Forum Post: How about some statistics about the protesters to counter cheap shots?

I have no idea what it's like on the ground there, so maybe no one really cares what the media is saying about the protest, but it might be in the movement's interest if there were some statistics about the demographics of those involved. This could help put to rest some of the cheap shots opponents are taking at the group, namely:

• OWS is just a bunch of hippies
• OWS is just a bunch of people who need to look for jobs
• OWS is just a bunch of pot-smoking liberals
• OWS is a bunch of socialists/communists/Marxists
• OWS is just a bunch of rich kids complaining about nothing
• OWS is just a bunch of rich WHITE kids complaining about nothing
• OWS is just a bunch of kids who ran up mommy and daddy's debt and doesn't want to pay the bill
• OWS doesn't want anyone to be rich

These are all things I've seen stated directly or insinuated in news reports about the movement. Like I said, I don't know the mood there so maybe no one cares about what the media says, but it might help when reporters come down to do stories if people on the ground could drop some statistics about the participants to hopefully keep some of the cheap shots in check.

For instance, if a reporter is insinuating that everyone could help themselves if they just got out and looked for some jobs, someone could counter, "Actually, 50% [or whatever] of us actually are employed, but besides unemployment, UNDERemployment is a huge problem among the group..." and then go on to redirect the topic onto lack of a living wage, how there's only 1 job for every 4.6 applicants, etc.

With the big demonstrations coming up tomorrow, that'd be a prime time to do it, to show the real demographics of who's involved.