People Rally in Support of Occupy Gilroy

More than 70 people gathered at Miller Park on Friday evening to protest against the nation’s financial institutions and their influence on government during the city’s first rally.

The peaceful demonstration—attended by students, activists and labor leaders— kicked off with a general assembly at the park, where Occupy protesters exercised their First Amendment right to freedom of speech.

Christopher High School senior Tomas Hernandez, who helped coordinate the gathering, said he was inspired to create an Occupy protest in South County  after he learned of the high interest rates he would have to pay on loans for college tuition.

“I’m in the Occupy movement because I’m a senior in high school and I don’t want to be in debt when I get out of high school and go to college,” said Hernandez, who also created the Facebook page for Occupy San Jose. “We’re here to use our First Amendment rights of freedom of speech and right of assembly.”

Hernandez and other organizers then invited members of the public to come up and testify on why they are involved in the movement.

Gilroy Unified School District Trustee Domingo Payne, who helped organize the protest with Hernandez, said he wants to start the movement in Gilroy because he can relate to the financial hardships that have been seen all over the country. He added that the Gilroy mobilization is more of a peaceful, intellectual protest.

“I’m part of the underemployed and it hits home,” Payne said. “I think about my kids and see how hard it will be for them when they go to college, and will be looking for a job. We decided to get involved with this movement and see what we can do. Let’s get the discussion going.”

Gilroy resident and small business owner Reymundo Armendariz said he was inspired to join the Occupy movement after watching everyday Americans lose their jobs and be forced out of their homes due to high-interest mortgage rates.

“We have a lot of working people who went to school and made the right choices, and they are the ones who are paying for making the right choices,” Armendariz said. “When are the people going to stand up? That day is today.”

As the sun set, protesters marched down to the Bank of America on First Street to the chants of “The banks got bailed out, we got sold out” and “Bank of America, you’re no good, pay your taxes like you should."

The march was heavily escorted by Gilroy police officers.

The Occupy crowd filled the entire sidewalk in front of the bank facing First Street and chanted for close to an hour as drivers honked their horns and shouted in support as they drove by.

Protest coordinators handed out informational pamphlets to customers exiting the bank, that encouraged them to transfer their money to a local credit union.

Bank of America customer Allison Shanley said she was amused to see the large protest of loud residents and applauded their efforts.

“This protest is actually amazing, it’s bringing awareness to the current situation with the banks all over the nation,” Shanley said. “I guess it will help me open my eyes a little wider to the situation.”

The Occupy Gilroy protesters vow to return to Miller Park next Friday at 4 p.m. to continue their protest and bring local awareness to Gilroy residents.

Photos of Friday's Occupy Gilroy protest can be viewed .

For more information, visit the Occupy Gilroy Facebook page by clicking here.