US Occupy protests 'could intensify'

Todd Gitlin, a professor of journalism and sociology at Columbia University in New York, spoke to Al Jazeera about the Occupy protest movement in the US.

He said that the movement reflected "anger at the impunity with which the wealthy walked away from the consequences of having brought down the world economy."

"It is anger at a system of inequality that has been entrenched and normal. There is a collective wish for a system that is more humane."

He also said he expects Occupy protests to intensify in 2012.

"I think well see more attempts to take over buildings that have been foreclosed. We will also see protests directed at specific banks, at specific political candidates."