At the Parkman Bandstand

On December 17, colloquially known as Twitter hashtag  #D17, the Occupy movement’s celebrated its official third month birthday. At Occupy Boston, protesters took to the streets in what is titled as the Ironic Pro-Corporate March, themed to put a satirical spin on supporting the 1% – corporations, and even banks. This march, again satirical in nature, maneuvered its way through Boston, and was in response to a statement made by Mayor Menino in which he said he wouldn’t like Boston to be an unwelcoming neighborhood for corporations.

Occupy Boston’s #D17 activities began at the Boston Common Parkman Bandstand, moving through the Common and onto Beacon Street. From Beacon Street it went to Arlington, Newbury St and finally Boylston St., the heart of Boston’s shopping district lined with multinational chain stores, before heading back to the Parkman Bandstand in the Common. Marchers carried signs such as “Money is my life,” and “Privatize More Stuff.”

Several known Occupy chants were changed to fit the nature of this march, including “Defeated, The People, Will Never Be United!” “Who needs Free Speech anyway? Hit us with some Pepper Spray!” and “Ignore us. Keep shopping!”

Marching down Newbury Street

Shoppers and pedestrians look confused as protesters marched through downtown Boston during one of the busier shopping days.

The questions we at Occupy Boston want answered from our city officials are, “What is Boston doing to be a welcoming neighborhood to small and family owned businesses? How are city officials making sure these corporations are paying living wages, have safe and respectful work environments, provide health insurance to their employees, are not union busting, and are paying their fair share of taxes in the city of Boston?”

The Women's Caucus of Occupy Boston and allies marching through Chinatown.

“Whatever we wear, Wherever we go, Yes means Yes, No means No!” – “Consent in the sheets, Dissent in the streets!” – “We are unstoppable, another world is possible!” These are the words that rang in the streets today as the Women’s Caucus and their allies marched through Boston. The march that began at 12:30pm was  joined by local organizations representing women, people of color and other marginalized individuals in a powerful march beginning at Dewey Square.

The march stopped at the center of Fanueil Hall, where several women were given an opportunity to speak out about such issues as poverty, job and employment opportunities, healthcare, housing, reproductive rights, and LGBT rights.

Afterwards, the march resumed, meandering it’s way through the city until finally reaching Dewey Square where it started. From 2pm until 4pm, Spoken Word/Music then began at the GA Stage featuring the likes of poet Idalia, writer-playwright Gemma Cooper-Novack, and musician Lauren DeRose.