liveblogging on the recommended list.
Beyond New York City, actions are planned in hundreds of locations around the country. Click here to find one near you.