From Wall Street to Princes Street

The 'Occupy' protest movement reached Edinburgh last weekend, as up to 300 occupiers set up camp in St Andrew Square Gardens, close to the headquarters of banking giant RBS. 

The demonstration, inspired by the ongoing Occupy Wall Street protest, saw protesters rail against the influence wielded by "the one per cent" of super-wealthy individuals and companies over "the 99 per cent" of normal citizens, as dozens of students joined trades unionists and other campaigning groups in a call for social equality and corporate responsbility.

Ross Jesmont (pictured, right) a 20-year-old student at the University of Edinburgh, told The Journal that the protest was "part of a global initiative" against corporate greed, and that it was important for people to make their voices heard.

"It's better to do something rather than staying in your flat," he said.

The city-centre demonstration which began on 15 October was timed to coincide with a wave of similar occupations around the world in "an international day of action" in solidarity with the Wall Street occupiers. The Guardian has reported that 950 demonstrations took place across 80 countries on Saturday.

'Veteran' occupier Tam Burke said that although he was close to retirement, he attended the demonstration "to give a future for young people. 

"There is so much wealth in the wrong hands. There is no need for poverty," Mr Burke said.

38-year-old Sheila Masson, who has dual nationality in the UK and United States, said that she attended Occupy Edinburgh to show support for the Wall Street occupiers. "I'm here representing my friends back in the States," she told The Journal.

As The Journal went to press on Monday, occupiers were still camped out at St Andrew Square, having spent two nights there. The group have announced that they intend to hold live-streamed daily 'general assemblies' to "decide how to take this movement forward". 

Elsewhere, a small number of protesters set up camp in Glasgow's George Square. Despite fears that Glasgow City Council would attempt to evict the group, on Monday afternoon the council agreed to allow them to stay for the time being. In London, occupiers have taken up residence outside St Paul's Cathedral. The cathedral's canon, Reverend Giles Fraser, has said that he is happy for the protesters to remain, and has asked the Metropolitan Police to recall officers assigned to 'protect' the cathedral. Police had initially seemed poised to attempt to break up the demonstration, but now appear to have relented.

Occupy Wall Street has now entered its second month entrenched in the heart of New York. Several hundred campaigners are still camped out in the city's financial district.

Lothian and Borders Police confirmed on Sunday that the Edinburgh occupation has so far progressed peacefully, with no reports of trouble.By comparison, the New York Police Department have sparked controversy following skirmishes with Wall Street occupiers, amid allegations that police officers were indiscriminate in their use of batons and pepper spray.