NEW YORK — Unions gave a high- profile boost to the long-running protest against Wall Street and economic inequality Wednesday, with their members joining thousands of protesters in a lower Manhattan march.
Across the country, students at several colleges walked out of classes to show solidarity with the protest.
People gathered at Foley Square, an area encircled by courthouses and named for “Big Tom” Foley, a former blacksmith’s helper who became a prominent state Democratic leader. From there they marched to Zuccotti Park, the protesters’ unofficial headquarters, where they refueled with snacks and hurriedly painted new signs as the strong scent of burning sage wafted through the plaza.
Competing drum circles went full speed on the north and south sides of the square as people continued to chant and march around the perimeter.
Susan Henoch, 63, of Manhattan said she was a “child of the ’60s” and came out to the park for the first time Wednesday. She held a sign that read, “Enough.”
“It’s time for the people to speak up,” she said. “Nobody’s listening to us, nobody’s representing us. Politics is dead. This is no longer a recognizable democracy. This is a disaster.”
Sterling W. Roberson, vice president for the United Federation of Teachers, said union members shared the same ideals as activists who have been camped out for more than two weeks.
“The middle class is taking the burden, but the wealthiest of our state and country are not,” he said.
Some union members were there from other states.
