Occupy Wall Street has spread to Chicago and other cities across the country, as protestors seek reform in corporate America.

The general complaint? Corporations have too much power, and government should stop favoring them and start representing the people.

The movement started Sept. 17 in New York City and spread all over the world, by various names, to countries including Taiwan, Jordan, Germany, Belgium, Canada, Japan, France, England, Mexico, Sweden, Australia, Spain, Chile, the Philippines and Italy.

“It’s finally reached the point where people are upset enough [with the government]. It’s an election year, so there’s a lot of emphasis put on different issues,” Javier Martinez, social sciences teacher, said. “They have to get the support of the general population, because then they’ll get the politicians to listen.”

He said that leaders within the group have to do whatever they need to be taken seriously. There’s the possibility that because they are protesting, they could be seen merely as inconvenient troublemakers.
Mike Polski, a resident of Joliet who was at the Occupy Chicago protest march on Oct. 22, said that the people who were planning on camping out overnight at Grant Park chose to because they can’t pitch tents on the sidewalk.

He was holding a sign at the side of the road that said “For Sale: Congress.”

“The lobby groups have too much power and influence over lawmakers,” Polski said, “[We need to] take money out of politics. That’s what our founders wanted.  They wanted Congress to be a representation of the people, and now it’s lawyers and millionaires.”

Thousands have been showing up to the Occupy Chicago marches. At the end, there is a general assembly where speakers voice their opinion.

That night, about 130 people were arrested for staying in the park after the time of closing.
Chicago police have been paid hundred of thousands of dollars in overtime so far to maintain peace and order at the protests, while the Occupy movement has cost New York millions.