15/10/2024
View of Occupied People’s Park—Sixth Ave. and Grant St.
On October 15, 2011, 4000+ people–made up of social justice organizations, unions, churches, activists and everyday citizens marched through Downtown Pittsburgh chanting “Banks Got Bailed Out, We Got Sold Out” and “We Are the 99%.” Demanding social and economic justice, the march led to a 117-day Occupation of the public park at Sixth Ave. and Grant St. Arguably the longest Occupation in the world, Pittsburgh’s was the only Occupation to have successfully seized land from a bank—which BNY Mellon had previously seized from the public. During the Occupation, passersby honked their horns in support and shouted encouragement while citizens across the region donated money, food, clothing and more in support of Occupiers. After 10 years, Pittsburghers continue working to obtain social and economic justice for the 99%.
