As Occupy Vancouver kicked off on Sautrday, October 15, MoveUP members, officers, and staff headed down to support the movement for a more equal and just society.

A crowd of over 4,000 people turned out, representing diverse interests and issues but united in their call for a more equal society that serves everyone, not just the interests of the 1%.

"This is a great opportunity to start the dialogue," said President David Black, who attended the protest with his three daughters. "Even though everyone here has their own issues, we all know the system is broken and needs to be changed."

The first speaker at the microphone when the event started was a MoveUP member, a meter reader facing job loss as a result of the Smart Meter Initiative.

In addition to MoveUP, the Occupy Vancouver kickoff event was attended by groups from the BC Federation of Labour, the BCGEU, CEP, and other BC labour and allied organizations. These organizations announced their official support of the Occupy Vancouver movement last week.

Occupy Vancouver has been explicit in its commitment to non-violent protest and creating a safe space for everyone’s voices to be heard. That commitment has been borne out since Saturday, as protestors continue to occupy the grounds of the Vancouver Art Gallery peacefully.