Supporters (L) cheer as demonstrators affiliated with the Occupy Wall Street movement protest

SKY NEWS

Hundreds of people have joined protests in Wall Street - with demonstrations gathering momentum and support as they spread nationwide, reports Sky News.

Organised labour joined the Occupy Wall Street protests adding numbers and focus to what is still a very disparate protest movement three weeks since its inception.

It remains uncertain whether this is a watershed moment in American politics, but the protests seem to be striking a chord with more and more people from all walks of life.

There have now been protests in solidarity with the New York demonstrations, in Boston, Los Angeles and several cities in between.

Thursday is expected to see the same in the nation's capital Washington DC.

Some are already drawing comparisons with the anti Vietnam marches in the 1970s.

The protests seem to be tapping into a well spring of discontent about America's economy and its politics.

Demonstrators are proud that they have no unifying mission.

The nearest they get to a common slogan is 'we are the 99%' - a reference to the fact that one percent of Americans make a quarter of the country's income.

They are demanding more jobs and more economic uncertainty at a time when the US economy is in trouble.

They are a reaction to the perception that America's political system is broken.

Washington's various branches of government require a level of consensus and cooperation to work and currently both are in short supply.

The Obama administration is at war with Republicans in Congress, meaning gridlock on vital issues affecting tens of millions.

And there is huge disappointment that the US government has failed to tackle the causes of the banking crisis that helped caused its economic woes.

Many claim the Obama administration has been hobbled by lobbyists in hock to corporate interests - preventing effective reform of the banking system.

The causes and grievances are disparate and numerous. So far America's politicians have not indicated how they will respond should the protests continue mushrooming.