It's been one week since occupiers took over Academy Park in Albany and despite the wintry weather, they're staying put.There were some different faces Friday night in Academy Park as hundreds of people with labor unions and community groups joined the cause.
“We're the 99 percent, here we are,” they chanted.
Most of the people aren't regulars in Academy Park, but Friday they stood alongside the occupiers who've been there for the past week.
“We believe in what they are doing and what they stand for,” explained Jessica Wisneski with Citizen Action of New York.
Union members grabbed their own signs, fighting to send a message to that “one percent.”
“Pay their share just like the rest of us,” explained Tom Snyder of Binghamton.
“Many people don't have jobs because there aren't any jobs and that is wrong,” explained President of the Capital District Area Labor Federation, Mary Sullivan. “This is the United States of America.”
“We come from one of the most democratic labor movements, so that's one of my reasons for coming is to watch democracy in action,” said Wayne Bayer of East Greenbush.
Many critics guessed the occupiers' dedication would dry up as soon as the first snow came down.
After Thursday night's wintry weather, it seems that's not the case.
“We got so many sleeping bags, donations, shovels, whatever, we’ll get on it,” explained protester Paul Bramah. “The fact that everybody's close makes us not want to leave anyway, we're just going to keep going forward.”
And even if people do need to escape the cold, Jonathan Jetter says that’s okay.
“I don’t think that lessens their commitment,” Jetter said. “I think they just might not be a fan of frostbite.”
Jetter grew up in the Capital Region. He now lives in Queens and spends a lot of time occupying Wall Street when he's not working.
He says he wouldn't have missed Occupy Albany for anything.
“I’m happy to see the Capital Region stepping up,” Jetter said. “I was also so fascinated that the police are so respectful of the occupation.”
With new faces, and what some are calling “solidarity honks” from passers by, the Occupy Albany movement seems to be gaining momentum even as the temperature drops.
“This thing has developed and expanded overnight, it's a great phenomenon,” Bayer said.
Protesters say regardless of Saturday’s weather, they're expecting people from across the state for “Occupy Your Capitol,” an event happening in capital cities across the country.
