(PHOTO ESSAY) A closer look at Occupy Minnesota

It was early and the traffic, as always, was slow moving into downtown Friday morning. Those minor hassles of daily life were not, however, on the minds of area workers and residents who came to speak about larger issues of economic inequality, corporate political influence and the state of the nation.

The demonstrators were the outgrowth of an Occupy Wall Street movement that started in New York more than three weeks ago. They plan to occupy the site in downtown Minneapolis indefinitely.

Their manifesto: “If you are struggling; if you have lost your job, or your home; if you have seen your child unjustly incarcerated; if you are homeless, living without health care, or drowning in debt; if you work full time but still are unable to afford food to feed your family; if you feel no one is listening to you; if you are fed up with the direction this country is going in — then you are one of the 99 percent. We are talking to you. Come and join us! This is your chance to be heard.”

Award-winning photojournalist Kathy Easthagen captured these scenes from the “occupation” of the Twin Cities on Friday morning.

Image has not been found. URL: http://images.minnesotaindependent.com/OccupyMN07Oct11KE0015-386x580.jpg Cody Cooper, second-year law student at the University of Minnesota, is planning on a career as a lobbyist or in public policy. “I, like most of the people here, want to see easier access to a voice in politics.” (Photo: Kathy Easthagen/The Minnesota Independent)

Image has not been found. URL: http://images.minnesotaindependent.com/OccupyMN07Oct11KE0006-386x580.jpg (Photo: Kathy Easthagen/The Minnesota Independent)

Image has not been found. URL: http://images.minnesotaindependent.com/OccupyMN07Oct11KE0029.jpg An unnamed woman, not wanting the message on the man's sign behind her to go unchallenged but also not wanting to draw attention to it, stands in front of him with a sign of displeasure. (Photo: Kathy Easthagen/The Minnesota Independent)

Image has not been found. URL: http://images.minnesotaindependent.com/OccupyMN07Oct11KE0040-386x580.jpg Educator Pattrice Jones paints a banner for the “teach-ins” that will be held later in the day. (Photo: Kathy Easthagen/The Minnesota Independent)

Image has not been found. URL: http://images.minnesotaindependent.com/OccupyMN07Oct11KE0053-386x580.jpg Jacob Kelly, a 28-year-old resident of the Twin Cities, is like many attending the occupation in that he has a host of reasons for attending that ranged from personal freedom to inequitable public policy. (Photo: Kathy Easthagen/The Minnesota Independent)