Occupy Highway kicks off in New York

Anti-corporatism protesters in the US have kicked off a two-week protest march, dubbed Occupy the Highway, by beginning a walk from New York to Washington D.C.

More than two dozen protesters, part of the nationwide Occupy Wall Street (OWS) movement, departed from New York’s Zuccotti Park on Wednesday.

The protesters are planning to walk 20 miles a day, and will stop at other demonstrations at 11 cities before reaching the White House in Washington D.C. on November 23, the OWS website reported.

“We will be walking from 9 a.m. to 5 a.m. (banks working hours) and will hold …..discussions at 7 p.m. in each town where we camp,” the website said.

The protesters’ arrival at their final destination in Washington coincides with the Congressional deficit reduction committee meeting.

The 12-member committee is to discuss whether to end or extend tax cuts for the rich.

“The reason for going down to DC specifically is to make sure the billionaires get taxed,” said Mae Fraser, one of the protesters.

The movement, which has now spread to several countries across the world, began on September 17, when a small group of people occupied the Zuccotti Park in New York’s Lower Manhattan.