Video- 700 seized in anti-Wall St. revolt in US

American police forces have arrested hundreds of anti-Wall Street protesters that took to the streets in New York and other major metropolitan areas across the crisis-hit country, Press TV reports.

The protesters demonstrated against poverty, unemployment, corporatism, social inequality and other grievances that have plagued the United States for more than three years now.

Hundreds of demonstrators were detained late Saturday as the New York police tried to reopen the heavily used Brooklyn Bridge, which was partially shut down by angry protesters. Latest wire reports have put the number of those detained by police in New York City at more than 700.

“Over 700 summonses and desk appearance tickets have been issued in connection with a demonstration on the Brooklyn Bridge late this afternoon after multiple warnings by police were given to protesters to stay on the pedestrian walkway and that if they took roadway they would be arrested,” a police spokesman said.

The rallies originally started two weeks ago under the name of “Occupy Wall Street” when activists and demonstrators announced their intention to seize the heart of US financial transactions in protest at dire economic conditions believed to be caused by the excessive greed of America’s big corporations.

The movement has now grown dramatically and spread to other major cities across the US.

Great numbers of protesters have gathered in front of the Federal Reserve Bank in Chicago, describing themselves as part of the Occupy Chicago movement that is said to have hired its name from Occupy Wall Street protests in New York City.

Similarly, many demonstrators marched through streets in Los Angeles, bearing antiwar signs and expressing frustration with the country’s high unemployment.

In addition to what they view as the use of excessive force against and unfair treatment of minorities, including Muslims, the movement is also protesting against home foreclosures and 2008 bank bailouts.

The United Federation of Teachers (UFT) and the Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 100, which has some 38000 members, are among those voicing support for and vowing solidarity with it.

Some of the protesters say the idea to occupy the most vital financial centers of the US was inspired by popular uprisings in the past months in Middle Eastern and North African countries, widely referred to as the “Islamic Awakening.”

A protester described the demonstrations as an American version of Egypt’s Tahrir Square takeover, referring to the protests in downtown Cairo that led to the Egyptian revolution and later caused the collapse of the long-time dictator Hosni Mubarak.

Some have also criticized the US government for preaching and encouraging civil disobedience abroad while severely restricting it at home.

They also state that they plan to use the revolutionary tactics people employed in countries such as Tunisia and Egypt to restore America’s lost ”democracy”.