'Occupying Wall Street' protests coming to South Florida

PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. - Thousands have taken to the streets of New York protesting what they call "greed" that leads to the collapse of the economy. The Occupy Wall Street protests are spreading to other cities, including communities in South Florida.

Local protestors believe this is just the beginning.

"There's a groundswell out there. I feel like we are at a tipping point," says Andrew Kirschner, who is running as a third party candidate eyeing the 22nd Congressional seat of Republican Allen West.

Kirschner is also among hundreds of locals joining the 'Occupy Wall Street' movement. The crusade is making its way to South Florida thanks in large part to the use of social media,  such as Facebook and Twitter. Critics say this group doesn't have a unified message. Kirschner disagrees. "They're not organized only to the degree that there are so many issues in education and health care and foreign policy and elsewhere that are troubling Americans, that is a lot to organize," he said.

America has traveled a similar road in recent years. The uptick in the 'Occupy Wall Street' movement can be compared to the humble, and highly criticized beginnings,  of the Tea Party.

"They're both ticked off with government and Wall Street and those are not issues that are necessarily seperate," said Brian Crowley, WPTV Political Analyst. Now, he said, the Tea Party has clout across America, including in Washington, D.C. "It is interesting that they are growing from a small group, just as the Tea Party did, to a group that is spreading around the nation, including in Florida, just as the Tea Party did," said Crowley.

There may be similar ideas of change from, perhaps, opposite ends of the political spectrum. "This is the beginning. This is the beginning of a very historic shift in American politics," said Kirschner.

Facebook and Twitter are abuzz about what has been happening in New York City, but also about plans for events in our area. The Occupy Palm Beach Group will hold an event at 10 a.m. on Saturday at Bryant Park in Lake Worth.