Juniors in Mrs. Jessica Shelton’s English class have been learning about civil disobedience and successful protests. Recent protesters have marched upon Wall Street Sept. 17. The planning stages began July 2011, and thus the name “Occupy Wall Street” was coined.

The protest started when the government decided to raise taxes on 99 percent of the people who already pay their taxes. The protest is now creating disturbances for others.

“It’s making the rich richer, and the poor poorer,” said sophomore Abby Rice.

The “Occupy Wall Street” started in New York City, and has spread to over 100 cities nationally. This protest wasn’t breaking any constitutional laws but was breaking New York City ordinances by blocking off the street. This protest started out as just standing outside the “big companies.” Then they started following home the people who work on Wall Street.

“This protest started out with a cause then lead to them protesting for world peace, and there is never going to be world peace,” said senior Tanner Adams.

In light of the recent protests, Mrs. Shelton asked her class if it’s a moral responsibility to speak out against the unjust. Her class had to define the word unjust, and then based off that, they came up with Martin Luther King Jr.’s definition that “any law that goes against our basic human rights, or Christian code should be considered unjust.”

The “Occupy Wall Street” doesn’t have a specific leader; everyone is just going on their own. All of the successful protests and changes that have been made in the United States have had a specific leader that stands out and make a change. It may take years to happen, and that’s what a lot of the protesters don’t want to wait on.

“When establishing your ideas for protests, you need to make sure you set up long terms goals and don’t get discouraged and let the fire burn out or it will all be for nothing,” said Mrs. Shelton.