Between 1000 and 2000 people participated in the OWS contingent of the Rose Parade. Notable props included two versions of the US Constitution--one for "We the People" and the other for "We the Corporations"--and the octopus float that has been in the works since prior to the eviction of Occupy LA. All three provided numerous people ways to participate directly, and the octopus gyrations at key moments provided an element of spectacle.

Marchers held signs and banners, but didn't do too much chanting as they dodged horse dung in the road. Music was very present, from both drummers from the Venice collective and from the Billionaires' brass band. Giant-headed Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich fought over who would represent the one percent. A playful attitude prevailed.

At the end there were the requisite speeches. Peter Thottam gave the introductory welcome and some background on the movement without acknowledging the previous day's hit piece on him in the Pasadena Star-News¹. Marcy Winograd gave a speech, as did people from Occupy Wall Street and Occupy LA. The crowd seemed the most attentive, however, during Cindy Sheehan's speech.

The day's efforts were directed at capitalizing on the Rose Parade as the center of the world's attention to promote economic justice rather than on taking action. Nonetheless, the mainstream TV networks appear to have mostly ignored Occupy the Rose Parade. Despite the inevitable, spirits were high, perhaps in anticipation that 2012 will be the year that the systems of opression come crashing down around us and we create healthier alternatives together.

No incidents of police violence were reported.

1. Charles, Brian. "Occupy Rose Parade leader has questionable past." Pasadena Star News. January 1, 2012. http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/news/ci_19656317

2. nobody. "Did Occupy the Rose Parade Get Air?" Los Angeles Independent Media Center. January 2, 2012. http://la.indymedia.org/news/2012/01/250755.php

At the park before the march

Occupy May First General Strike!

Robin Hood was Right!

Octopus at Singer Park

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Foreclosure

Honoring first responders

Romney head

Billionaires

The theme of the parade was "Just Imagine..." so many signs played on this theme.

They were wearing riot gear.

Colorado Blvd

Hey 99! Pay attention!

Everything is not coming up roses! Organize now!

Occupy San Fernando Valley

Legalización Ahora

Stop destroying Mother Earth! Plant seeds, not concrete

Guerrilla banner drop

Great pixtures we would not see elsewhere, of course...
to share here on Indy is a great access

thanks to those who made the banners, did the work, showed up and took the pictures for eternity

and those who come to "look and see"
can copy the images with appropriate credit given
and re-send them on and out to many more via email,
blogs, websites, and other INDY sites in other nations and areas too.

Where else is so much fake promotion for corporations given at New Year than in near-by-Pasahollywood via all that $$$$promotions claiming some tradition that is all about selling more positive images to those who are already often tarnished.

Commercial floats are bloated fake not-funny comic charactered wasting flowers to promote profits.
Huh ?

And the 'sponsors' are banks, corporations, profited or pretend-not-for-profited ones, and a few do-some-good-old-buddy-organizations too. Ok.
and all the costs are listed where ?
all the free volunteer time given to this long gaudy COMMERCIAL on TV is credited where ?
and all the waste after the event and profits taken is sent where ? surely flowers are somehow recycled, right ?

NO...the Occupiers made banners, signs and displays that are re-usable, say more than "buy from us", are hand-made and the costs are low and given by many

Thanks for the great visual display here !