Hundreds of protesters staged a massive rally throughout the Wall Street area Saturday afternoon.

This protest is part of the “US Day of Rage” and was designed to draw attention to the role powerful financial matters play in damaging the U.S. economy.

The protest is modeled after the “Arab Spring” uprisings that have taken place throughout African nations, such as Egypt, Tunisia and Syria. Occupy Wall Street is a “leaderless resistance movement” orchestrated through Twitter, Facebook and other social media tools.

NYPD Deputy Commissioner Paul Browne said the NYPD was prepared for the protesters and a protest area was established on Broad Street at Exchange Place next to the Stock Exchange. However, the protesters elected not to use it.

“None associated with the demonstrations sought permits,” Browne said. “A group that formed at the bull at Bowling Green spilled into the streets on each side of the bull, posed safety issues and impeded vehicular traffic. The streets were re-opened to vehicular traffic and barriers were subsequently erected at the bull to prevent a re-occurance.”

The protest was arranged by activist magazine Adbusters who put the call out two months ago for participants in a Sept. 17 demonstration in lower Manhattan.

Protestors arranged to meet and discuss their goals at the iconic Wall Street Bull statue at noon, as well as at a “people’s assembly” at 3 p.m.

(Source: MyFoxNY)