A very privileged protest: Wearing $300 jeans and from some of the most exclusive schools

A very privileged protest: Wearing $300 jeans and from some of the most exclusive schools, the children of the one per cent out for a good time at Occupy Wall Street

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• Wall St demonstrators plan march today on millionaires' mansions
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• Obama senior adviser says President is on demonstrators' side

By Paul Bentley and Micaela Mclucas
Last updated at 5:23 PM on 11th October 2011

They have branded themselves the 99 per cent, camping out in New York's financial district to protest against corporate greed and financial inequality.
But on the ground at the epicentre of the Occupy Wall Street demonstration, a closer look at some of the impassioned protesters is starting to suggest that while many of them have genuine grievances, all may not be completely as advertised.
The flash of a designer belt, a watch or even, in one case, a huge wad of cash reveals many activists are not quite so hard done by.

Financial inequality? One of the young men camping out flashes a wad of cash

Tight knit: Among the group are now a growing number of privileged college students

Among the hardcore of well-intentioned protesters sleeping rough in Zuccotti Park are also the children of the wealthiest 'one per cent' - taking a break from classes at private schools to show their solidarity... and join the fun.

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As millionaire celebrities pledged allegiance to the protesters despite very healthy bank balances, MailOnline spoke to youngsters who have joined the movement, many of whom study at colleges which cost their parents up to $200,000.

'Barack Obama is with the protesters'

Barack Obama's senior adviser David Plouffe today confirmed that the President is on the side of the Occupy Wall Street protesters - and said the Republicans are not.
'A lot of these Republicans are basically saying: ‘You know what? Let’s go back to the same policies that led to the great recession in the first place",' he told ABC.
Mr Plouffe added: 'If you’re concerned about Wall Street and our financial system, the President is standing on the side of consumers and the middle class.'

Sleeping beside the hardcore activists are increasing numbers of wealthy students turning up to make the most of the party atmosphere, drugs and free food.
While they dress down to blend in, the youngsters' privileged backgrounds are revealed by glimpses of expensive gadgetry or the absent minded mention of their private schools during heated political debates.
One student, who did not want to be named, admitted she had been sleeping at the protest site with her boyfriend despite living in nearby TriBeCa, a neighbourhood which is home to many of New York's A list celebrities.
While she is not camping out, she studies at Bard College in Manhattan - a private school which charges fees of up to $200,000 for a four-year degree.
Other youngsters - some of whom as young as 16 - travelled from afar to make the most of a day off high school because of Columbus Day.

Hard life: A group of college girls at the site. Some spoke of attending Bard, a private school which charges $200,000 in fees

Day off: Schoolchildren took advantage of Columbus Day to make the trip to New York

One of the students who joined in, an arts major at trendy Parsons design school in New York, flicked through pictures on her pricey laptop as she sat on the park floor.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2047664/Occupy-Wall-Street-Children-1-good-time-protests.html#ixzz1agf2ZRdL