Kristi King, wtop.com
WASHINGTON – Hunkering down in a tent in steady rain might not be your idea of fun, but Occupy D.C. protesters are enduring it Wednesday.
So who are these people essentially putting their lives on hold to protest and calling McPherson Square home?
Research firm Apco Insight finds they’re not particularly political. Forty percent don’t identify with any political party. Two percent say they’re Republicans and 25 percent are Democrats.
One in three is a college graduate. Seven in 10 are men.
The informal survey of the McPherson Square protesters conducted by Apco Insight Nov. 14 also finds the Occupy protestors are fairly young. More than a third are 24 or younger. More than 60 percent are 34 or younger.
Nearly 60 percent are unemployed or under-employed.
Fewer than half say they own or rent a home or apartment.
As for what they think they’re accomplishing? Fifty four percent believe they’ve been most effective at raising awareness and changing the public dialogue.
Thirty seven percent say Occupy D.C. is their first time participating in a march, rally or protest. Asked about goals or motivations for participating in Occupy D.C., nearly one in five says he has a “desire to change politics and government.”
The survey did not include Occupy D.C. members camping in Freedom Plaza.
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