Revolutions are taking place all over the world, from Africa to the United States, and even in Corban’s backyard.

 Local residents protest in downtown Salem in hopes of changing the current governmental systems.

A local protest is occurring here in Salem as part of a larger national political outcry started on the streets of New York. Called “Occupy Wall Street,” this nationwide movement is nearing its one-month anniversary.

Here in Salem, about 60 people met at Riverfront Park on Oct. 4, as reported in the Statesman Journal. This group met to form an action plan for a peaceful protest, and the resulting rally is being called Occupy Salem. The protest officially began at noon on Oct. 10, on the steps of the Capitol Building.

The Occupy Wall Street blog states, “The one thing we all have in common is that we are the 99 percent that will no longer tolerate the greed and corruption of the 1 percent.”

More than 700 protesters have been arrested during the peaceful protest, and civilians have been sprayed with mace while picketing, said CBS News.

One hundred and forty cities are protesting to encourage the protesters on Wall Street and to push for change.

Locally, the individuals standing together in unity are all fighting for a variety of causes. Some wish to legalize marijuana, while others want to see gas prices decrease, according to the Statesman Journal. However, the common thread is their demand to see a change in our system. They all hope to see the power of the people prevail.

These protests in United States are occurring just as rebel fighters in Libya have toppled and killed Dictator Muammar Gaddafi and rebels fight on in Syria and Yemen. Reporters and educators have begun referring to the mass uprisings in the Middle East that started in Egypt last year as the “Arab Spring.”