Hundreds clashed with police during a “day of action” two months to the day since the protest movement, which has spawned splinter groups across the world, was born in Manhattan.
In New York, demonstrators marched on the New York Stock Exchange from Zuccotti Park, where their camp was demolished earlier this week.
Chanting “our park — our city!”,
177 arrests had been made and seven officers were injured. A further 60 arrests were made as more than a thousand people marched across Brooklyn Bridge.
Protesters said that they were aiming to “resist austerity”, “reclaim our economy” and “recreate our democracy”.
“Enough of this economy that exploits and divides us,” they said.
“It’s time we put an end to Wall Street’s reign of terror and begin building an economy that works for all.”
Estimated 24 were arrested by police in Portland, Oregon, while blocking Steel Bridge, a crucial transport route.
Hundreds more gathered in Los Angeles during the morning rush hour to disrupt traffic around the downtown financial district, where police were poised to make arrests in order to clear the streets.
Protesters stressed that their anger was directed towards specific groups such as executives from bailed out banks.
Van Jones, a former adviser to President Barack Obama who now runs Rebuild the Dream, a Left-wing campaign group, said: “We don’t mind winners — we just don’t like cheaters.”
In New York, some pledged to “retake” Zuccotti Park, which was cleared in a 1am raid on Tuesday. New rules prevent those choosing to return from bringing tents or even lying down.
Laura Avelar,a student from New Jersey who had slept in the camp since its creation on September 17, 2011, said OWS movement’s lack of concrete demands remained a strength, not a weakness.
“We are building a consensus and we want to keep it fluid,” she told The Daily Telegraph.
“It’s premature to say what we want. We want everyone’s voices heard.”
