Occupy Redlands March is 100 Strong

"I told Redlands PD there'd be 30 of us," Kent Marten told a crowd of about 100 Occupy Redlands marchers gathered at Smiley Park on Saturday.

"We definitely got 30," he said.

The Redlands marchers was among thousands of "Occupy" groups across the world to participate in the Global Day of Action, protests inspired by the Occupy Wall Street movement.

Marchers called for corporations to get out of politics. They called for jobs. And they tried to remind their elected representatives that corporate America may have the dollars, but they have the votes.

Starting their march on Fifth Street near Redlands Boulevard, the group headed east on Redlands, south on Eighth Street, west on State Street then north on Orange Street, before doubling back toward Smiley.

They walked past several banks waving signs and chanting, "Wall Street got bailed out. We got sold out." Many passers-by and motorists watched in wide-eyed wonder. Some drivers honked. A few flashed a thumbs up.

To organizers who started this movement only a week before, the sight of the group was inspiring.

"A week ago noon, a bunch of people met over at Augie's Cafe," said Keith Jackson, Occupy Redlands committee member. "Ten people came."

"I think a lot of people are frustrated and concerned," Jackson said.

"To get this number of people out here spending their free time here to be heard says something about what's going on," Jackson said.