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Occupy Wall Street Protest: NYPD Accused of Heavy-Handed Tactics
Force criticised by protesters, who claim they were deliberately led on to road before being penned in and arrested
The New York police department has come under criticism for heavy-handed tactics during the Occupy Wall Street march over Brooklyn bridge, after more than 700 protesters were held for several hours.
Police square off against protesters on Brooklyn bridge during the Occupy Wall Street march. Photograph: Jessica Rinaldi/Reuters Activists, as well as commentators following the protest against inequality and corporate excess, claim the response of the city's police force to the peaceful event was vastly out of proportion. Almost 1,000 people have been arrested in two weeks – substantially more than the number of financiers who led the world into the 2008 economic meltdown.
As Salman Rushdie put it in a tweet: "The world's economy has been wrecked by these rapacious traders. Yet it is the protesters who are jailed."
The march began on Saturday afternoon in Zuccotti Park, the Manhattan the base of the core of 200 or so OWS demonstrators. By the time it reached Brooklyn bridge it had swollen to several thousand.
Accounts vary as to how about 500 protesters ended up on one lane of the road across the bridge, where they were all penned in with orange netting and arrested. Some accused the police of leading them on to the road as a sort of trap.
Video clips posted on YouTube, showing a small body of officers marching on to the road ahead of the mass of demonstrators, appeared to support this view.
But the NYPD rejected those claims, saying that many warnings were given by police to protesters to stay on the pedestrian walkway that runs across the bridge at a level above the road. Paul Browne, the deputy commissioner, said protesters were clearly told that if they went on to the road they would be arrested. "Some complied and took the walkway without being arrested. Others proceeded on the Brooklyn-bound vehicular roadway and were," he said.
The police version of events was supported by some protesters.
Malcolm Harris, a blogger who took part in the march, tweeted that the police were wrong-footed. "The police didn't lead us on to the bridge. They were backing the fuck up."
Other participants suggested the confluence of so many on the road was a misunderstanding. Robert Cammiso, 48, told the Associated Press: "We were supposed to go up the pedestrian roadway. There was a huge funnel, a bottleneck, and we couldn't fit. People jumped from the walkway on to the roadway. We thought the roadway was open to us."
The NYPD was accused of over-weening behaviour towards the protesters once they were "kettled" on the bridge. Video footage showed police grappling with protesters and strong-arming them away, despite no apparent signs of violence.
The same footage shows the arrest of a young woman or girl wearing a cloth hat. Her age is not clear – she could be as young as 13 or as old as 20 – but the crowd clearly thought she was a child and chanted: "Shame, shame, shame."
Others chanted: "You can't arrest an idea" and "Let us out, let us out."
The Battle of Brooklyn Bridge, as some dubbed it, came as protests begun in Manhattan spread across America. There were smaller but substantial demonstrations over the weekend in Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, Denver, Washington and several other cities. In New York, most of those arrested were released early on Sunday with a citation for disorderly conduct. Brooklyn bridge was reopened by late evening, but the dramatic scenes there and the prevailing feeling that the police action was excessive are only likely to fuel the demonstrations as they carry on this week.
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Show AllThe word has been used like lose change recently, but 'Fascism' is the only synonym that comes to mind. A look at these self righteous arm crossing henchmen of the rich monopolists should reveal what most of us 'thinkers' know all along. The real revolution will be the cops joining the movement to free us from slavery. Unfortunately so many misguided folks like it 'Bolognese' style. It will get way worse before it can get any better, or so it appears.
"Fascism" is an interesting term and it is used like loose change these days. I agree that this is something I *want* to call fascism, but it isn't really. This, though is what has to happen for the protests and occupation to grow. This is the fertilizer.
It Is true that the Wall Street uprising is exactly what the Koch Tea Party fascist want, and expect as was done on the Middle East. Stir up and divide the people, oust the leader for an easier takeover by the incoming new Regime . First Health care, Unions, Edcucation, now Wall Street, and the people are reacting as the Fascist Tea Party republicans want. The FBI has written up material that Islam is same as Nazis, but only to take our minds off the ones in America. Koch must have Christie in mind to be the Patsy having the secret meetings and Pete duPont promoting him. Whom will we Heil to???
Corporate fascism has officially arrived in NYC and at the NYPD. This ominous, liberty threatening fascism come in the form $4.6 million dollar "gift" from banksters at J.P. Morgan Chase to the NYPD...this will enable the police to expand use of laptops in police cars and the connection to expanding, increasing pervasive databases....now the NYPD is acting like mercenaries and hired goons as they guard the interests of corporate fascists.
ATTN OCCUPIERS:
SALMAN RUSHDIE IS WITH YOU!
Call me a starry-eyed liberal, but that makes me excited. :)
Did I say this thing was essentially dead weeks ago?
Well... I'd eat my hat, but I can't find it 'cause of all the egg on my face! ;)
Nice to see the impact across the Pond and a fairly fair article by the Guardian.
"As Salman Rushdie put it in a tweet: "The world's economy has been wrecked by these rapacious traders. Yet it is the protesters who are jailed
_____________________________________________________
You will never hear the MSM news make this truly "fair and balanced" observation about this protest. I try to imagine an MSM news show really providing a complete context along these lines when covering the protest, and I cant. They are DELIBERATELY trying to deny legitimacy to these protests. If Rachel Maddow, for example, thinks she is ssoo progressive quote unquote she should be all over this story with the complete context with which to accurately report it and understand it.
_____________________________________________________--
But she cant, because saying that Wall St banksters should be in jail is taboo in America. As an Obama supporter she cant report this story fairly because Obama is owned by Wall Street just like every president. That's why Goldman Sachs is known as "Government Sachs" - the revolving door between the Wall Street firms - especially Goldman, and Treasury and the Federal Reserve.
Sure, but this is in the Guardian in the UK, and that is mainstream there and Globally.
And Rushdie is a fairly uncontroversial Liberal there IIRC.
The Global Effect of the Occupations is bigger than the US Corporatist media filters can allow us to see.
It gives me lots of hope, because if we are to dismantle our Empire, we will need Global help (almost literally!)
Also, "<" then "p" then ">" is the HTML for paragraph breaks when they aren't auto.
"<" then "br" then ">" should work as well. :)
"...my head is bloody, but unbowed..."
Right on...there is no reason to bow to Bloomberg's Fascist Blue-Shirts otherwise known as the NYPD who as an organization has an undemocratic, authoritarian mindset and is in deep need of lawsuits and lessons of how police are to act in a democratic, Constitutional society...in fact Bloomberg is one of the corporate oligarchs who should be protested.
More people need to protest, organize and stop the corruption and ownership of our democracy, representatives and courts (thanks to the Corporate Supreme Court Citizen v. United) by corporate fascists and oligarchs such as the lilliputian Bloomberg.
" It is better to die on your feet, than to live on your knees ! " Emiliano Zapata
Okay, this is why we in the 60's used volunteer marshalls to guide the demonstrations......in Seattle in '99 we had the Longshoremen's Union acting as marshalls on both sides of the big demonstrations so no police provacateurs could lead us the wrong way or create a violent act that would allow the police to attack us all.
I was in Chicago's Grant Park when the police attacked in '68 with tear gas and billy clubs to a peaceful crowd listening to Alan Ginsberg chant "Ommmmmmm, ommmmmm."
Fortunately for me, I was neither chanting nor lying down on the grass as so many were, but I was right up in front. When the guy dressed as a "hippie" climbed the flag pole and ripped down the American flag, that's when the amassed, tear-gas-masked, shielded police came charging in with batons flying.
I'll tell you, when a crowd moves in a panic, you will move with them or get knocked down and crushed on the ground. I lost my sandals in a second, but stayed upright, found a friend, and with everyone else, left the Park to escape the tear gas.
The guy who tore down the flag, it later came out in the trial of the Chicago Seven, was a police plant, a paid provocateur. It's usually the ones who promote violence and ultra-left actions who are the paid police provocateurs, trying to disgrace and discredit the movement.
It's a fine line between being really open and trusting vs being suspicious of everyone..............takes some judgment and the group in NYC has some older political activists in it who are helping with discussion, debate, and decision-making.
Every few decades actions begin anew. Generally, we gain a bit each time, then lose some of the gains, then fight again and gain a bit more, etc. And so we go on until we have what people in all times and revolutions have always wanted:
Real Democracy where We, the People, make the decisions that affect our lives.
I think that the notion that this mass arrest was a bad thing for the Occupiers is mistaken.
Millions of reasonable people across the world are echoing Rushdie's sentiment today.
But thank you very much for the experience and advice!
I wonder if the Longshoremen's role from Seattle '99 would be a good fit for the union groups planning to join the Occupiers on Wednesday?
My read on the Seattle situation is that the Longshoremen's greater cultural similarities to the SPD officers (as compared to the "hippie" protesters) worked wonders to calm the cops down as long as they were around. Perhaps the same could happen here?
What do you think?
matti... I agree. Being arrested can be a very useful tool of resistance. I write about it in BANNED IN VERMONT. The arrest made such an impression, that now, 8 years later, the local public library has banned the book which gives the true story of the protest. (The library receives public funds and is banning this political book. No free speech in Vermont.)
Interesting.
Here's me always assuming Vermont is one of the GOOD places. :(
The fact is, this mass arrest on a Global Icon, just blew this thing through the roof, media-wise.
IMHO, when the cops do what they did here, sitting down and taking the arrest is really the only way out.
Everyone is focused on the "decision" to "break-off" and walk on the road way.
But once that is done, and once the NYPD forms a line across the middle of the bridge and begins to arrest folks, the sitting down and prolonging the process the marchers got up to was the SAFEST THING TO DO.
People forget that we are talking about thousands of people on a bridge with only two ways to go -and the NYPD cut off one of them. What were the marchers supposed to do? Run away? In a crowd that thick? People might have been KILLED!
This is a big part controversy with such "kettling" -it is an inherently dangerous thing to do to a large crowd of people.
This Guardian article is on the right track.
The fault here is with the NYPD.
The march could have been escorted across the bridge instead of being trapped on it.
Even assuming the NYPD didn't help herd them onto the roadway in the first place.
Excellent points to consider.
"ultra-left actions"
what's an "ultra-left action"? Just curious.
Something that results in tear gas, big long billy clubs, and hospital bills.
The Longshoremen have been around for a long time...:)
I hate the way this forum handles replies.
I can never tell who's talking to who after a couple of spaces.
So, if this was at me... I know, and speaking of them, where are they in NYC?
Or is this another West Coast/East Coast difference?
As in: there ARE Longshoremen in NYC, aren't there?
Is this wasn't to me, sorry for the interruption. ;)
I agree the forum does create some confusion, but I did reply to your post. Longshoreman do have a lot of solidarity that predates activism in the 60's. Currently, they have their own protest and from what I gather are considering a general strike, they are longshoreman and they have their own way. I reference the West coast, I don't see any formal participation on the East coast. No worries.
Yeah, that's out in Grays Harbor, I think.
I got off my lazy butt (figuratively) and found the ILWU website (ilwu.org) and confirmed that they are strictly West Coast.
All the Occupation groups in California, Oregon, and Washington should be contacting their nearby ILWU Locals.
Solidarity with the more experienced and the better organized is a damned good idea is pretty much how I remember the thought going in '99 in reaching out to them and the other unions for the WTO protest.
We can all learn from each other even though we don't agree on everything. I have to say that occupy wall street is doing the right thing (that is their power). I agree, call them up. If this keeps growing they will no doubt converge at some point.
If you choose viewing option "Threaded List Expanded" the replies are with the original comment.
Oh thank you
Yes, thanks. :)
jclientelle-- selecting "Threaded List Expanded" and displaying the maximum number of comments per page (300) is optimal for following replies and "sub-threads".
But FWIW, it still leaves a lot to be desired if the exchange(s) are extended past a few individual comments. At least, I find it challenging; I'm prone to lose the continuity even when I scroll back and forth to try and match an ambiguous reply to a preceding comment.
Worst of all are those long serve-and-volleys where the comments display in an increasingly narrow window, like a vertical fortune cookie or ticker-tape. Thankfully, those aren't usually of much interest to anyone but the participants. ;)
I recommend acquring the habit of referencing the commenter by nym (name, handle) in a reply just to help eliminate the guesswork.
Good idea with nyms, OS. It can be tricky to trace to the original comment based on margin width alone. I too ignore volleys when they get too narrow in participation, content, and column width.
At one protest I attended there were information and assistance people though out the group with walky-talky things. It really helped because it was a high-risk protest and it kept people informed. There was a line and if you crossed it, you got arrested and taken to a local prison. Most people had affinity groups, people to feed their animals, water their plants, call their family and what not.
Your group was very wise and well organized. Hopefully this group will learn as it goes along. This going to be along haul folks, not one of those "three day" "mission accomplished" things.
I was just a participant but there are a lot little things that can improve the quality of life for all those in this situation. This is very different, and I think they really are doing well. I agree this is something that could take awhile.
Eventually these Corporate Thugs will kill some citizen and then the shit will really hit the fan. Burn baby, burn, eh?
Ocean,
I've been thinking about that. The corporate PR whores are probably working overtime scheming about how to spin state sponsored murder by pinning it on the protesters.
The schemers know people are really pissed. They know the public is not going to be assuaged by token reforms or musical chair name changes at the banks along with wrist slaps.
I don't know what the goons will come up with to deflect the "herd", but it will be designed to take the wind out of the sails of the present massive public indignation. I also think it will involve violence.
Telling everyone to just go home is not going to cut it.
Another made up war or "terrorist" attack perhaps?
Start paying off identified leaders among the protesters to become judas goats maybe?
A combination of the above?
The media buzzwords will be the tipoff to the heinous method(s) that will be brought into play. The corporate media whores always telegraph crowd control measures through buzzwords designed to legitimize some brutal and/or calloused government action.
The status quo lovers just don't understand that people are now at the point that they would rather die than allow the government and Wall Street continue to perpetuate this fascist hell on earth. There will be no stopping the people.
I hope there will be no stopping the people - it's our children at risk of fascism.
Ocean - And our children are also at risk of climate disasters such as floods, droughts and famine on a huge scale. Clean energy and clean jobs are needed.
'Go for it people'. I have been living out of the country for nearly 20 years now. And I'd love to come back to a more Free Amerika. Maybe one without the K. So all I can do to help is continue to inform and chat social politics with the many Tourists I meet. As regards all you folks risking your blood on the streets. More power and success to you.
It just dawned on me why some of you are spelling America with a k. Is it because of K. Street's influence? If so I think I'll start using the modern (k) spelling? I just had a "Homer Simpson DOH!" moment. Correct me if my assessment is now wrong.
We should spell "congress" with a huge bold and capital K.
http://weaintgottimetobleed.com/.......
Letter to the Ruling Class.......
You control our world.......
You’ve poisoned the air we breathe, contaminated the water we drink, and copyrighted the food we eat.......
We fight in your wars, die for your causes, and sacrifice our freedoms to protect you.......
You’ve liquidated our savings, destroyed our middle class, and used our tax dollars to bailout your unending greed.......
We are slaves to your corporations, zombies to your airwaves, servants to your decadence.......
You’ve stolen our elections, assassinated our leaders, and abolished our basic rights as human beings.......
You own our property, shipped away our jobs, and shredded our unions.......
You’ve profited off of disaster, destabilized our currencies, and raised our cost of living.......
You’ve monopolized our freedom, stripped away our education, and have almost extinguished our flame.......
We are hit… we are bleeding… but we ain’t got time to bleed.......
We will bring the giants to their knees and you will witness our revolution! .......
Sincerely .......
The Serfs
How could they possibly have been so successful in thwarting our "common dreams" and social equality, when to hear them talk they are hamstrung by excessive regulation and taxation, to the point they can't carry out the normal practices of their businesses?
Think about that folks everytime you hear one of the "suits" lament how they can't create jobs in this country, or provide necessary protections for their workers or the environment. And usually always after they just posted record profits.
I view the chanting as sorta childish because of how disorganized it is. It seems everyone wanted to start a chant and the crowd just ignored most of them. The disorganized nature of the protesters appear pathetic to me because of it all, but maybe that's just me and I'm just fine with being in the minority. Anyone know how much that disorderly conduct ticket is gonna cost them all? It costs so much these days for the smallest infraction, I wouldn't be surprised if they city charges them an arm and a leg and wouldn't that be fitting? Steal their 401k's, make profitable the lose of their jobs, then when they protest, fine them for doing so and lay claim to the little they have left.
How exactly are they going to do that if we reduce government and spending, and attorneys are lined up to take up the cause and keep these bogus charges tied up in courts for years. At some point NYC is going to have to cut it's budget to pay for all that litigation. Or are all these calls for reducing government only about reducing the part of government that protects the average citizens?
I like the speak and response. It is like a church service or poetry. There is great courtesy there, as people keep their remarks brief. It gives everyone a chance to add to the message. .
Similarly, there is no top down structure to control the chants or signs, which are creative and speak to the myriad of real situations people are experiencing today. Despite what you think about the message, passers-by got it, honked their horns, gave peace signs and fists.
As for disorganization, some of it is refreshing in the sense that there is no doctrinaire group dominating. The self-organization at Zuccotti Park is impressive - it deals with food, speaking, behavior in the encampment, etc. as needed. .
However I do think that when a group of people engages in an action, better communication and trained and identifiable marshalls are an asset. Marshalls need not be enforcers, but communicators.
It reminded me of a person at a ball game that would try to start a wave. 50 more people would do it and perhaps the most boisterous of them would actually get it rolling. I think of the children in elementary school all competing to be the coolest. Unlike shouting their hearts, they are shouting for people to follow in their lead. Thanks for you comment all the same, as what you say is true enough. There is beauty in it, if you ignore the smaller parts that make it silly.
These people are wasting everyone's resources, if so many people are in agreement against something work to elect a representative. They are just exhibiting spoiled and lazy behavior, not a very good example, being part of a mob.
How exactly can that be done in the modern electoral system? We're never given a real candidate to choose. Real, honest, intelligent people of conscience have been forced out of the process by those with money and connections. Not to mention how the number of representatives has been limited over the years.
Think about it: GW didn't win either term cleanly, did he? But he still ruled for two terms.
Or perhaps you were referring to the police, wasting resources and acting like a mob.
"These people are wasting everyone's resources,.... They are just exhibiting spoiled and lazy behavior, not a very good example, being part of a mob."
Do you mean the spoiled and lazy behavior of Wall Street bankers and traders who produce nothing, take everything and sleep in mansions rather than tents? And do you mean Mob as in Mobster?"
But yeah, they have backed and gotten many representatives elected. I'll give them that.
The book "Last Call" by Daniel Okrent tells me why the Tea Party has been successful and why the current "Wall Street" protest may peter out unless it changes tactics and objectives soon. The Tea Party has taken a leaf from the "Anti-Saloon" movement/party which essentially and successfully marooned federal and state governments by replacing "wet" with "dry" lawmakers and governors. In the end they disappeared as a political force because the nation wanted to drink and a similar fate will befall the Tea Party because the nation will get tired of their objectives. The "Wall Street protesters" are the "Mother Thompson's Crusade" of today, morally terrific but politically impotent at least now. The Wall Street protesters must soon focus on two issues that concerns the working class namely the fear of losing one's job and the fear of losing one's house or else it will like "Mother Thompson's Crusade" end up on the slag heap of history. Wall Street as such has no significant input into the first issue because it is the banks from which the major employers need to get their loans to expand or re-start. If, as I am told, these banks are sitting on trillions of dollars then we need an "Anti-Bank League" and not an "Anti-Wall Street League". Just like the "saloons" came out of the Prohibition chastised and better regulated, the banks will emerge chastised and better regulated. Yes, Wall Street was knee-deep into the collapse of the housing market but once again so were the banks and the Federal Government. Once again Wall Street does not control housing loans or foreclosures, the banks do. Hence that is the second target of the "Anti Bank League". I am not advocating that Wall Street criminals should remain untouched by the law. However, jailing such malefactors will not create a single job nor will it save a single home from foreclosure. It is at this time not in the interest of the working class.
It's not altogether surprising that so many tactics that have been and are still used by the UK police and authorities are also now being used by the US.
The US also adopted tactics of the British with regards to IRA suspects being caught and interrogated.
The tactics being used in the US are almost inevitably going to end up with the same tragic consequences as the deaths of innocent people, the subsequent pathetic investigations (that only occur after large public pressure) but who's legal outcomes almost always decide that it's only 'policies & procedures' that might perhaps be at fault rather than some thug authorised with a badge who wilfully (gleefully) performed the actions.
I wonder if the US will put their own special brand of menace to all of this? -- Perhaps a civil tryout of the much-touted sonic weaponry they've been itching to use?
If that happens then I can see ordinary people taking the gloves off. And where will that lead? To the military being brought in?
All of this to 'protect' the insipid monetary gamblers who play with money and lives so carelessly and frivolously. Oh what a joy and boon to mankind they are and who are so very essential........NOT!
In the UK, police helicopters fitted with hi-tech equipment for monitoring and surveillance are used to coordinate with the police ground troops and management which also relies upon the very heavy use of ubiquitous surveillance cameras.
Whilst the US has plenty of helicopters to do that, I wonder if they would rather use their much beloved drones?
I see the current growing protests in the US as a watershed in that country.
That's why so many of us are reading/viewing the online news about it and also why so much of the mainstream media doesn't report it or trivialises it, or puts their own spin on it as usual.
What the powers-that-be require right now is a large distraction, a national one like another 'bin Laden's dead dancing in the street' kind of ridiculousness or more likely the sudden occurrence of a large number of deaths in a foreign country, or perhaps one in the USA courtesy of yet another false flag attack as is the habit.
Distractions...........look out for them and see them for what they are in whatever form they take.
I didn't recall seeing the tea party treated like this, in fact it was quite the opposite. But their rallies were paid for by wall street, Koch brothers, Murdock, etc.
Just wondering - can the NYPD swim?
the police action was excessive are only likely to fuel the demonstrations as they carry on this week --rather then PUT THEM OUT, which is what the sentence leaves unsaid,...aaah the guardian's subliminal psy-ops at work...