Protesters continued flooding the Capitol on Thursday, chanting in the streets, holding signs in support of “the 99 percent,” and trying (mostly unsuccessfully) to get meetings with lawmakers.
The demonstrators are not from just one group and their demands may vary, but they have a common goal -- one that House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., says resonates with her.
“I think the protesters have made a very strong statement: The status quo is unacceptable,” she said. “I agree with that.”
Pelosi said that the many voices are proof that “we have to move forward to empower the 99 percent to offset the impact of the Supreme Court decision of money in campaigns,” and that the country must work toward “diminishing the power of money in politics.”
She was referring to last year's controversial Citizens United decision, which allows outside groups to raise and spend unlimited amounts of money to influence federal elections.
Although this is Pelosi’s read on what the protesters stand for, many of them have a more tangible goal -- getting jobs.
A single mother — Claudia from California -- was outside the Longworth House office building on Thursday handing out fliers with a black and white picture of House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, and the words “Our government should not be of, by and for the rich.”
“We’re here to talk to our representatives about creating a better culture for jobs,” she said. “No one has met with us yet, but I really believe they are hearing our voices anyway.”
Video by Sara Sorcher
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