NEW YORK -- Occupy protesters are spreading out to picket at banks and other New York City businesses to mark International Workers Day, or May Day. The group is also denying it had any link to white powder sent to several banks on Monday.
Events and disruptions are planned in cities across the United States and the world on Tuesday.
Several dozen protesters gathered at Bryant Park in Manhattan Tuesday morning. They planned to march to financial institutions including Chase, Citibank and Bank of America.Another group picketed outside New York University to protest the university's expansion plans in Greenwich Village.
Occupy leaders said they planned "creative disruptions" in New York throughout the day.
Events are planned in cities across the United States and the world on Tuesday as well.
Some say they're willing to get arrested, staging surprise actions to make their point - that financial inequality is destroying our society.
The biggest known plan has the support of thousands of union members.
About 100 unions are listed online as planning to participate in a rally starting at 8 a.m. in midtown Manhattan's Bryant Park. Organizers say the park will function as a staging area for picket lines fanning out across midtown to spots where labor organizations have ongoing disputes.
Michael Belt, an organizer for 99 Picket Lines, said his group will target a range of locations, including banks like Wells Fargo and JP Morgan Chase.
The New York Police Department is bracing to respond to the protests, which come a day after a lawsuit was filed by five people who said their constitutional rights were violated when officers kept them inside an area surrounded by metal barricades for nearly two hours on Nov. 30 as they tried to participate in a demonstration.
The Occupy movement in New York has relied on demonstrations and marches around the city since Nov. 15, when police ousted hundreds of protesters from their base in Zuccotti Park near Wall Street, where they had camped since Sept. 17.
Paul Browne, the police department's chief spokesman, said recently that his department is "experienced at accommodating lawful protests and responding appropriately to anyone who engages in unlawful activity, and we're prepared to do both."
Meanwhile, police say the white powder contained in several envelopes that were mailed to various bank branches in New York City turned out to be non-toxic.
Police say seven envelopes were sent Monday to several Wells Fargo branches, a JP Morgan Chase branch and an office building.
"This is a reminder that you are not in control," the message said. "Just in case you needed some incentive to stop working, we have a little surprise for you. Think fast, you have seconds."
Police say the suspicious envelopes caused evacuations of several bank branches, but no injuries were reported. Police had no suspects.
The envelopes were sent on the eve of the planned May Day protests around the country.
Bill Dobbs, a spokesman for Occupy Wall Street, said the prank had nothing to do with their protest movement. He said the incidents distract from the May 1 events.
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