On Friday, former President George W. Bush will be speaking at the Ernst & Young Strategic Growth Forum at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa in Palm Springs, California.
When Bush visits, protesters from Occupy Coachella Valley plan to protest his appearance. The demonstrators say that Bush and the Ernst & Young conference — which includes speakers from a wide range of America’s corporate elite — represent the 1 percent.
Meanwhile, Occupy San Francisco joined with CODEPINK and other groups to protest a visit by former Vice President Dick Cheney, trying to call him to account for war crimes.
Last week, Occupy Wall Street demonstrators protested outside a Goldman Sachs event featuring Bush. Demonstrators also protested at New York Historical Society event featuring Henry Kissinger earlier this month, protesting his involvement in atrocities in Chile, Vietnam, and other places. That 99 Percenters are demonstrating against former politicians and public officials who advocated militarism indicates that the movement is not forgetting foreign policy, a critique that was made against Israel’s own widespread economic populist movement.
Update
Another sign of international solidarity in the movement can be found at Occupy D.C., where Bahraini flags and posters protesting the Iranian government’s crackdowns can be found.
Update
Occupy Wichita protested Bush when he visited Kansas late last week as well.
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