Occupy DC protestors get Thanksgiving feast

Protesters from Washington's two Occupy Wall Street offshoots flocked to a historic church where Abraham Lincoln once prayed for a Thanksgiving buffet and some robust words of support. The New York Avenue Presbyterian Church threw open its basement and laid out an afternoon spread of turkey, mashed potatoes, corn and pumpkin pie, plus kosher and vegan options, with enough on hand to feed 500. Organizing the feast was Occupy Faith DC, an inter-faith coalition set up a month ago to give food, equipment and spiritual support to Occupy DC in McPherson Square and Occupy Washington DC in Freedom Plaza. "We understand and we are in total solidarity with you," James Lee of Occupy Faith DC and the Network of Spiritual Progressives, a faith-based social justice movement, told the diners. "There's a lot of love for the Occupy movement," he added. "There are millions of people who want you to succeed, so don't stop... The goal is to have hundreds of thousands in the streets by springtime." Thanksgiving, which falls on the last Thursday of every November, is a major family holiday in the United States, dating back to the 17th century when Pilgrim settlers feasted in gratitude for a good harvest. In lieu of saying grace, the meal began with a hare krishna mantra, while "singing rabbi" David Shneyer played Woody Guthrie's "This Land is Your Land" and the folk tune "We Will Not Be Moved" on an acoustic guitar. In New York, Occupy Wall Street was to return Thursday to Zuccotti Park -- from which it was forcibly evicted last week -- for a Thanksgiving feast to which "all members of our global community" were invited. "So many people have given up so much to come and be a part of the movement because there is really that much dire need for community," said Megan Hayes, a chef who helps run the protesters' free kitchen, in a statement. More than 3,000 individually wrapped plates are to be distributed in accordance with public health regulations, and an Egyptian family that runs a Texas barbecue in New York will be donating 2,000 meals. Unlike its counterparts in New York and elsewhere, the two Washington occupations -- targeting inequality and corporate influence on politics -- have been tolerated by local authorities, with few arrests or serious incidents. Tara Spuhler McCabe, 44, associate pastor at New York Avenue Presbyterian Church, told AFP she has been surprised by what she has found on her weekly visits to Occupy DC and its youthful band of protesters. "I was ready for all my protest chaplaincy training, ready to focus on the anger, but as a pastor I was meeting young people who have a lot of fear about what's the future," she said. "They feel really invested in it and they're worried about a lot of things that they know are bigger than themselves." Lee, 44, said it was only normal for faith-based organizations to get behind the Occupy protesters, many of whom look up to slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King, a Baptist clergyman, as a hero of non-violent action. "Throughout the history of social change, from the 1700s until now in this country, there has been a strong connection between social justice, social reform and faith," he said. Lincoln is among several US presidents to have worshipped at New York Avenue Presbyterian Church; his family pew remains open to the public. Founded in 1859, the church also gave vital shelter and support to Vietnam War protesters.