Occupy Movement News Update of the Day: Occupy protesters took to the streets today across the country for a day of “mass non-violent direct action” to mark the movement’s two-month anniversary.
“Morning, campers,” tweeted the official Occupy Wall Street feed at 6:35 AM, “It’s a beautiful day for revolution.” 25 minutes later, OWS officially launched the day’s first volley: An attempt to disrupt business at the New York Stock Exchange, and prevent the Opening Bell from ringing on time.
NYPD officers arrested dozens of demonstrators and scuffled with dozens more as protesters were pushed around by police officers, allegedly for blocking traffic. Long Range Acoustic Devices were reportedly used by the NYPD to disperse the crowd (see report below).
Among those arrested was retired Philadelphia Police captain Ray Lewis, who joined the protesters yesterday outside Zuccotti Park, and was participating in today’s Day of Action.
Lauren Thorpe snapped this incredible photo of a uniformed Lewis immediately after being handcuffed by NYPD officers:
Another instantly iconic photo to emerge from the early-morning event is this snapshot of NYPD officers attempting to arrest a wheelchair-bound woman. According to The Guardian’s Paul Harris, they eventually gave up and ticketed her instead.
By 11 AM, the majority of protesters made their way to Zuccotti Park, where barricades around the occupation’s former homebase were removed, allowing hundreds of people to spill in.
Additional clashes ensued and many more people were arrested as police attempted to control the crowd and restore the barricades.
An hour and a half later, the barricades were back up, and protesters returned to the streets, marching and chanting up an down Broadway.
Police nearly lost control of protesters in Zuccotti Park for a second time a short while later, when a protester named Brandon Watts had his head bashed against the ground by several officers after he reportedly stole a policeman’s hat. (He was later charged with attempted assault and larceny.)
A New York Daily News report filed around the time of fracas referred to the scene at Zuccotti Park as “full blown mayhem.” Matters were not helped when, twenty minutes later, a protester cut an officer’s hand with a piece of glass.
By 3 PM nearly 200 people had been arrested in all, and at least 7 police offers were injured.
Protesters then launched their next offensive: Occupy The Subways. Despite initial reports, the plan was not to shut down the transit system, but merely use it to “spread stories” with the help of the People’s Mic.
“The real story for tomorrow morning’s paper was there were just not that many people out here,” said Mayor Michael Bloomberg at an afternoon presser.
But the figures swelled significantly as protesters were joined by union members on their way to “take” Foley Square ahead of the day’s final action: A march across the Brooklyn Bridge.
64 protesters, including city councilman Jumaane Williams, were arrested at the base of the bridge before the march even began. All told, some 300 people were arrested during the day’s demonstrations.
Shortly after 6:30, thousands of protesters — possibly as many as 20,000 — began to stream across the bridge carrying candles. Unlike previous events throughout the day, the BK Bridge march was notable for its peaceful nature.
Livestream below, courtesy of TheOther99:
Timelines: Occupy Wall Street; NYT; NYDN; The Atlantic; The Guardian;
Elsewhere:
— Dozens of Occupy LA protesters arrested after marching through downtown, taking over Bank of America Plaza.
— In Portland, clashes between police and Occupy protesters demonstrating in support of N17.
— Occupy Detroit protesters, joined by union members, rallied outside the Coleman A. Young Municipal building.
— Hundreds of Occupy D.C. protesters marched across Key Bridge with little incident.
Further Reading/Viewing:
— 1 percenter Anne Hathaway was spotted among the protesters, holding up a sign that said “blackboards not bullets”:
— Occupy Wall Street message occupies Verizon Building; now with 100% more video.
— 26 Arrested Reporters and What They Do; related photo: journalist with visible press badge being arrest.
— What’s a protest without a counter-protest?; see also: More on these guys.
— Classism at Occupy Wall Street? The Daily Show investigates.
[image: ows.]
