Chicago Mercantile Exchange Protects Identity Of “WE ARE THE 1%” Sign Maker

via Jake Malooley, Time Out Chicago

The sign made only a brief appearance this morning on windows of the Chicago Board of Trade Building, but the message lingers.

Four pieces of white paper pasted up in as many windows of the historic 141 West Jackson Boulevard building, declaring in dark marker, WE ARE THE 1%. The taunt, it seems, was directed at Occupy Chicago protesters who’ve been demonstrating under the banner of “We are the 99 percent,” in solidarity with New York’s Occupy Wall Street movement. Fluctuating numbers have been sitting in for nearly two weeks in front of the Federal Reserve Bank at 231 South LaSalle Street, in the shadow of the CBOT.

“This is a full-on endorsement—an exact copy, in fact—of Occupy Wall Street’s assertion that current society consists of a greedy and callous 1% that wields a staggering amount of influence, counter to the interests of the 99%,” an Occupy Chicago press release sent this afternoon read. “Likewise, its placement is an act of shocking arrogance showing the world that the highest class is listening to the voice of the people and mocking it wholesale.”

The release continued, “’There couldn’t be a better advertisement for our movement,’ said Daniel Massoglia, an occupier and first year law student. ‘Our country is being held hostage, our democracy has been taken from us, and the whole nation is now treated to cake at the hands of Marie Antionette 2.0.’ ”

Continue Reading at Time Out Chicago