By Sharif Durhams of the Journal Sentinel

Oct. 3, 2011 2:08 p.m. |(235) Comments

Local offshoots of the Occupy Wall Street demonstration that has taken over a park in New York’s financial district are being organized in Wisconsin.

Participants have rallied near Wall Street for three weeks against what they perceive as corporate greed and economic inequality. A flash point sparked over the weekend when about 700 participants were arrested as they marched in vehicle travel lanes of the Brooklyn Bridge.

Organizers in Milwaukee, Madison and Appleton are planning rallies Oct. 15 as part of an International Day of Action in support of the protests.

Organizers of the Milwaukee event plan a rally at the Chase Bank branch in downtown Milwaukee, according to Facebook page set up for the event. Those in Madison plan a rally “on or around” Oct. 15 at the State Capitol square. Both pages were linked to a site put together by organizers of the Wall Street rally that was featured in Monday’s Wall Street Journal.

The Occupy Milwaukee Facebook page created a week ago had nearly 2,000 followers Monday afternoon while Madison’s page had more than 2,200 followers. A page for Appleton has more than 500 followers.

Chase spokeswoman Christine Holevas said the bank was aware of the rally being planned for downtown Milwaukee.

“The branch at Water and Wisconsin isn’t open on Saturdays,” she said.