Thousands of anti-Wall Street demonstrators, backed by organized labor, have massed in New York City's financial district, in a protest against what they see as inequality in the U.S. economy.

Labor unions and community organizers joined the protest Wednesday to denounce unemployment, corporate money's influence in politics, and the 2008 bailouts to large Wall Street banks. In other parts of the United States, students at several colleges walked out of classes in solidarity.

Protesters say the United States is becoming a country ruled by a tiny financial elite, and that all but 1 percent of Americans are finding it difficult to find jobs or pay the rent.

The protest movement, known as “Occupy Wall Street,” began September 17 with a few dozen demonstrators and have since spread to cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle.

In New York, more than 700 people were arrested last Saturday when they blocked traffic for several hours on the Brooklyn Bridge. Most were issued citations for disorderly conduct and released.