The Occupy movement is coming to the Fraser Valley and will make its first appearance in Abbotsford this Saturday at noon outside the Clearbrook Library.
Three organizational meetings have taken place recently in preparation for the demonstration that calls itself a grassroots campaign against corporate capitalism and financial inequality.
And now, they are ready to move in. On Twitter, organizers have discussed whether to bring tents to the Abbotsford general assembly.
Occupy first started on Wall Street in New York City, spread to Vancouver, and now the Fraser Valley. Occupy Maple Ridge had its first meeting at Memorial Peace Park on Nov. 6.
“Currently, we are focusing on actions starting in Abbotsford, because we have a lot of Abbotsford members and supporters right now,” said Rachel Murrell, spokesperson and organizer for Occupy Fraser Valley.
Murrell, who is from Chilliwack, told Black Press the movement is not aimed at any particular party, but is focused on bringing people from all political backgrounds together to evaluate the current democratic makeup.
“We can all agree there is a problem with the system, and it’s getting worse exponentially,” she said.
According to Murrell, corporations wield too much influence over government, while the voice of the most vulnerable, the poor and the disabled, is being lost. The gap between the rich and the poor is only widening, with the middle-class disappearing. Corporate-owned stores are pushing out smaller businesses.
The Occupy movement has recently come under attack, with the death of a protester last Saturday at the Vancouver’s Art Gallery grounds. The city is taking steps to remove the camp.