It wasn’t an occupation, but the message from demonstrators Wednesday in front of Brainerd City Hall was clear to corporations and politicians alike: Stop the greed and create jobs.

For an hour and-a-half the crowd of more than 50 people, from teenagers to seniors, stood in the rain along the sidewalk outside city hall and held aloft placards and signs with slogans such as “We are the 99 % who are not millionaires,”“Union strong,” “Create jobs now,”“No is not a solution,” “Don’t destroy the American dream” and “Economic Justice”.

The demonstration, one of many happening this week across the country, was a show of unity for the Occupy Wall Street movement. Every few seconds passing motorists on Laurel or South Fifth streets would honk their horns or give a thumbs up, eliciting cheers from some of the demonstrators. 

Josh Brewster of Brainerd was holding a sign that read “Tax the richest 2 percent.” He said he attended the demonstration because he wants a future for his children. Nothing, not even a little rain, was going to keep him away Wednesday, he said. 

“I have a 15-year-old son and an 11-year-old daughter and right now the prospect of them getting a job once they graduate college is really weak,” Brewster said. “Something has to be done, something has to be done to fix this economy. Something has to be done to fix this government that doesn’t represent the people any more.”

Brewster’s idea? He’d like to see most of the people in elected positions voted out of office. 

“Get rid of them,” Brewster said. “Put people in like you and I. Put average American people in there. You don’t have to be an attorney to be an elected official. You can be an average Joe.”

Clair McGuigan of Pine River traveled south Wednesday to support what she called the “revolution.”

“I think it’s really a necessary thing that our society has to go through right now,” McGuigan said. “I think we’ve been building and working toward this for many years and now is the time. We just can’t put up with it any more. (Corporations) need to give the money back to the people they borrowed and the government needs to stop the wars.”

McGuigan said the issue isn’t just a Democrat or Republican problem. Both parties aren’t doing their jobs, she said. 

Terry Sluss, one of the organizers, said the last demonstration gathered about 30 people. Despite the rain, his expected a larger turnout Wednesday. His expectations were met, he said. 

“Most of the folks here are not afraid of the rain. They’re getting mad,” Sluss said. 

The demonstration was a “dual call to action,” Sluss said. First, the demonstration was in support of the Occupy Wall Street movement. Second was to talk about jobs. 

“No matter what’s happening, we still don’t have any jobs,” Sluss said. “The Legislature seems unable to deal with the issue of creating jobs.”

Sluss said in order for businesses to create jobs there needs to be a demand for that businesses product. For there to be a demand people need fair-paying jobs that allow for expendable income. 

“It’s a vicious cycle and nobody is understanding it at this point,” Sluss said. 

Stephen Long of Brainerd said it was “irresponsible and reckless” bankers that caused the recession, and the response of both Republicans and Democrats was to use taxpayer money to bail out the banks rather than assisting homeowners who were victims of the economic collapse. 

“Wealth rules in America and it makes true democracy a farce,” Long said. 

Dave Butcher of rural Pequot Lakes arrived at the demonstration in solidarity of the demonstrations all over the country. 

Like Sluss, Butcher said the economy won’t get going and businesses won’t expand until the consumer demand increases. To do that people have to get to work, even if it means companies need incentives for hiring or the government provides stimulus funds for projects. 

“There’s an economic injustice in this country which I think has to be addressed,” Butcher said. “Short term, we simply need jobs.”

Butcher said the first economic stimulus, which Republicans and conservatives were fond of saying didn’t work, at least created jobs and kept the country from going “completely in the tank.”

He said Republicans are working to shrink government without addressing he the jobs issue.

“One of the reasons we had such a booming economy after World War II was because the middle class was doing so well, they were being paid fairly and spending money,” Butcher said. 

Sluss said corporations should pay the same percentage of taxes that the middle class does, like during the Reagan administration. 

What Brewster saw Wednesday afternoon on Laurel Street was encouraging, he said. 

“If a small little town like Brainerd can have this many people come out, this is starting to get popular, something people are becoming aware of,” he said. “I don’t think it’s going to stop overnight and our leaders better get used to this fact and change something because right now things are not OK.”

Wednesday’s event was co-sponsored by the AFL-CIO and supported by Central Lakes Senior Caucus, DFL; local trades and labor groups; and MoveOn.Org.

MATT ERICKSON may be reached at matt.erickson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5857.