Mario Tama / Getty Images
Today is the one-year anniversary of Occupy Wall Street and protesters are planning various actions and events throughout the day.
By Miranda Leitsinger, NBC News
Looking to reignite their movement, a few hundred Occupy Wall Street activists protested at the iconic New York Stock Exchange on Monday to mark their one-year anniversary.
At least 10 protesters were arrested in the early going.
"The one percent is dictating to the rest of us how we can live our lives," said?Wes Nickerson, 59, from Cambridge, Mass.
Protesters formed a meditation circle in front of Bank of America, carried puppets and signs, and occasionally blocked traffic.
"It's kind of a day of reflection, a day of celebration, a day that reflects some collective muscle and show of force. And I also think to remind not just ourselves but the world ... that things haven't really gotten better in the last year. In many ways they have gotten worse," Ian Williams, 27, a graduate student in social work. "And the project we're sort of embarking upon is a long term one."
Ahead of the protest, Linda Brown, a retired teacher from Brooklyn, gathered with about 100 activists blocks from the NYSE preparing to join the larger sit-down.
"I think what we have learned a lot in the last couple of years is that the financial crisis wasn't just an act of god ... it was brought about by a whole lot of criminality," said Brown, 66, who has been participating in Occupy since last October.
"This is our democracy, it's really at risk," she added. "We're petitioning for redress of our grievances."?
John Makely / NBC News
Occupy Wall Street protesters circulate throughout the financial district trying to disrupt business Monday.
Though Occupy Wall Street galvanized thousands of people across the country last year to protest against the abuses of what they called the "one percent," their numbers have dwindled amid internal squabbling, questions over leadership and financial transparency, and what critics called a lack of direction and goals.
But they're hoping Monday will help put more focus onto their original concerns: corporate greed, income inequality and money in politics.?
?Why are we going back to Wall Street? Because the one percent wants it all and they?re not giving anything up without a struggle. Economic conditions are roughly as bad as they were a year ago and for many, many people they?re precarious,? said Bill Dobbs, of the Occupy Wall Street public relations team.
What happened to Occupy Wall Street?
Photoblog: Protesters attempt to reignite their movement
Monday's demonstration will culminate three days of teach-ins, marches, a town square and other events in New York leading up to the anniversary of the day when protesters first occupied Zuccotti Park in lower Manhattan. Authorities evicted them from the site, which had turned into a large camp, about two months later.
Related:
'Battle for the soul of Occupy': Activists fear becoming Democratic 'pet'
'Tea and Occupy' -- a discussion/debate between members of the two movements
Occupy Congress: Could it be politics as unusual?
To demand or not to demand? That is the 'Occupy' question
Chicago braces for major protests as NATO summit looms
Old guard back in the trenches at 'Occupy' protests
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