VIDEO (RAW FOOTAGE): Occupy UMass Amherst Bank of America Shutdown November 17

Over 100 Occupy Wall Street protesters from the Amherst area colleges and community rallied at the Bank of America branch downtown forcing its temporary shutdown on the afternoon of Thursday, Nov. 17.

The protesters entered the Bank of America en masse at approximately 1:30 pm in an attempt to close bank accounts. Protesters rallied inside the bank, chanting “Bank of America, Bad for America,” before Amherst Police were called to the scene and ushered the protesters out the front door. The doors to the bank were then shut and a metal security gate was lowered.

The protesters continued their rally outside before moving into the streets and then into the TD Bank branch across the street at approximately 2 pm. Protesters entered the bank in much the same fashion as Bank of America and rallied inside before police were called and protesters were asked to leave.

The protest then continued throughout the downtown Amherst streets and onto Amherst College before heading back to UMass Amherst where the rally originally began that afternoon.

The rally was held in solidarity with the Nov. 17 national Day of Action called by Occupy Wall Street marking the two month anniversary of the movement and attended by participants from Occupy UMass, Occupy Amherst, Occupy Hampshire, Students Against Mass Incarceration, Smith College Occupies Wall Street, and Decolonize/Occupy Amherst College.

Check out our photo galleries of the rally here:
https://picasaweb.google.com/117273127224141022016/OccupyUMassRallyBankOfAmericaShutdown
https://picasaweb.google.com/117273127224141022016/OccupyUMassRallyDayOfAction