“The media looks for the narratives they’re used to finding. They’re used to seeing popular unrest ... and they’re really recycling the image,” Egerstrom said. But she acknowledges that other protests in the past decade, particularly against the War on Terror, have often “conformed themselves to that image.”

William L. Polette, a Boston resident who participated in yesterday’s march, described Occupy Boston in a favorable light.

“I’m starting to see a mix [of demographics]. There are definitely more students, but as we speak, it’s getting larger and larger,” Polette said.

Although Occupy Boston has generally remained peaceful and non-disruptive, yesterday’s march led to at least two arrests.

Additionally, many Boston residents voiced frustration with the traffic congestion caused by the march.

On Sunday, Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino indicated his own growing frustration with Occupy Boston. He said the city will decide in the coming days whether it will allow the protesters to continue.

That tension mounted Tuesday morning as police confronted activists camped in Dewey Square.

—Check TheCrimson.com for updates.

—Staff writer Jose A. DelReal can be reached at jdelreal@college.harvard.edu.