Are protests still effective?

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (WWLP) - You've probably heard about the "occupy" Wall Street movement. Thursday, dozens of people were occupying Northampton, in front of the Bank of America. 22News finds out if protests and demonstrations can still create change in today's society.

It had the look of a street concert, more than a protest. Still 50-100 people off all ages were in front of the Bank of America on Main Street in Northampton getting their voices heard.

"We just want to stand up for ourselves it's just hit a peak, we can't be inactive any more we have to move forward and make changes", says organizer Seth Newton.

While Bank of America provides a background for this protest, the issues stretch much wider than just big banks.

"I think the Northampton Bank of America has very little to do with the larger implications of this movement", says Josefa Scherer from Orange, Massachusetts.

Do protests make a difference any more? Will any change come from what happened in Northampton and in similar protests across the country?

"The truth is I don't we really know yet. It's still evolving, it's not quite clear what it's going to become", says Daniel Czitrom.

Czitrom is a professor of history at Mt. Holyoke College. He told 22News this could be just the beginning of a larger movement, since so many people are feeling the pain of the economy.

"One of the reasons "occupy" Wall Street has attracted so much attention is because it has become a lightning rod for the very deep frustration and anger and passion that a lot people have about what's happening in the country", says Czitrom.

"What I'm feeling is pain, what I'm feeling is frustration. I'm about to get my PHD, I have very little job prospects, and my peers are feeling the same way", says Scherer.

Professor Czitrom says history proves that change can still happen when people organize.

"I think that the pressure coming from protests, the Civil Rights movement, the Labor movement, the Women's movement, maybe the "occupy" Wall Street movement... that pressure is crucial", says Czitrom.

A Bank of America representative told 22News it had no comment about this protest.