The New York protesters have been linked to a group formally know as "ACORN". Apparently they started the ball going like a good community organizer would:
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/11/03...after-exposed/
"ACORN" was pretty wide spread before they went bankrupt due to the loss of government funding. I wonder if they have had a part in other protests being organized. I also wonder who funds them.