Occupy Wall Street marks first anniversary

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NEW YORK, Sept. 17 (UPI) -- Dozens of protesters were arrested in New York's financial district Monday while marking the first anniversary of the Occupy Wall Street movement, police said.

Organizers originally planned to shut down the financial district by lining the streets with a "human wall," but said "the People's Wall" idea didn't gather momentum so protesters marched instead, singing "Happy Birthday" and chanting slogans, the New York Daily News reported.

Police said they arrested eight of about 50 people who rushed the lobby of 4 New York Plaza, which houses JPMorgan Chase, demanding to speak to bank officials.

"We're here protesting financial terrorism. The financial mafia," said Yates McKee, 32, as he was escorted into the back of a police van.

The Occupy Wall Street movement, which participants say protests an economic system that benefits the wealthy and corporations over others, sparked similar protests across the United States and the world.

City transit officials terminated one line of the subway one stop before it reached the financial district because of the protest.

A concert featuring Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello and hip-hop group Das Racist kicked off Occupy anniversary events Sunday evening in Foley Square.

The Daily News reported an Occupy Rosh Hashana service was conducted at Zuccotti Park, which Occupy protesters used last year as an encampment, the Times said.

About 200 people were in Zuccotti Park Monday morning and another 400 protesters were at the Vietnam Veterans memorial plaza.

At the veterans plaza, New Yorker Oren Goldberg told the Times, "It's exciting to see any group of people attempting any sort of change."

Goldberg, 32, said Occupy protesters were interested in "working toward a greater good than profiteering."