About 30 students and community members gathered in the MLK Commons to assert their solidarity against big bank bailouts and participate in the Occupy movement Saturday.

Occupy NIU was assembled a month ago by Mitch Downey, instructional technology graduate student, because of his dissatisfaction with the low participation rate in DeKalb, particularly on NIU’s campus.

“We have to protest in person because we’re not getting representation in the government and in the media,” Downey said.

Downey said he hopes to bring economic and civil rights awareness to students and empower them with political voice.

“I was sick of the political discussion,” Downey said. “I feel like it’s degraded and oversimplified. A lot of people asked for this change in 2008, so we feel misled.”

Downey may have organized the group, but DeKalb resident Cecile Meyer acted as commander-in-chief of the rally.

“We’re here for the wars; well, we’re really here for peace,” Meyer said. “It’s all part of the same picture really … the militarization of our country, in this case, by corporations.”

Meyer, a former WWII Marine, participated in national protests and political movements since the 60s and has been involved in both Vietnam and Civil Rights rallies.

“In the Civil Rights movement, you could get some victories there,” Meyer said. “It’s so discouraging, because it seems like we can’t win here.”

Meyer is also a key member in the local Occupy DeKalb movement, as well as an avid nine-year member of the Interfaith Peace, Jobs and Occupy Wall Street vigils every Friday in DeKalb.

There are close associations between America’s economic breakdown and the war, so uniting the protests locally makes sense, Meyer said.

“They’re both associated with peace and justice, and justice includes jobs and fair taxation rather than cutting programs for the poor,” Meyer said.

Harold Lehman, DeKalb resident and Local Union 219 Rockford Metal Sheet Workers member, also supported the Occupy NIU rally Saturday.

“It’s great that students came out; this is what it’s all about,” Lehman said. “But I wish more would. You don’t know how bad it is until you’re fighting for your job. This is my new part time job.”

The rally came to a close with an opportunity for protestors to use a megaphone.

“We are the 99 percent,” Meyer said, gearing up for a march down Normal Road.

Meyers encouraged anyone interested in joining the Interfaith vigil to meet from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Fridays at the corner of First Street and Lincoln Highway.

“We need students and other people to come out,” Meyer said. “But I’m proud DeKalb has got contingent here. We were afraid we were going to die before any of you got your asses in motion.”