Recently, a group of Americans frustrated with the response to the economic crisis and inspired by the Arab Spring movement, decided to take action and occupy Wall Street. While they started out as a small, unnoticeable group of protesters, they have quickly grown and subsequently became the topic of much political discourse.

The group is titled according to their purpose, referring to themselves as simply Occupy Wall Street. On their website, occupywallst.org, the protesters decry injustices perpetrated by what they refer to as the 1 percent of society, the wealthiest corporations and individuals in America.

Occupy Wall Street stands for the rest, the 99 percent, the working classes. Fed up with low incomes, high unemployment and a depressed economy, the protesters gather on the doorstep of corporate America, the origins of the economic crash, to demand change.

The opinions regarding the group have been diverse. Both political parties express predictable responses, primarily questioning the validity and effectiveness of the protests.

However, I believe in the face of social and economic turmoil Occupy Wall Street is embracing their political right to protest and place the blame on those they feel are responsible.

The unemployed and underpaid are not properly represented in Congress, and those who brought on the crisis continue to function as usual on Wall Street. When the economy keeps receding and unemployment seems never ending, protesting against those who are responsible seems completely reasonable.

Occupy Wall Street is not purposeless – they have stated their goals, and while some members may not be as articulate as others, each person joined because of a general belief in a common goal: change and accountability.

Perhaps the commitment is the most inspiring. The protests started small, grew and continue to grow at a rapid speed, representing a large and diverse spectrum of Americans. They’ve even expanded their movement to Denver.

It is the protesters’ right to express anger at the decisions that have affected our economy, our jobs, our incomes and our futures.

Especially as a young person, a soon-to-be college graduate, I want someone out there representing my hope that the economy will change and Wall Street will not make decisions that will ultimately lead to the same mistake.

As a country, we looked at the Arab Spring and believed it was a good thing, with the potential to revolutionize archaic political systems. Why should we look at Occupy Wall Street differently? I hope Occupy Wall Street will continue their occupation; we should let them ask for change and hope it accomplishes something.