Protesters Will Occupy Rose Parade

Occupy protesters are taking to the streets in Pasadena—alongside floats and high school bands. Aiming to get the movement more national exposure, Occupiers plan to set up bases alongside the annual Tournament of Roses Parade, where they’ll put on a peaceful display of their own. Among the highlights: a 250-foot banner protesting corporate political power and a “human float” made up of marchers, Reuters reports.

Protesters have already met with police and parade staff to discuss their plans, says an organizer. “It's not rocket science. All we're trying to do is use this event, a historical piece of Americana that is becoming increasingly militarized and corporatized, to get our message out to millions of people,” he notes. “We're trying to draw the attention of the thousands of reporters and TV crews to the growing level of disgust and anger at the polarization of wealth and at the banking sector's power and influence, and at the shrinking middle class.” The parade is just one of Occupy's new targets. (More Rose Parade stories.)