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DARIEN, Conn. The first day of the Occupy Darien demonstration got off to a slow start at a wet Tilley Park in Darien on Wednesday morning with about 10 protesters coming out for the event.
Cole Stangler of New Canaan was the first to arrive, carrying a sign that said, End the Wars, Tax the Rich.
I think this is the most important social movement of the last 30 years, Stangler said. He has not participated in any Occupy Wall Street events because he has been studying abroad. Im trying to support it in any way I can. Its important to protest in places like Darien, which is really the belly of the beast where the inequalities are so dramatic.
Bennett Weiss of Newburgh, N.Y., has been involved in several protests, including the Rally for Economic Justice in New Canaan this fall. He brought out buttons to commemorate the Occupy Darien event as he stood in the rain and talked with other demonstrators.
It makes sense to protest here against the extreme concentration of wealth, where the wealth is most concentrated," Weiss said.
Speakers for the first day of the event included Donald Longbottom of the First Congregational Church of Darien, Trudi Goldberg of the National Jobs for All Coalition and Stamford attorney Julia von Schilling.
Tommy Fox, a veteran of several Occupy Wall Street protests, came from New York to take part in the event. He blamed the low attendance on the wet weather and lack of coordination between event organizer Margaret Rague and occupiers in New York. He said he has been trying to spread the word, and that more people may show up Thursday.
Are you going to check out Occupy Darien? Tell us in the comments below.
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