As protesters across the US responded to the movement's call for a general strike, the "99 percent" seemed to be everywhere: marching to the White House and through Midtown Manhattan; smashing windows in downtown Seattle; and forming picket lines at restaurants, banks and hospitals. Marches and rallies in several cities drew thousands, and there were reports of violent clashes on the West Coast, where police arrested more than a dozen people in Seattle, Portland and Oakland. More than 35 people were arrested on a day of wide-ranging demonstrations throughout New York. Occupiers believe they have made a lasting contribution to the national debate about income inequality since their high-profile camps were closed in the fall and winter â€" with terms such as "the wealthiest 1 percent" and "the 99 percent" now part of the general lexicon. "We need to remind people that what we're doing is still very relevant and still very important," said a OWS' member who helped organize Tues! day's events. "We're calling it our spring awakening." May Day â€" a holiday that honors the international labor movement â€" is typically celebrated more boisterously overseas, and tens of thousands came out for marches throughout Europe and Asia. In New York, protesters first gathered in Bryant Park and later filled a block-long stretch of 42nd Street near Grand Central Terminal. Some carried signs that said "Tax the Millionaires." They formed picket lines and chanted "Stand up, fight back!" or "This Land ...
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