Assembly Candidates Support 'Occupy'

Candidates vying for , including Betsy Butler who now represents Hermosa Beach in the 53rd Assembly District, are in favor of the growing "Occupy" movement, Patch exclusively reports.

The grassroots protest is railing against corporate profits, worker layoffs, the existing federal tax structure and other issues.

Occupy Los Angeles was launched about two weeks ago in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street in New York, which began about a month ago.

"I support Occupy Los Angeles in their efforts to peacefully demonstrate to express their values and discontent," said Assemblywoman Betsy Butler (D-Marina del Rey).

"The Occupy movement has grown out of a frustration that so many hardworking Americans are not benefitting from the resources enjoyed by Wall Street and the most fortunate amongst us," added Butler, who announced Thursday that she has earned an endorsement from the progressive group The Women’s Political Committee.

"Everyday people rising up to say 'NO MORE' to inequality is an honored American tradition; it can magnetize an unstoppable social movement for real change," said Torie Osborn.

"I embrace this outpouring of students and veterans and teachers and so many more fed up with radical inequality and unfair taxation in the richest country in human history," added Osborn, who on Tuesday announced that she has won the support of one of the nation’s top LGBT groups, the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund.

"There's a deep hunger out there for common sense and humanity once again in our public policy and in our political conversation—for the basic dignity of jobs, affordable education, universal health care and, yes, millionaires and billionaires paying their fair share," she continued. "This is what democracy looks like, and I love it."

Santa Monica Mayor Richard Bloom told Patch that he "absolutely" supports the "Occupy" movement.

"As a grassroots expression of people's concerns and outrage over what's happening in the country and world, it's pretty remarkable," he said.

The Los Angeles City Council recently voted unanimously to formally support Occupy Los Angeles.

Do you support Occupy Los Angeles? Tell us in the comments.