America's kids tell their stories from their Wall Street camp

[Starry Messenger]

http://peoplesworld.org/america-s-kids-tell-their-stories-from-their-wall-street-camp/

NEW YORK CITY -- "I figured if I'm going to be homeless, I might as well be homeless for a good reason," said Matt Kitchens. The Alabama native is one of the hundreds of restless youth Occupying Wall Street, determined that their voices be heard. After finishing trade school, Kitchens, 20, worked as a welder in Mobile's shipyards. He hit the road after that work ran out, and ended up working in a coffee shop in upstate New York. That job ended six months ago. Now he's on Wall Street.

Matt from Philadelphia had a similar story. He worked at a succession of short-lived jobs installing floors, then at a produce market.

Two students from Ithaca, NY, Marie Spoelstra and Sarah Richards are camped out "to protest corporate greed." says Spoelstra, 20, a sociology major. Her buddy Richards, who works serving up toasted sandwiches at a Subway outlet adds, "We work hard and have nothing to show for it. We're sick of having everything taken from us."

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Dave Anthony takes charge of the bag, carefully arranging the sandwiches on a table for distribution. Anthony, who works afternoons as a chef, says, "I make sure the food is fresh." There are cartons of coffee, and a veritable buffet of fresh fruit, bagels, and occasional pizzas. Afternoons Anthony goes to work at his restaurant job. Otherwise, he says, "I'm here day and night." Anthony is still paying the student loans he took out to go to chef school. "I pay on it every month but the number never goes down! I feel that Wall Street should help us," he continues. "A lot of people here are in debt, especially tuition loans. Some are homeless. We want a future for ourselves and our children." Anthony said he was drawn to come down to Wall Street "when I saw people protesting for our rights. I've been waiting a long time for something to happen."

[BanzaiBonnie]

1. These are our children, love them, love what they are doing

Join them. Join what they stand for.

[Fire Walk With Me]

2. The more stories about individuals, the more this is a "real" movement to others who do not

yet understand. :thumbsup:K&R!

[TBF]

3. K&R nt

[Starry Messenger]

4. Thank you!

:)

[TBF]

6. I know it is early stages, but I am very excited about these kids protesting.

Bottom line they want a better life for themselves (or any kind of life at all - most are coming out of school jobless) and we adults need to hear and support them. We know it's going to be much harder than they do, but we've gotta push past that and help them. We've got the experience and long-term knowledge they lack.

[Tsiyu]

5. "I've been waiting a long time for something to happen"

Almost all of us could say the same thing.

K&R