Who’s the criminal? Occupy Detroit protesters ask

The first arrests associated with the Occupy Detroit protest occurred last week at a taping of Detroit Public Television's Leaders on Leadership program, which featured an interview with the chief executive officer of the New York Stock Exchange Euronext. 

Joe McGuire and Susie Reed, both 25, were arrested Nov. 2 on misdemeanor disorderly conduct charges after they interrupted an interview that program host Larry Fobes attempted to conduct with Duncan Niederauer, CEO of the NYSE since 2007 and former managing director of Goldman Sachs and Co.

McGuire and Reed both attempted to ask Niederauer questions regarding the culpability of Wall Street executives in the financial crisis that began near the end of 2007. To attend the taping, guests were asked to RSVP on the show's website.

As soon as Fobes posed his first question, McGuire stood up and introduced himself to Niederauer, saying he was part of the Occupy Detroit protest that has set up camp at Grand Circus Park. 

McGuire asked Niederauer if he had any advice for Occupy Detroit on how to not get arrested because, "We don't understand how Wall Street bankers have avoided arrest for the economic meltdown." 

"The irony that I was arrested right after was not lost on me," McGuire told News Hits.

According to the television program's website, the show "explores leaders from a wide range of global organizations that share their leadership experiences and insights with a studio audience of students. The program also seeks to expose the character, drive and ambition of individuals renowned for their leadership in guiding local, national and international organizations. The program emphasizes the personal side of leadership."

"I think it's atrocious that the Wayne State University Business School and PBS invited this guy to tell us how to be a leader," McGuire said. "He's a criminal; he should be thrown in jail. These guys were corrupt and incompetent. They built an economy on sand and grift and scams, and Wayne State University thinks they should trumpet this guy as a leader we should all mimic. I think that's ridiculous."

McGuire was immediately escorted out of the room, creating a tense atmosphere in the basement studio located in the Maccabees Building. Producers decided to begin filming again from the top of the show. The interview included such topics as what a CEO's life is like, Niederauer's ascent up the corporate ranks and why policymakers should "focus on Main Street not Wall Street."

About 10 minutes after McGuire interrupted the interview, Reed stood up in similar fashion to ask Niederauer about his role as head of the NYSE in the financial meltdown.

> Email News Hits