Scores of labor unions and community organizations joined an October 6 march and rally where tens of thousands of protesters turned out to support Occupy Wall Street (OWS), the leaderless group that’s taken over the area’s Zucotti Park. OWS—and its supporters--are protesting unfettered corporate greed and the effect of uncontrolled corporate power on our government, our daily lives and the direction of our nation and our world.

1199er Margaret Passley, a home attendant form New York City’s Kind Care Agency, volunteered to be a marshal for the day. “We the people have to stand up,” she said. “I’m about to lose my job. My agency is about to close. We all realize that this isn’t about politicians any more. It’s our time to speak up.”

A rally in Foley Square—the federal courthouse plaza--kicked off the march. Teachers, nurses, laborers, stagehands, retail and transit workers were just some of the represented groups. Leaders from several unions praised Occupy Wall Street and called on protesters to seize the time to make real change for the nation’s working people.

“We cannot let the Tea Party be the voice of working people in this country,” said 1199SEIU President George Gresham.

“We are the 99 percent and we are here today to say that working people are going to stand together until we get a fair economy,” he promised. “We are going to make sure that America lives up to its promise to working people.”

Other speakers included UFT Pres. Michael Mulgrew, AFSCME Local DC 37 President Lillian Roberts and RWDSU President Stuart Applebaum.

Though it was the first time organized labor came out in force to support Occupy Wall Street, several individual unions already endorsed the movement. 1199SEIU is providing meals and other support. President Gresham promised group representatives at a recent 1199SEIU Executive Council meeting, “As long as you have the will, we’ll find a way to support you.”

Transit Workers Union Local 100 has sued to stop the NYPD from commandeering MTA buses to transport protestors if there are arrests at Occupy Wall Street demonstrations.

Demonstrators on October 6 were all ages, colors, professions and from all over the globe. There was a spirit of community as tens of thousands wended their way through lower Manhattan’s sometimes-narrow streets. Onlookers often cheered and gave the thumbs up. Students form Seattle marched side-by-side with stay-at-home mothers from Brooklyn pushing strollers, who marched beside retired nurses from New Jersey alongside visitors from the United Kingdom. Groups representing veterans, people with AIDS, the homeless, Muslim-Americans and the LGBT community were just some of those that could be seen carrying banners. People carried signs demanding an end to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, fair funding for education, accountability for banks and politicians and an end to capital punishment.

“It feels great that people are finally getting the message and coming out for the cause,” said Marilyn Green, a home attendant with the Bushwick-Ridgewood Agency in New York City. “It means a lot to see so many people from so many backgrounds joining together to stand up and speak up for rebuilding this country for our children and grandchildren.”