MANHATTAN — Building on the populist momentum of Occupy Wall Street, a coalition of labor and advocacy groups behind last week's massive march in lower Manhattan are planning to hit the tony townhouse-lined streets of the Upper East Side Tuesday for a "Millionaires March," according to reports.
The march — expected to move uptown from 59th Street and Fifth Avenue at 12:30 p.m. — will visit the manses of some of the city's richest men, including billionaire businessman and conservative think tank funder David Koch, JP Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, News Corp. CEO Rupert Murdoch, financier Howard Milstein and hedge fund mogul John Paulson, Crain's New York Business reported.
Organized by New York Communities for Change, Strong Economy for All, United NY and the Working Families Party, which are expected to draw protesters that have been camping out at Zuccotti Park, the marchers will be calling for an extension of the state's millionaire's tax slated to expire this year, Crain's said.
A Facebook site created by Occupy Wall Street is billing the event as the "NYC Billionaires Walking Tour," and promises it will offer a glimpse of how the "1 percent live."
"Join us on a walking tour of the homes of some of the bank and corporate executives that don't pay taxes, cut jobs, engaged in mortgage fraud, tanked our economy … all while giving themselves record setting bonuses!" the Facebook site said.
Another rally, organized by the union SEIU 32BJ, is expected to take place in lower Manhattan on Wednesday, Crain's reported. The building workers' union is kicking off its campaign for a new contract for 25,000 commercial building office cleaners.
Other union workers, including art handlers from Sotheby's who have been locked out since the summer, and Verizon workers fighting for a new contract, are expected to join.
"There’s a lot of discussion about doing everything possible to help sustain the protest," Robert Master, co-chair of the Working Families Party and political and legislative director of the Communications Workers of America, told Crain's.
"What can we do to be supportive? And are there ways we can connect their energy to our campaigns?"
