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Summary A group of US war veterans has joined the march in support of Occupy Wall Street movement.
US Veterans from four wars turned out for a march in Lower Manhattan on Wednesday to show support for the Occupy Wall Street (OWS) movement.Calling themselves Veterans of the 99%, the small but organized group gathered in formation in front of the New York Stock Exchange, where one of the members led the group through a chant shouting We are the 99 percent, and We are here to support the occupy movement.From there they marched without incident to Zuccotti Park were the protesters there welcomed them to their encampment.The message from the veterans echoed those expressed by the Occupy Wall Street protesters who have taken over Zuccotti park since the middle of September.We have a government in this country that favors the interest of major corporations and not of the common people, said Iraq war veteran Jerry Bordeleau, who says he was discharged in 2009 and suffers from post traumatic stress.Another Iraqi war veteran, Eli Wright, said like all the other protesters, hes marching for economic justice. Older veterans also turned out for the march. Frank Toner served in the Vietnam war in 1969 and 1970. He said the issue is one of power and said corporations control most of it.Organizers said they arranged the march to let the OWS protesters know that veterans are behind their cause, and that they are also concerned about the same issues as they are. They also said they wanted to show support for Scott Olsen, an Iraqi war veteran who was badly injured last week in a protest in Oakland, California after being struck in the head during clashes between protesters and police.Olsens injury has become a rallying cry for the Occupy Wall Street movement nationwide.
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