Members of Occupy Grand Rapids hold their first General Assembly meeting to discuss, among other things, which park in the city they will set up their camp and occupy before they head out into the city to march. Occupy Grand Rapids is one of over 1,000 cities across the US to follow the lead of the Occupy Wall Street protests in New York City. The group plans to camp out and occupy Ah-Nab-Awen park in front of the Gerald R. Ford Museum along the Grand River ,with daily marches into the downtown area. Grand Rapids is the second largest city in Michigan, after Detroit, with a population of over 188,000 and 774,000 in their metro area.

Occupy Grand Rapids holds its first General Assembly meeting in Calder plaza under Alexander Calder's La Grande Vitesse sculpture.

Occupy Grand Rapids protesters attend the group's first General Assembly meeting in Calder Plaza downtown.

Occupy Grand Rapids holds its first General Assembly meeting in Calder plaza under Alexander Calder's La Grande Vitesse sculpture. Participants take turns expressing their ideas and concerns at the GA.

Julie Carbajal, Grand Rapids resident and graduate student at Western Michigan University stands behind a sign she made for the group's first meeting and march through the city. The sign tells the story of her friend Dean, a Navy veteran from Cincinnati, who committed suicide after returning from his military service. Dean, who was found dead in his apartment, left a letter for her explaining why he had did it.

Daniel C., Grand Rapids resident stands by a sign outlining the OGR principals during their first General Assembly.

Carl Rickert, Facilities Management Security officer at Calder Plaza, addresses the OGR General Assembly, telling them it is against the city's ordinance to write or draw with chalk on the cement ground covering the plaza. A protester had written a simple message on the ground earlier and Rickert was sent to have the message cleaned off.

Occupy Grand Rapids protesters make their way through the downtown area of the city during their first day of occupation.

Occupy Grand Rapids protesters make their way through the downtown area of the city during their first day of occupation.

Occupy Grand Rapids protesters make their way through the downtown area of the city during their first day of occupation.

Members of Occupy Grand Rapids arrive at the Ah-Nab-Awen park along the Grand River. They plan to occupy the park and make it the base for their operations, making daily non-violent marches into the downtown area to spread their message.

Anna Kathryn Sulka, Muskegon resident and first woman arrested by the NYPD in New York City during the Occupy Wall Street protests on Sept. 19th, talks with women of the Occupy Grand Rapids movement about what it is like for a woman to be arrested. She details how the protesters should conduct themselves should they be arrested and what they can expect during the process and while in jail. Sulka goes into detail about how she was mistreated, abused and intimidated by the NYPD during the Sept. 19th arrest, and a subsequent one on Sept. 24th during a OWS march.

Occupy Grand Rapids is one of over 1,000 cities across the US to follow the lead of the Occupy Wall Street protests in New York City. The group plans to camp out and occupy Ah-Nab-Awen park in front of the Gerald R. Ford Museum along the Grand River ,with daily marches into the downtown area. Grand Rapids is the second largest city in Michigan, after Detroit, with a population of over 188,000 and 774,000 in their metro area.

Members of Occupy Grand Rapids speak to each other about the march they just conducted through the city, their reasons for participating and other general concerns about the movement. OGR decided at their first General Assembly to occupy the Ah-Nab-Awen park along the Grand River. They plan to stay in the park and make it the base for their operations, with daily non-violent marches into the downtown area to spread their message. Occupy Grand Rapids is one of over 1,000 cities across the US to follow the lead of the Occupy Wall Street protests in New York City. The group plans to camp out and occupy Ah-Nab-Awen park in front of the Gerald R. Ford Museum along the Grand River ,with daily marches into the downtown area. Grand Rapids is the second largest city in Michigan, after Detroit, with a population of over 188,000 and 774,000 in their metro area.