"Occupy" Comes to Rohnert Park

Rohnert Park wants to be heard — that's why a small, but vocal group of between 20 and 30 protesters rallied during lunch hour Thursday, at the corner of Rohnert Park Expressway and Commerce Boulevard, to show support for the Occupy movement for the first time.

Scores of Rohnert Park and Cotati residents said they were "inspired" by Occupy Wall Street — the "people-powered" movement that ignited Sept. 17 in Manhattan, spread to hundreds of towns and cities across America and that's galvanized people young and old to stand in solidarity — largely in protest of corporate greed and the economic collapse.

Demonstrations across the country yesterday held marches, rallies and other events as part of a national "day of action." The national protest was organized to mark the two-month anniversary of the beginning of the Occupy Wall Street protests.

"It was time to bring it to Rohnert Park," one demonstrator shouted as cars whipped by, coming from Hwy. 101.

Protesters were barely audible amid the hundreds of motorists that passed by, many of whom were honking nonstop.

"All the money is going to the rich, and being taken away from the middle class," said Art Dolin, 78, of Rohnert Park. "We're out here because corporations are being favored over the people."

Linda Park, who is 70, carried a sign that read: "Prosecute the criminal bankers and investment brokers — re-regulate." She was protesting the court case Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, which in part dissolved the cap on political spending by corporations in candidate elections.

"Corporations are not people! Money is not speech!" she said.

At the bottom of her circular, bright yellow picket sign, it simply said Glass-Steagall, the act that until 1999 prohibited "commercial banks from engaging in the investment business," according to language in the New York Times.

"Citizens United was the tipping point for democracy," said Park, who was joined by her husband Gene. "It makes me sick that the government is completely owned by corproations and money."

"I'm a strong supporter of the Occupy movement," said Eileen Harrington, of Rohnert Park. "We're out here — middle-aged people, young and old, becasue we're the ones feeling the pain."

Burjor Dastur, 51, who participated in , said he came today to show support for Rohnert Park.

"It's because most laws are written by lobbyists and corporations, and we need to stand together to be heard," he said.

Megan Coffey, 45, who lives in Rohnert Park, said she and her wife have been sitting on the couch, yelling at the TV, for years.

"People are waking up — it's time for us to wake up," Coffey said.

Editor's note: Though Thursday marked the first "Occupy" presence in Rohnert Park, hundreds of local residents have from large financial institution to smaller banks and credit unions. .