Gov. Deval Patrick Visits Occupy Boston Protest

Gov. Deval Patrick has visited the Occupy Boston protest for the first time. The governor said he wasn't trying to convey a message with the appearance Saturday, just better understand what's happening.

Patrick stopped by the Dewey Square protest location at about noon. Several people thanked him for coming, but a heckler also accused the wealthy former executive of being part of the problem.

Patrick said after walking through the camp that he better understands the range of views, and was sympathetic to concerns about unemployment, health care and the influence of money in politics.

The governor said he had no opinion on whether protesters should be allowed to stay indefinitely. He didn't respond to a heckler who criticized him for having an expensive home and said he was no friend of the protesters.