'There Is Only All Of Us'

With their anger focused on what they see as Wall Street's greed and Washington's corruption, hundreds came to Woodruff Park Friday night to join the growing national "Occupy" movement.

Under the aegis of "Occupy Atlanta" the protesters — young and old, black and white, students and professionals — rallied around several issues, such as jobs, poverty, human rights and ineffective government.

But the main point of contention of the group was what they see as an unfair tax and financial system.

"My main issue is the tax system," said Marisa Silva, an Atlanta paralegal, carrying a sign that read: "I am not a lazy hippie, I have a job"

The sign, she said, partly reflected her desire to the show protesters weren't aimless anarchists with nothing to do. It also underscored what she said is the need for a more equitable tax system that doesn't give wealthy corporations all the breaks at the expense of individuals.

"If I go to work and pay my taxes wealthy companies, the top one percent should pay their fair share," she said.

By 10:15 p.m. the gathering, which drew its inspiration from the Occupy Wall Street protesters and similar rallies across the country, hadn't yet decided if they were going to take over the park  or go to another location, such as the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta in Midtown.

In fact, organizers stressed it was an assembly — the fifth time the group has met in recent days — to share ideas, get input from the crowd and plan next steps.

The crowd, which was peaceful and calm, signaled its approval or disapproval of an idea or proposal by a show of hands.

And organizers who spoke didn't see themselves as leaders, but facilitators of a group where everyone who wished to be heard on an issue, could be heard and everyone's vote counted.

"There is no us and them," shouted one speaker to cheers and applause. "There is only all of us."

Indeed, there was a lengthy discussion on whether to keep to the schedule of topics to be discussed or divert a bit to allow civil rights icon and Democratic Congressman John Lewis a few minutes to address the crowd.

In the end, they decided he could address them at some point, but it wasn't clear when. Even so, Lewis had to leave because he had another function to attend.

Speaking to reporters as he left, Lewis said he supported their efforts and that it reminded him of his days of organizing as a memer of Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee during the Civil Rights era protet movement of the 1960s.