Freed hikers support Occupy Wall Street movement

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP)

October 17, 2011 9:56 PM

Fattal, Bauer and Shourd — Josh Fattal (L) and Shane Bauer (C), two American hikers released after spending more than two years imprisoned in Iran, walk into a press-filled conference room at the Parker Meridien New York, followed by Sarah Shourd (R), on September 25, 2011 in New York City. Fattal, Bauer, and Shourd were charged with trespassing and espionage, after allegedly crossing the border between Iraq and Iran on a hiking trip.
Photo by Michael Nagle/Getty Images

Three Americans who were imprisoned in Iran and accused of espionage are lending their support to activists with the Occupy Wall Street movement.

Shane Bauer, Josh Fattal and Sarah Shourd spoke Monday at the Occupy Oakland encampment in front of City Hall where activists have been sleeping in tents for the past week.

The three University of California, Berkeley graduates said they are inspired by the Wall Street protests and also thankful to the people who advocated for their release.

They also voiced their support for California prisoners who have gone on hunger strike to protest the practice of putting inmates in long term solitary confinement.

The three were arrested by Iranian authorities in July 2009 while hiking near the Iran Iraq border and accused of being spies.

Shourd was released in September 2010 and Fatal and Bauer were released last month.

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