Judging by the press coverage of Occupy Rose Parade, organizer Peter Thottam has become the official spokes-mouth for ORP. After reading stories over the past few months about Thottam, the press reports seem to have missed his past history.

The Tournament of Roses Parade expects an addition this year, Occupy Rose Parade. The parade is a New Year’s day tradition in Pasadena, California, starting in 1890. Every year, millions of people tune in to watch the parade, and hundreds of thousands flock to see the spectacle in person. According to the LA Times, security will be “beefed up” to accommodate the group, which promises not to disrupt the traditional parade.

The Occupy Rose Parade will have a post-parade float, which consists of “a giant octopus to represent Wall Street’s stranglehold on the economy and the political system,” according to organizer Peter Thottam, along with protesters carrying signs. A website dedicated to the event suggests messages for signs, as well as information about the “phases” of the protest.

40-year-old Thottam, a California attorney, is no stranger to activism or the law. A known 9/11 Truther, Thottam has also had bad luck in the investment business, as his family claims that he “burned through” $800,000 from their trust, according to the Pasadena Star News. He was arrested for shoplifting on at least three occasions and convicted in 2004. In a story called, “When Cops are Thugs,” the Village Voice describes Thottam’s arrest for shoplifting in 2003 in Mexico and placed in a prison cell with 13 others until a friend could bail him out. The 2004 conviction resulted in a temporary suspension of his California license. He has also been fired from at least two positions, according to the Daily Kos.

Thottam does not necessarily represent Occupy’s 99%, as he has clearly benefited from his education and additionally, has a substantial amount of money to burn.

A notable supporter of this event is honorary chair of the Democratic Socialists of America, Prof. Cornell West. He gave his support while presenting on “The Role of Progressive Religion in the Occupy Movement” at the All Saints Church, according to the LA Times. Progressive activists Michael Moore and Cindy Sheehan have also lent their support.

I have no idea what their point is for protesting a parade run by volunteers.