12 hold Occupy protest at Capaha Park

Cape Girardeau became occupied by Wall Street protesters for the first time Saturday.

A group of 12 gathered at Capaha Park near the corner of Broadway and West End Boulevard in the afternoon following a march past the federal courthouse and city hall.

Most members of the group, like Tabitha Brown and Kerrick Long, were students at Southeast Missouri State University.

Anti-Wall Street protests began in mid-September and have since spread across the country.

Long said the group on the corner Saturday hope to begin an "Occupy Cape Girardeau" website sometime soon and continue to hold events.

The group felt the public response to their presence was largely positive, Long said, as drivers of passing cars honked their horns.

"Overwhelmingly positive," he said, "surprisingly."

Brown said when the group was near the federal courthouse that a few people came forward and asked the protesters what they were about.

"It made me proud to be with these people," she said, motioning to the group. "It's a firsthand lesson in democracy."

Pertinent address:

Capaha Park, Cape Girardeau MO