Kaahumanu Ave. Site of Another Occupy Demonstration

By Wendy Osher

Various organizations have been hosting small sign-waving events for the past few months in support of the Occupy Wall Street movement. This photo was taken along Kaahumanu Avenue in October, and drew an estimated 25-30 sign wavers. File photo by Wendy Osher.

Maui MoveOn.org will host a sign waving event on Thursday, November 17, in support of the Occupy Wall Street movement.

Event organizers say they are also trying to put pressure on Congress to pass an infrastructure bill, designed to stimulate jobs for the construction industry, and provide the infrastructure for a better economy.

Group organizers hope that passage of the federal infrastructure bill would allow Maui County to move the Kahului Treatment Plant out of the tsunami zone, and provide jobs for Maui construction workers.

The group claims that tax money is given to “Big Oil, Wall Street Banks, Telcoms and Big Ag” in the form of subsidies, while pubic infrastructure is neglected.

“There’s plenty of money in our government. But they’re giving it to the special interests instead of the public,” said event organizer Matthew Domenichini.  “We’re fed up with getting crumbs while the 1% take more than their share. Move those corporate subsidies into infrastructure, and put us back to work,” said Domenichini.

The “We are the 99%” event is a national movement, held in conjunction with the AFL-CIO.

The sign waving runs from 4 to 5 p.m. at the corner of Ka’ahumanu and Pu’unene Avenue in Kahului.