‘Occupy Wall Street’ Movement Reaches Coachella Valley

People picketed outside Rep. Mary Bono Mack’s office Saturday to show their solidarity against corporate greed.

Organizers said it was a local version of the “Occupy Wall Street” demonstrations that started in New York three weeks ago and have spread like wildfire around the nation.

“The housing market is disastrous and unacceptable,” said John Paul Valdez, of Desert Hot Springs. “We have a much higher rate unemployment here.”

Not only does organizer Jayel Aheram want to end corporate greed, but he also wants to end the war. He is an Iraq War veteran once stationed at Twentynine Palms.

“What we’re doing in Iraq is untenable,” he said.

This was the first “Occupy Coachella Valley” event. Palm Springs resident Claire Carsman showed up because she’s fed up with inflation.

“You go to get gas, and the price of gas is higher than last time,” she said. “Banks are not lending money to anybody. People are losing their homes.”

Organizers said the rally was planned for a Saturday because most of the participants work during the week. Although Rep. Bono Mack’s office was closed, her constituents said this fight isn’t over yet.

“Accountability is really going to step into the forefront of all this,” said Valdez. “We’re going to see this moment go on and on — not just up to the election but after that.”