FROM RIGHT: JoAnnika and Xochitl Logan of El Centro listen to speakers Saturday at the Occupy Imperial County protest at Adams Park in El Centro. (ELIZABETH VARIN) |
Twenty-two-year-old Jessica Yocupicio didn’t want to give a sob story Saturday morning.
She just graduated from the University of Santa Clara and had to return home with $30,000 in debt and very discouraged.
“I keep questioning why I went to college, but I have to remind myself that it was worth it,” she said. “It’s these corporations that are privatizing my education, cutting my major, that question anything that is different.”
She’s part of the 99 percent, she announced to the crowd Saturday at the largest occupy event held locally.
Cries of “we want change” rang through Adams Park on Saturday in El Centro as more than 40 people joined the occupy movement that has taken over areas of the world.
Occupy Imperial County protesters held signs and gave speeches at the park after marching from El Centro Town Square to Imperial Avenue and back to Adams Park.
The event is to make people aware that there can be change, said Maddy Gomez, a volunteer with the event. However, people here need to work for it.
The Valley has been devastated by the high unemployment rate and the highest food insecurity in the state, she said. Locals can’t stand for it.
She hopes there can be more events, maybe biweekly or bimonthly to bring awareness of the movement, she said.
It’s important to have something like Occupy Imperial County “because it’s small,” said Camden Aguilera, 24, of Imperial.
“Imperial Valley is small,” she said. “Our voice needs to be heard.”
When things get bad nationally, it gets worse here locally, she said.
She came out to meet up with like-minded people who want to achieve change, not only locally but nationally and globally, she said. She would have been really excited had there been five or 50 people, so the turnout was good.
The event included students, veterans, senior citizens and people politically involved.
Among the crowd was John Hernandez, 62, of Brawley, who spoke out about issues pertaining to veterans and immigrants.
“I feel compelled to step forward with my experience over the last 40 years to share with the youth that are crying out for help, the youth crying out for opportunity,” he said. “They’re crying out for a better future for themselves.
He wanted to support the 99 percent of people, who he said were those who have seen their income stagnate, their lives affected by rising costs of living, he said. He’s seen his neighborhood affected by foreclosure.
“We’ve talked about the American dream, but it’s been more like an American nightmare for the last several years,” he added.
For more information about the Occupy Imperial County movement, visit Occupy Imperial County on Facebook.
Staff Writer Elizabeth Varin can be reached at evarin@ivpressonline.com or 760-337-3441.
She just graduated from the University of Santa Clara and had to return home with $30,000 in debt and very discouraged.
“I keep questioning why I went to college, but I have to remind myself that it was worth it,” she said. “It’s these corporations that are privatizing my education, cutting my major, that question anything that is different.”
She’s part of the 99 percent, she announced to the crowd Saturday at the largest occupy event held locally.
Cries of “we want change” rang through Adams Park on Saturday in El Centro as more than 40 people joined the occupy movement that has taken over areas of the world.
Occupy Imperial County protesters held signs and gave speeches at the park after marching from El Centro Town Square to Imperial Avenue and back to Adams Park.
The event is to make people aware that there can be change, said Maddy Gomez, a volunteer with the event. However, people here need to work for it.
The Valley has been devastated by the high unemployment rate and the highest food insecurity in the state, she said. Locals can’t stand for it.
She hopes there can be more events, maybe biweekly or bimonthly to bring awareness of the movement, she said.
It’s important to have something like Occupy Imperial County “because it’s small,” said Camden Aguilera, 24, of Imperial.
“Imperial Valley is small,” she said. “Our voice needs to be heard.”
When things get bad nationally, it gets worse here locally, she said.
She came out to meet up with like-minded people who want to achieve change, not only locally but nationally and globally, she said. She would have been really excited had there been five or 50 people, so the turnout was good.
The event included students, veterans, senior citizens and people politically involved.
Among the crowd was John Hernandez, 62, of Brawley, who spoke out about issues pertaining to veterans and immigrants.
“I feel compelled to step forward with my experience over the last 40 years to share with the youth that are crying out for help, the youth crying out for opportunity,” he said. “They’re crying out for a better future for themselves.
He wanted to support the 99 percent of people, who he said were those who have seen their income stagnate, their lives affected by rising costs of living, he said. He’s seen his neighborhood affected by foreclosure.
“We’ve talked about the American dream, but it’s been more like an American nightmare for the last several years,” he added.
For more information about the Occupy Imperial County movement, visit Occupy Imperial County on Facebook.
Staff Writer Elizabeth Varin can be reached at evarin@ivpressonline.com or 760-337-3441.
