Dr. Cornel West, a well-known author and activist who has recently lent his support to the Occupy Wall Street movement, was one of nineteen people arrested on Sunday while protesting against corporate influence in politics on the steps of the Supreme Court in Washington, DC.
According to the Associated Press, West had joined the protesters after attending the dedication of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial on the National Mall earlier in the day.
Daily Kos diarist mimi further explains, "At 2 pm today Dr. Cornel West appeared at Freedom Plaza in Washington DC and gave a spicy, fun and great agitating speech full of love, wit and wisdom. I would say there were around 250 - 300 people in the audience. After the speech he decided spontaneously to march to the Supreme Court. This march was not planned, at least most of the audience had no idea that this would happen."
She adds that "in the speech he already jokingly said he has come today to Freedom Plaza and to Washington DC, because he finally wanted to get arrested in DC to make the sacrifice Martin Luther King was expecting from him in the fight for justice and freedom."
As described at the October2011.org website, "The October2011.org Movement that is occupying Freedom Plaza, led an impromptu march of 250 people up Pennsylvania Avenue to the U.S.Supreme Court where Dr. Cornel West climbed on the steps of the Supreme Court and denounced court decisions that have produced money-based elections that empower corporations. Dr. West was holding a sign that said 'Poverty is the Greatest Violence of All.' He was arrested because holding political signs on the Supreme Court steps is illegal."
A press release issued by the Movement further states, "It is rumored that he will be held overnight in jail, as the courts are worried that he will not show up in the morning. Seems a little crazy to us, but that is what we are hearing."
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