By Deepa Singh–

“I don’t know, but I’ve been told
That our laws are bought and sold.
What we want and what we need
Is to stop corporate greed.”

Action outside the KFC Yum! Center heated up well before tipoff. The following mantra was audible just beyond stadium doors:

Visitors to the KFC Yum! Center were greeted by chants such as this as demonstrators from the Occupy Louisville movement took advantage of an opportunity to make their voices heard on Wednesday, Feb. 29, as thousands of Cardinal fans poured into the arena.

This was the first protest Occupy Louisville participants have had since a altercation with police late last month at the Chase Bank on Baxter Avenue, which resulted in five arrests. According to reports, Allison Hill, a local activist who led the classroom walkout in mid-November, was one of the five arrested. She was charged with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, third-degree assault and menacing.

The Yum! protesters group, made up of participants ranging from minors to retired folks, was there to protest against the American Legislative Exchange Council. ALEC is comprised of corporations and legislatures.

Members of the Occupy movement stated that Yum! is a member of ALEC. Christine Chadwick, a member of the movement, said they were there to expose ALEC.

“[Members of ALEC] secretly get together, hold meetings and write model bills,” said Chadwick, speaking through a dollar bill that was taped to her mouth.

When asked what the currency covering her mouth represented, Chadwick responded, “This symbolizes the fact that the corporations are stealing the voice of the American people. Because they have the money, they can hire the attorneys and buy our politicians.”

Contrary to the protest held at Chase Bank, the Yum! Center protest was peaceful. However, there was some tension.

Approximately an hour into the demonstration, a man showed up protesting against the Occupiers with a sign that read, “The 1% pays your unemployment.”

“I don’t believe that they represent 99 percent of America. Corporations are not all bad. They provide jobs to people,” said James Bonsall, the man holding the sign.

The Occupy movements in America are attempting to raise awareness about their claim that the wealthiest one percent of the American population has greater influence on politics and the democratic process than the rest of the population.

Bonsall went on to say, “The Occupy movement [in Louisville] where [the protesters] attacked the police officers at Chase Bank… Whether they meant to attack the police officers or not, they definitely instigated what happened on Saturday.”

Police presence at the protest was strong. There were over 25 officers present, some on foot, some on bikes and some on horseback. A prisoner transportation vehicle passed the area multiple times.

As the demonstration came to a close, a protester, Bradley McNeiland, had a few questions of his own: “Did we fight enough? Did we protest enough? Did we inform people enough?”

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Photo: Michael Baldwin/The Louisville Cardinal