Ralph Nader's crowd at NYSE Wall Street bailout protest.
OCTOBER 17, 2008 — Presidential candidate Ralph Nader spoke out for two reasons yesterday: to call for open presidential debates and to protest the Wall Street bailout. He was joined by Dennis Baylor, independent candidate for Penna. state senate district #29, and his political activist colleague Gene Stilp, who have been fighting for similar causes, and other government reformations.
Stage where Nader spoke in Cooper Union building.
The first event, held at the Cooper Union building in the East Village, called for open debates for all presidential candidates, regardless of party affiliation. As an independent candidate, Mr. Nader was not invited to participate in the presidential debates with Mr. Obama and Mr. McCain due to current election policies that restrict most media and voter attention to majority party candidates. Mr. Baylor and Mr. Stilp attended the “Let Nader Debate” event to support the movement for ballot access rights, joined Mr. Nader and his campaign for lunch, and went on to set up props for his next demonstration.
Gene Stilp and Nader's campaign team with 25-foot screw.
Crowd with screw at NYSE bailout protest.
The group then moved to Wall Street, where hundreds rallied in the street to protest the government bailout. Mr. Baylor and Mr. Stilp provided the campaign with a giant inflatable pink pig and a 25-foot screw that displayed a sign reading “Congress and Wall Street Turned the Screw on Main Street Taxpayers,” which were placed in front of the New York Stock Exchange building for Mr. Nader’s speech. He contended that corporate criminals should be imprisoned, rather than aided, as was the case with the recent events. In order to justify his claim, Mr. Nader argued that petty thieves are jailed after being exposed, so those people from Wall Street responsible for its recession and consequent bailout likewise should be put behind bars.
PINK PIG SYMBOLIZES WALL STREET GREED
