GALLERY: Occupy Missouri participants take the heat

John Nathan Fry talks with other members of the Occupy movement on Sunday about issues from cost of education to government involvement in citizens daily lives at Courthouse Square. Fry has first hand experience addressing financial concerns. One medication that keeps him alive after having a tumor removed costs him $6,988.10 per month for 30 pills. He said he was grateful for the help he has received in paying for his medications through Ticket to Work, a social security administration program.   |  Carrie Durkee

Paul Searles displays his various pins on his hat during the Occupy Missouri gathering on Sunday at Courthouse Square. His pins cover a variety of issues from local concerns of the EEZ to general issues of acceptance and diversity.   |  Carrie Durkee

Mike Diel works on picking up trash around Courthouse Square on Sunday whether it was left by the Occupy movement. Diel said when people who pass by the movement tell him to get a job, he states that he already has one. Diel manages a mobile home park and joined the Occupy movement because he did not like seeing families in the community unable to feed themselves.   |  Carrie Durkee

D.R. Menard, left, David Dollens, John Nathan Fry and Paul Searles talk about issues that are part of the Occupy Movement on Sunday at Courthouse Square. Menard commented that Occupy is about solidarity, and to him it is about asking the 99 percent, "What do you need?"   |  Carrie Durkee

Nestor MacKno and Mike Diel discuss the importance of focusing on the issues that are part of the Occupy movement on Sunday at Courthouse Square. They believe that the anti-authoritarian and anti-corporation elements of Occupy as well as the diversity of the movement are what make it important.   |  Carrie Durkee