Nick Espinosa has been one of the leaders in the local Occupy movement, and he joined Political Happy Hour to talk about what they have accomplished in a year, the law enforcement costs incurred as a result of OccupyMN and his glitter-bomb protest tactic.
Watch the video for more information.
Espinosa credited the Occupy movement at large with reframing the debate over wealth and equality in the country in the past year -- but personally, the biggest accomplishment he saw in the past year was winning a loan modification just 20 hours before his mother would have been evicted from her home of 16 years.
OccupyMN set the trend in the nation to focus in on foreclosures, saving six homes so far by sitting in to stop evictions while urging banks to negotiate loan terms with the homeowners.
Still, the demonstrations in downtown cost nearly half a million dollars to cover expenses for extra law enforcement presence and overtime -- but Espinosa says the protestors share in the critique of using public resources and funds were being used to protect banks and evict local families.
