Lower Manhattan pizzeria feeds protestors

Several times a day a pizza deliveryman can be seen weaving through the throngs of protesters encamped in a lower Manhattan park.

His arms are piled high with boxes of Liberatos Pizza donated by supporters of Occupy Wall Street, and demonstrators turn excitedly at the sight of him.

"We really appreciate everything Liberatos is doing for us, especially the delivery guys," said Camille Raneem, 21, of Manhattan. "They're really so humble. They come drop off the pizzas, and they won't even wait for a tip if they see that we're busy."

The hundreds of protesters in their third week of "occupying" a square near Wall Street are fueled by ideology -- their most common refrain is the denouncement of "corporate excess" -- and a steady stream of piping-hot pies provided by the nearby Liberatos Pizza on Cedar Street.

Raneem estimated that at least 60 pizzas are delivered for each mealtime at Zuccotti Park, where the camp has organized a pantry area.

Liberatos' owner said he had seen his business double since protesters approached him on Sept. 18, the day after the movement began, to ask whether they could post a link to his parlor on their website.

"I said, 'Yes, of course.' Business had been very slow in the summer," said Telly Liberatos, 29, who opened his restaurant in 2006.

His role in the protest has parlayed into business from curious tourists who come in to snap photos of the $15 "OccuPie" -- a large cheese pizza with a diagonal stripe of pepperonis to form a "no" sign -- that he created especially for demonstrators.

It also has led to angry calls to his staff demanding why they'd send food to the camp, he said. "If everyone likes you, you're doing something wrong," said Liberatos, of Manhattan. "I'm not even picking sides. I'm just trying to keep my business going."

Those inspired by "the 99 percent," which protesters have tagged themselves in reference to a statistic that 1 percent of the nation owns 40 percent of its wealth, include backers from England, Germany and Italy who have put in orders to Liberatos.

"I think it shows great support from far away," said demonstrator Emilio Ramos, 19, of Manhattan, adding that he hasn't grown tired of pizza.

Liberatos said he has been happy to oblige with protesters' requests, which often include vegan pies.

" 'Liberatos,' they said, sounds like 'liberty' or 'liberation,' " he said. "It's my last name, so maybe it was meant to be."

Thursday the movement, which has spread to cities nationwide, goes to Wall Street West as demonstrators plan gather in front of the Goldman Sachs offices in Jersey City, in the heart of the city's financial district.

In addition to the Jersey City event at 2 p.m. tomorrow, protesters plan to gather at the same time in front of the Statehouse in Trenton.