MicCheckWallStreet organisers say tossing small bills is 'as much art installation as protest' against Citizens United ruling

This article is more than 8 years old

This article is more than 8 years old

Occupy protesters in Seattle marked the Fourth of July by throwing $5,000 out of a hotel window in a protest against the influence of money in politics.

MicCheckWallStreet, an offshoot of the Occupy movement, staged the demonstration at 5pm. The group's website declared that it is "time we declared independence from Citizens United" – citing the supreme court case which effectively ruled that corporations can make political contributions.

A video posted to YouTube shows two people tossing the cash – which MicCheckWallStreet said was in $1 and $5 bills – out of a window above downtown Seattle.

The group had signalled its intentions on its website, asking for donations to a wepay.com account. The wepay page shows that McCheckWallStreet exactly met its $5,000 goal, collected from just 37 donors.

"Every dollar you donate is guaranteed to be thrown off a building and is tax deductible, what more could you ask for?!," said a statement on MicCheckWallStreet's website.

"Be a part of it, donate today!"

Stating that "money is the new tea", the statement said that the event was "as much art installation as protest", declaring that "it sends a powerful message".

The video posted to YouTube does not show the impact at street level, although separate footage posted to UStream showed a small crowd gathered in an alley, where some of the money appeared to have fallen.

The Seattle Times reported that "wind blew some of the money onto a bar awning and into a nearby alley, sending people hunting for cash on windowsills and Dumpster lids".

It is the second "money drop" protest staged by the group. On Valentine's day activists hurled $500 from the top of a building in Seattle.