Cincinnati about to be 'Occupied'

CINCINNATI - We've seen the 'Occupy' movement spread across the United States.

Saturday, the protests come here.

Many who plan to attend say they are frustrated and feel the system is broken.

Those who plan on transforming Lytle Park into a stage to vent their frustration say there isn't a single issue bringing them together.

"Everyone has their own reason," says Tomas Englert who lives downtown. "But it all boils down to the economy and politicians can't agree."

"It's not a knock on capitalism or accumulating wealth per se," says Dan Hargraves of Clifton. "It's more about raising the awareness of unethical and immoral practices at the expense and integrity of a majority of the people."

Danny Berchenko of Northside is going to protest what he says is happening to the environment.

He recently attended an organizational meeting of the Occupy event on behalf of the environmental group, 350.org .

"We had democrats, we had republicans, we had socialists, we had anarchists, we had libertarians," he says. "People of all different viewpoints, and basically what units everyone is the frustration of corporate domination of our policy making process."

Will are those different perspectives dilute any kind of call to action?

"I'm not really concerned if nothing happens overnight," says Brittany Skelton. "It's more about the spirit of togetherness of people whose lives have been affected by the structures and policies that are in place."

Cincinnati police say the protestors have obtained a permit for up to 2,000 participants.

The police chief himself says there will be order.

"They cannot block local businesses, they can't disrupt businesses, they can't disrupt free flow," Chief James Craig says.

Hargraves hopes people's common frustration will bring everyone together.

"We're so far polarized and divided right now," he says. "If we find a common voice, some things will get done."

Police say they will have ongoing communication with Occupy leadership throughout the event.

The protestors' permit calls for them to gather at Lytle Park at 11 a.m. Saturday, and then move to Fountain Square between 2 and 3 p.m.

Police say the permit allows them to remain at the Square until 1 a.m. Sunday morning.

That's not exactly what the organizers of Occupy Cincinnati say they have in mind.

In a release posted today on Facebook, they say they plan to "occupy the city continuously for the foreseeable future," after their march takes them through Over-the-Rhine and Findlay Market.