Occupy OC Rallies in Irvine

Waving signs and American flags, about 100 protesters marched in Irvine on Saturday to protest corporate greed and other perceived injustices.

Occupy Irvine, a spinoff of the Occupy Wall Street protest movement, also celebrated the Irvine City Council's decision to allow protesters to camp overnight on the Irvine Civic Center lawn.

Protesters kicked off Saturday's rally at the corner of Harvard Avenue and Alton Parkway, holding signs that read “Stop Corporate Greed” and “The World Is Watching.”

Chanting "We are the 99 percent,” the group peacefully made its way down Alton Parkway, across the street from the Civic Center.

Donna Heney, one of the organizers for Occupy Irvine, said she was proud of the demonstration: “[It shows] that we were willing to abide by the guidelines [the city] set up for us, and that we were determined ... to stay here in occupation.” 

Irvine City Councilman Larry Agran made an appearance in support of the protest, posing for a group picture and answering questions from the crowd.

“The city of Irvine should be available for purposes of free speech and an opportunity for people to express themselves, and build not just a better country or better state but a better local community,” Agran said.

The protest was scheduled to continue into the evening on the Civic Center lawn.