The Young Demographic

3:31a.m. – I overheard someone outside say they have supplies, including blankets!! I poked my head out and asked for a couple. He brought us over three clean, new blankets that someone had donated to the cause. Now I’m snug as a bug! (And thinking I’m going to need to pass on the good karma by donating some supplies later this week.)

3:22 a.m. – Two girls from Trumbull just arrived and are setting up their tent nearby. There’s a few people chatting outside. You can tell even at this hour there’s a lot of activity going on.

1:08 a.m. – I just crawled into my tent and I’m going to turn in for the night. A lot of exciting conversations still going on, but I need some rest. See you in the morning.

1:03 a.m. – A New Haven occupier (he didn’t want to be called an organizer because no one has titles in the movement) said people are taking turns being on security watch throughout the night. He said the biggest threats to the campers are drunk people and homeless people.
I’d say there are more tents here than when I first arrived.

12:36 a.m. – A bunch of people are huddled around a netbook that is live streaming the Occupy Wall Street event. They’re watching as people get arrested. You’ll randomly hear someone say, “they just arrested 20 more.”
They’re also discussing the occupy movements in Europe.
“I feel so safe here compared to New York,” Amber Oestreich, 18, of Staten Island said.
She said when she went to the Occupy Wall Street movement on day two and has been there every single night since it started. She only left for two nights, once to go to Boston and to come here. In New York City, the police ripped off goggles she was wearing to protect herself from pepper spray.
She said the New Haven movement is more comfortable because tents are allowed. In New York, only tarps and plastic are allowed.
Oestreich said she came to New Haven because she was recruited by an organizer of the New Haven movement.
“I believe this is very similar to how Wall Street was numbers wise and I’m guessing it will only grow,” Oestreich said. “In two weeks I’m guessing it will be huge.”
She is personally a part of the movement because of her student debt. The college she is at is the cheapest she could find, she said. She said she is dropping out because she is in debt $10,000 from the first semester and so she can devote herself full time to the movement.

11:25 p.m. – Ben Sarnoski, 24, of Hebron, said his sign is meant to educate people that Bush Sr., Clinton and Bush Jr., were members of the Yale Secret Society. He thinks this is a problem because it’s a conflict of interest because the president should be loyal to the country not a secret organization (members are members for life.)

11:12 p.m. – This police officer said the protest has been peaceful ever since his shift started at 7 p.m. He actually looks really bored. He said he’s on a regular shift and not collecting overtime for this.

11:10 p.m. – Bernadette DeLuca, 20, of Hamden said she is here because we need change now.