Four arrests on Wednesday
Posted 13 years ago on Sept. 21, 2011, 1:42 p.m. EST by OccupyWallSt
Four people have been arrested so far (as of 1:28 PM EST) on day 5 of the Occupy Wall Street protest. The first arrest took place this morning during Opening Bell March. At 10:10 AM, Isaac Wilder was taken into police custody and is being held at W. 154 St. New York, NY. One firsthand witness has informed us he was at the front of the peaceful march taking place on a public sidewalk when police demanded protesters turned left. When Isaac asserted his right to continue marching forward in public space, he was immediately arrested.
Two other arrests took place at 12:30 PM EST at Liberty Plaza. Two first-hand witnesses have confirmed the following story:
People were peacefully assembling on the sidewalk and the police told the public that they could not stand on public sidewalks. One person, was standing peacefully on the sidewalk and holding up a sign and the police swarmed him and arrested him. he peacefully went with them, without resisting in any way. People then peacefully walked with him and chanted in solidarity. And the police ran into the middle of the crowd and tackled one of the people there, and arrested him.
The following is a first hand account from Adrianna, a demonstrator who was assaulted by the police:
I was picketing at Broadway and Liberty St. and heard shouts and swarms of people come down the block, so I knew it must have been an arrest. I stayed up there because I knew that's where they were going to bring the arrested people. So a huge crowd started approaching and getting louder while holding up peace signs. They pulled one guy at random and after they put him in the van, Officer Caradona and other officers rushed the crowd standing on the corner, pulled one guy from random, and started to pull him and shove him to the ground.
That's when I started to try to push everyone back when somebody, it might have been Caradona, grabbed and swung me around and punched me in the face and I fell down. Luckily someone was there to pull me back up again and I know they pushed and shoved other people too. They were pushing and shoving everyone, but none of us resisted. We kept backing up, trying to get out of their way and continued holding up our peace signs.
Here is a video of a second eyewitness account.
At 1:13 PM EST, another protester was also arrested.
Updates will be posted as more information becomes available.
I hope everyone recognizes what's going on here - this is low intensity warfare. They're going to continue harassing, arresting and brutalizing people in order to demoralize the occupation and reduce the number of people willing to participate. I don't have any answers, but folks on the ground need to be asking the question - what can be done to defend yourselves by continued assaults by the police? I fear that legal counsel isn't going to accomplish much - the premise of the occupation is that the whole political process is owned by the wealthy elite, including the courts. Remember, the ones who ruled in favor of corporate personhood? Your pleas to cops, judges, and politicians are going to fall on deaf ears. It is their power you're threatening. The question that needs to be asked is what can the folks on the ground do themselves in order to deter or prevent continued police assaults?
Good comment.
I would suggest that you reach out directly to the workers in the trade unions and ask them to come to the protests and help defend your encampment against police assaults. Teamsters, AFSCME, UNITE/HERE, Teachers' unions, city workers, transit workers, postal workers; all the working people are in the crosshairs of the capitalists' assault on the working class. Approach the workers directly - the trade union [mis]leaders are just shills for the Democrats. Go to the union meetings and talk to people. Hopefully you'll be pleasantly surprised by the reception you'll receive from the most intelligent and politically-conscious workers. Unless your protest can link up with the masses of working people and get them involved, the cops will be all too happy to isolate your group as a bunch of "fringe lunatics" and then attack you with impunity. They will be much more cautious if they know that they are attacking unionized workers whose organizations represent hundreds of thousands of workers and who have the actual power to SHUT DOWN THE ENTIRE CITY in protest against the brutal layoffs and social services cuts being shoved down their throats by the party of "Hope and Change".
Good luck with the protest!
Workers of the World, Unite!
Varlet
This is what you would call "real politik".
Hello Javier!
Any political movement against capitalism that is unable to win over the working masses to its banner is doomed to failure. What is needed to put an end to capitalist exploitation is a workers revolution that overthrows the capitalist class and institutes a revolutionary workers government. The working class must be mobilized independently of the pro-capitalist political parties to defend their own class interests against every attempt to smash the workers organizations and drive down the workers' standard of living to the level of bare subsistence. Which is what the world's capitalists are doing right now all over the world.
Workers of the World, Unite!
Varlet
The random arrests op has two effects that I can see
1)It demoralises and inserts uncertainty in the people on the ground.
2)It makes it less likely that people not on the ground go to the ground(fear).
To counteract 1
1.A. New and/or more activities that raise the morale could be added to the encampment's activities. As in recreation, entertainment, or anything that would make the people on the ground feel better.
1.B. A safety net for people who are arrested could be developed, as in legal aid, jail visits, food and care for dependants, etc
1.C. New and/or more activities that raise the sense of certainty could be added.
To Counteract 2
2.A. The communication of 1B to potential protesters.
2.B. New or more activities/measures that increase the cool factor/attractiveness of the protest could be added.
2.C. News of random arrests could have a second priority or no publicity.
We need celebrity involvement. There are many who agree with the cause from Michael Moore to Sigourney Weaver to Dennis Kucinich. I'm sure that there are people here with some celebrity connections. Bring them aboard! Celebrity involvement would fix the media blackout, boost morale, boost numbers, and drastically reduce police problems. It worked in the 60's and would work now.
Yes, sex and celebrities works.
here is a list of very interesting related links: http://miiu.org/wiki/Camping_Protest#Further_Reading
The cops are not going to beat Robert DeNiro. But our movement has to be mainstream-friendly enough that he won't look silly for being there. This is a populist cause. 99+% of people look to benefit if we succeed. Even that 1% will actually benefit as sustainability becomes more than a casual buzzword and develops into infrastructural development. Long-term species survival is at stake.
If the cops are ordered to they will certainly beat Robert DeNiro or anyone else who tries to stop them from defending their bosses, the Wall St. tycoons. Anyone who thinks that mere celebrity will shield them from the cops batons is a fool. When push comes to shove, the cops will be ordered to clear the streets and they will use whatever means necessary to do that - including dogs, horses, guns, mace, you name it.
In the case of someone like Robert DeNiro, the cops would beat him senseless, throw him into a paddy wagon, throw him in jail and then pose for pictures with him and ask for an autograph!
Workers of the World, Unite!
Varlet
A swarm tweet request to show up at the camp for certain celebrities might work, as in 5000 people tweeting Michael Moore inviting him for a day and a night, and to make a film about this Movement.
That would be amazing.
Robert, i understand you are or were on the ground, would you pass this to the people you think its appropriate? http://miiu.org/wiki/Camping_Protest#Further_Reading
You have Anonymous(you are on the ground right?), if they can organize a DDOS they can organize a swarm tweet
My thoughts exactly. Where's the daily show? Maybe even our friendly media stands to lose from this protest.
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/19/wall-street-protests-continue-with-at-least-5-arrested/
Watch the long arm of the law in action.
Build barricades, when the time comes. We need all kinds of tactics! But physical impediments to arrest are important.
Javier has good advice too!
Short of building barricades, here are some other strategies, tactics, and ideas that were posted to another thread - http://revolutionaryresources.wordpress.com/2011/02/21/resisting-avoiding-and-adapting-to-police-tactics/. They came out of the austerity protests in London but are applicable here as well.
In this age of the cell phone it should be obvious, but I'll say it anyway. Every time the police approach, everyone take out their phones and record. The machine won't give a damn, at least not right away, but those individual officers that know they're being recorded from 150 angles are going to care. Also, it's been the practice of police to stop people from recording, which is perfectly legal. If you have several people recording, you'll catch this on tape. Youtube can be the news channel of the people when corporate media chooses to ignore a message they fear.
Everyone with a camera should definitely be videoing the police.
I am from the 15M movement in Spain, from the Tenerife camp [www.acampadatenerife.tk and FB: acampada tenerife (OFICIAL)] and will be going to London for the worldwide protest on the 15th of October. I also lived in the USA (NYC and Tampa, Florida) for 17 years. I would recommend that in order to try to minimize arrests that you work on synchronization for active civil disobedience. What we all have done by occupying squares and the financial districts is passive, but when the police would come and try to instigate us with violence and by trying to arrest protesters is link arms, hug each other (like a dog pile if on the ground and just a massive collective hug if standing), and the dead-body move if separated and being taken away (let your body go completey limp, it makes you heavier and they need mopre officers to take you away). if you see an opening to garb onto someone do so, and don't forget to scream your FULL NAME and what you're being arrested for, help your companions help you. Any time they come to question or ID you, ask as many question as possible and give as little informaion as possible (What reason am I being ID'ed, why am I being arrested, etc) Also, I recommend coming to a concensus about a lawyer who volunteers and is willing to work for the camp free of charge, that person will be handy for arrests and violations of civil liberties and human rights. One more thing, be aware that they WILL have people infiltrate the camp, if they haven't already done so. Those people will try to cause violent outbursts during the protests and cause problems within the assembly's decision making process. Be safe and stay safe sisters and brothers. Much love, peace unity and SOLIDARITY <3 Gaby (logistic comission, acampada Tenerife)
Thank you for posting specific actions to take. What this cause needs a lot more of is specifics!
You're welcome. I agree, and since I was occuppying my local square from the 15th of May until the 23rd of June as the other 859 camps around the world, I'm merely providing information we were given and used for our own protection. You are NOT alone and the whole world is with you, we had a 92% approval rate among the population here and I'm sure you all do as well. We are all one and the Global revolution is just getting started. At the mega-assembly at Sol (Madrid) we spoke of connecting the camps around the world as much as possible and I'm sure and hoping some of the people there are the same as when the take the square idea came about and went global, strength in numbers comrades. I'll be in the UK soon and plan to check out the occupation in the financial district there as well as partake in the global protest the 15th of October. Again, much love and solidarity and if there is anything I can do let me know.
The police are trying to intimidate you and provoke you. The message they are trying to send to you and would be protesters is that it doesn't matter if you follow the law or not, you can still get arrested, the uncertainty that incites in protesters(you can be arrested at any time) is the psychological effect they are after. They want to make you feel like you have no control over your destiny. Psychological torture.
This Saturday (September 24th) is Pagan Pride Day at Battery Park. You may want to send some people that way to snag Pagans to come to your protest - not everyone is net savvy, but we're a group that tends to enjoy helping good causes.
I'll probably swing by after Pagan Pride Day myself. It's 15 minutes away walking.
Bring them aboard!
A counter-measure to the psychological operation the police is carrying out by randomly arresting people would be to develop a safety net that assures every protester that if he/she gets arrested the movement will have a lawyer take care of it, and that their dependants will be fed while they are in jail. Other counter-measures, Anybody?
Sending support from New Zealand. The more the authorities try to squash this the more publicity it's getting. Stick with it.
i'm so proud of everyone there, yall are starting a revolution here in the U.S. and soon this could be in every state or city, for people standing up for what is right and what need's to be done. keep up the good work everyone, and thanks for keeping us updated who cant be there, cause you know this isnt making headlines. i love following you on twitter, i've been reposting alot. :) hope everything goes better and more people show up.
For any unaware protestors/ concerned environmentalists:
Just a month ago, 521 protesters were arrested during a peaceful sit-in in front of the White House. The protest goal was/is to try and stop "construction of the Keystone XL, a 1,700 mile pipeline from the Canadian tar sands to refineries on the Gulf of Mexico."
It would be great to incorporate this message into OccupyWallSt! The more who know, the more likely it is we can stop it from happening.
http://www.tarsandsaction.org/aug-29-press-release-largest-day-arrests-white-house-pipeline-protest/
ALSO - Michael Moore DID speak about Occupy Wall Street and how it is receiving no press during his interview on the Rachel Maddow Show. Go MM!
Clearly you all must be godless communists. Why else would you want to engage in something as un-American as free speech?! I'm sure that those arrests were only to protect the wealthy feudal lords who work to ensure the well being us all. You ingrates marching on Wall Street no doubt are in league with communist aliens. I'm on to your plot to fluoridate our water supply and build landing strips for Bolshevik Martians. I read all about it in a pamphlet from Pueblo Colorado entitled "Do You Know What OccupyWallStreet Is Doing To Our Soil?" :)
Where's my burrow owl?
Brave friends, be aware that there are many of us who are watching your courageous efforts. We may not have the time or resources (or the balls) to come to New York to show our support... but rest assured that you are singing the song of New America. You are creating space for that New America to emerge. Thank you for your courage. And please put a button on the website where we can support you financially!
Namaste, there is a button on the main page, donate here: http://nycga.cc/?page_id=377
Enjoy the pizza. We support you here in the bear flag republic. Thank you for being the voice of those that cannot be heard. WE ARE THE 99% P.S. In 1776 a group called the sons of liberty protested the unfair taxation of English tea on the colonies by the British empire by dumping tea into the harbor... this became known as the Boston tea party... the king of England labeled these men traitors, dissenters to the crown.... we called them patriots, history would remember them as the forefathers of our nation. The names below are some of their most famous members maybe you'll recognize a few. If you don't beleve that occupywallstreet will work gather strength from those who have come before us. The people united will never be defeated. John Adams- Samuel Adams- Benedict Arnold- Benjamin Edes- John Hancock- Boston Patrick Henry- l John Lamb- tWilliam Mackay - Alexander McDougall- James Otis- Paul Revere- Benjamin Rush- Isaac Sears- Haym Solomon- Charles Thomson- Joseph Warren- Thomas Young- Marinus Willett- Oliver Wolcott-
we need to demonstrate onthe lawns of CEO's private houses, not downtown. we need to boycott companies who outsource or dont hire seniors, etc. we need to call out the names of abusive corporations. FUCK CORPOCRAP AMERICA, government is only a paid puppet of the police state of corporations. we need a nationwide revolution
Piercing the Corporate Veil, right
http://globalguerrillas.typepad.com/globalguerrillas/2005/04/piercing_the_co.html
http://globalguerrillas.typepad.com/globalguerrillas/2009/02/breaking-the-bank.html
Enjoy!
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees!" Stay strong!! We LOVE you!! I will be coming down sometime this week!
They want to discourage you. They also want to frighten anyone else thinking of joining you. Don't let them intimidate you. The police did the same thing to us during the G20 protests. This is psychological warfare. Stay peaceful and don't back down. We are watching.
It's imperative to remain still and calm inside amidst the provocation and escalation of tension. Highly recommend your group visit the model of Aung Sun Suu Kyi, www.useyourliberty.org. (Download the book or at least watch the trailer). Their struggle and her modeling of non-violent approach is a beacon of hope for all. In prayer and support.
Their tactics are all according to plan. And of course the DA will be shocked, SHOCKED at the abuse of power...
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Keep it up. You are our voice...those of us who are not rich. The Tea Party folks are just being used by the rich to keep them rich. The guns they like access to will be used to fight over the bread the rich will not give. The French Revolution was furthered by Marie Antoinette's "Let them eat cake!" Our Congress has the same attitude.
Once again an example of the failure of OWS to do anything to truly progress the movement to the source in DC. These foolish assemblies in NYC have done nothing but taint you position and rapidly lose support. Nov 6th, you had the opportunity to promote "Occupy the White House" but chose to secretly support "stop the pipeline while working with the DNC and (I've since discovered) the National Democractic Socilist Party. This is why you are falling apart at the General Assembly level, and continue to attract the Black Bloc Anarchists.. Stop this foolishness in NYC now, and Amass at the White House to Occupy the White House..Occupy the peoples house and Congress. OWH. That is what the majority of the Occupy movement is calling for, and now seems to be landing on "deaf ears" as this Nov. 17th operation will prove. This is your end..Your self-destruction. GO TO WASHINGTON..The Capitol Police will not steal your tents and Generators. OWH..Take your demands to the source. The President supports you and wants you there now. OWH Now!!!
As we keep going, more than a month now, its been a great Experience, people have been really suportive and we are making a change, let our voice be heard, we cant take this anymore, join us we are here to make a change, let this generation grow and forge the destiny of the upcomings ones.... Please dont forget we wanto more people, and we are alos taking donations, it dosent have to be money, but also money can help us keep going please donate what you can to throw paypal: thewallstreetocupation@gmail.com
How can a couple of cops stop a crowd of this many from pushing through? I think the term "peaceful" is being confused with "fear".
I will not harm another person but I will defend myself. If someone breaks into my home, I will give them the option of turning around and walking away from this decision. I will warn the person of the consequences of his actions and if this all fails, I will defend myself by whatever means necessary unless it involves bringing harm to another person outside the conflict. This doesn't mean I resort to violence, this just means I will use whatever it takes, even violence to defend my person.
People, you don't have rights unless you accept the responsibility of have such freedoms.
I'm not suggesting that people go out and attack the authorities, I'm simply suggesting that people hold their ground and stop letting the authorities suppress you. If they arrest 1, fill that spot with 10. If they arrest 10, fill that spot with 100 more. For every cop there should be 100 people. For every corrupt banker, there should be 17500000 people to protest about their unjust policies. There are about 7billion people on this planet and about 400 super wealthy, power hungry criminals who are responsible for these crimes against humanity. So why are we negotiating freedom with these crooks? 7000000000 people minus 400 corporate criminals = 6999999600 angry humans ready for a change.
There are other peaceful ways of standing your ground without resorting to violence. The cops are using plastic wrist ties, everyone should have a set of wire cutters on hand. When these cops arrest, the masses can un-arrest. It only takes a quick snip and back into the crowd you go. This will piss them off and drag their morel down and raise your own. 1 for protesters, 0 for authorities.
I really wish that I could occupy wall street however, I am a Canadian without a Canadian Passport and would risk being deported if I went to NYC. However, on Sept 26 this will be spreading to Toronto among other major city centers. I will most definitively be partaking in the Toronto event and i will certainly be carrying wire cutters.
What is being done at Liberty Plaza is just what simply must be done. Our country and the world need change, and fast! Streets would not be blocked and the commotion would not be made otherwise.
Keep your heads up everyone!
Support from Portugal! Go on and resist!
FB Page: Stop NYC Police Abuse of Wall Street Protestors: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=117309591708291
CONTENT: The police are abusing activists down at Wall Street, like they have our OWN activists MANY TIMES. THIS MUST STOP!
CONTACT NYC Police Chief RAYMOND KELLY at:
http://www.nyc.gov/html/mail/html/mailnypd.html
AND SAY: "Stop Treating Activists Like Criminals!"
WATCH THE ABUSE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYaA-34c-vI&feature=player_embedded
Or CALL: 212-NEW YORK (212-639-9675) and ask to leave a message for the Mayor.
hi! joined you in Russia ))
it's not exactly about Wall st. occupation, but it’s against NATO violation in Libya and other regions inspired by the same Global government and FRS real owners
here you can see how we are picketing US and UK embassies in Moscow, St.Petersburg and diffrerent cities: http://nstarikov.ru/blog/11452#more-11452
The posters are saying: Stop killing for oil! Obama give back the Nobel peace prize! Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya… Who is next? Stop making revolutions! etc.
Hold on & fortify (c) E.Hemingway "For whom the bell tolls"
are you all getting it yet? this can't be resolved peacefully, to bring down those in power, it's going to take a whole lot of bloodshed.
if you want to watch "REAL" news, watch www.rt.com, its russian news, so everything about america they tell the truth, with the exception of russia.
This is the article they post. http://rt.com/news/wall-street-protest-system-811/
There is a news blackout, why ? cbs, nbc, cnn, abc, are all elitist owned. not only that cbs, nbc,cnn, abc, facebook, twitter, cell phone companies , credit card companies, google, facebook, twitter are all link to the NSA system. They are ready for any riots.
Privet from Russia! There are a many of people watching you all, and sympathize with you all. You – crazy, good crazy :) Read books about the real revolutionaries, the American revolutionaries who resisted 100 years ago. For example - Wesley Everest. But any way, you all – great guys and girls. I like "Occupy Wall Street", I support you all! Sincerely, Vladimir.
Greeting from Sol Square, Spain
¡¡Olé gringos sus cojones!!!
My posts appear to be being deleted from this server. This is repost #1.
The police are the armed fist of the capitalist class. They exist to defend the capitalists and their private property from the working people. This is true in EVERY capitalist country and always has been and always WILL be. The working class can be likened to an army. If an army isn't taught to distinguish enemy troops from friendly troops - that army will surely be defeated. The cops are the front-line soldiers of the enemy class. As you have seen during their attacks against your camp, the cops are NOT neutral.
Read this: http://marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1848/communist-manifesto/index.htm I know it may seem outdated to you, and in some ways it is. But the Manifesto is still to this day one of the most basic weapons the working people have that enables us to understand the fundamental nature of capitalist society. Any worker who hasn't taken the time to study this brief pamphlet is like a babe in the woods, unable to understand the world around him. Which side are you on? The side of the Workers or the side of the Capitalists? The cops and courts and armed forces are on the side of the capitalist class. You can not expect the cops to defend the right of working people to successfully wage class warfare against the capitalist class. To believe otherwise is to set yourself up for a massive defeat.
Workers of the World, Unite!
Varlet
The police are the armed fist of the capitalist class. Protecting the capitalists and their private property is the #1 job of the police. They are the first line of defense for the capitalist class and will follow only those orders given by the capitalist class and their representatives. Do not imagine for a moment that the cops are neutral - they are NOT! They have always and everywhere defended the rich against the poor. http://marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1848/communist-manifesto/index.htm This may seem to you to be outdated, and to a certain extent it is. But in the broadest sense, the basic analysis of the capitalist system in the Manifesto is as valid today as it was in 1848 - believe it or not. At any rate, read it and see if it makes sense to you in light of the recent actions of the cops. Nothing could be worse than if your comrades are under the delusion that the police can be expected to protect the rights of workers fighting the rapacious capitalist system. You must learn to tell the difference between FRIEND and FOE. The cops are not your FRIENDS!
Workers of the World, Unite! Varlet
The Declaration of Independence is not law, The British at the time it was written will testify to that. What it is, is the spirit and intent of all legitimate law in the United states, and there is plenty which is not. In law school you learn that exception to laws do happen and it is in recognizing the exceptions that focus and validate a law. When such an exception happens its not the letter of the law adhered to, its the spirit and intent of the law that is taken into consideration.
Now according tho the Declaration of Independence in what it recognizes and of human rights and what to expect of Government corruption, it clearly states it is the Right and DUTY of the people to put off such government and ... well " when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security."
So the police have a job to do... and so do the people!
Is the current Government doing its job? Consider the following:
Money (paper & metal) is an abstract representation of value, only a tool to ease trade. It was never intended to be manipulated at ever higher levels of abstraction. The original idea of stocks was that if you believed in a company and what they produced, you could help them financially in buying stock in the company. You share in both the profits and losses for your investment.
Today the level of abstract manipulation of this abstract tool has gotten way out of hand. Many who invest in retirement plans have absolutely no idea as to where their money is invested. For all they know it could be invested in something that is going to kill them.
Through the high level of abstract mathematical formulas, such as the Black-Scholes formula, whole regions of the world have been financially drained, nickle and dime’d to death. This happened in the 90′s a decade having a very interesting and relevant time line. South East Asia was drained. Read the transcript and consider some of the losers may well have been Enron, Worldcom, a Califorina Electric company, and maybe even the Pentagon, among others. Embezzlement would be fitting of those who invested without the approval of those who owned the money. Probably figuring it was a sure thing, they would “borrow” make money on it and put it back with a little extra and no one would notice.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/transcripts/2704stockmarket.html
The effect of this gamble was of a wave that passed around the world, except for China, who was not playing the stock game but got Hong Kong back, (end of British lease) for a front seat view of what happened.
What's the effect this game has on individual people? In the simplest terms its a making worth less the real value of what the individual people produced in their daily lives, not to forget the many who lost their retirement funds. And all this by an abstract game on an abstract tool called money, which produced no new value in its transfer of wealth from those who produced it to those who simply just took it, stole it.
History shows people working in team can produce more than they need, so whats the problem here?
The tool of Money was never intended to be manipulated at such high levels of abstraction. And I suppose this is why the Wallstreet BULL, this godless idol of the game players, the abstract manipulating thieves, is being so well protected.
Will someone please put a porta potty behind the bull? For the people are tired of the bull manure of Wallstreet being dumped on them. And its obvious the game players know… to have their bull protected.
The how has been documented. They even gave themselves a Nobel prize in economics, imagine that!
Is this government doing its job the people pay it to do?
The people of Indonesia knew it was the Americans draining their economy, even knowing their own government was corrupt, it would not do this bad of a drain. They just did not know how the Americans were draining their economy. Not Knowing is now in the past.
Now its a matter of correcting the problem of real value abuse and drain via abstraction manipulation.
Much love from Denver! To all of you who made this revolution possible, you are my hero, my friends!
It's appalling that you're not being permitted to provide yourselves with shelter. If there were more folks there then civil disobedience would be the order of the day. As it is, the police can just pick you off in small numbers. I hope there is a film in the making, so that these actions are clearly recorded and people can be prepared for this strategy. Solidarity from New Zealand. I only wish there were a stronger way of saying and showing it.
Wasn't there a tactic used during the civil war where protestors printed fake money? There seems no better place to deploy that sort of thing. To avoid SS make them larger or put messages on the rear.
Protesters need to email the NYTimes city room about the police harassment. cityroom@nytimes.com The Times has a direct connection with the city government so it has a police bias. Tell your side of the story. I have been to Zuccatti Park (today also) and found the Police to be harassing and instigating brutality throughout the day. The protesters are on public property and have every right to be on a sidewalk. What a waste of NY City funds. The police have a 1 to 1 ratio with the protesters. For every peaceful demonstrator there is a policeman standing around the neighborhood of Wall Street. Tell the media about the Police harassment and brutality I witnessed in the past 2 days.
Write the Mayor of NYC - I am sure he is not on top of what is going on but accepts what is being said by his underlings.
http://www.nyc.gov/portal/site/nycgov/menuitem.bd08ee7c7c1ffec87c4b36d501c789a0/index.jsp?doc_name=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nyc.gov%2Fhtml%2Fmail%2Fhtml%2Fmayor.html
Give me pizza with meat toppings
For those of us who cannot be there in person, or for those of us who do not have major Wall St. Financial Centers in our City (e.g. Chicago Board of Trade, San Fran Financial District, etc...), are any of the local eateries with online ordering capability (e.g. Pizza or sub shops) available to help feed support protestors. When unions protesting Gov. Walker's draconian union stripping measures were protesting in Madison, I was able to order Pizzas for the crowd that had gathered to show my support. Not familiar with the area to know if something similar is even possible, but if it is please get the word out!
They have piles of pizza now, but they really need money donating, so that they can meet their needs as&when on the ground. Mostly media equipment which the police confiscated, or which broke due to rain (after the police confiscated the tarps covering it). occupywallst.org has a "Donate" button. Every little helps!
I stopped in today. I walked to Wall Street to see if they would let me. It was well cordoned and a cop every 10 feet. I've never seen so many police. I just wish they realized they were protecting the people that pay the least amount of their salaries and that they are on the wrong side of this.
My suggestion is that ALL protestors wear Martin Luther King masks tomorrow. Imagine the visual of hundreds of Martin Luther Kings being dragged into paddydwagons! We as Americans have got to protect our right to protest FOR rights before its too late!
OneLove from the Netherlands!
The day we can convince the people in the uniforms of law that we are not their enemy but their neigbors, daughters, cousins and friends is the day we all win. I really hope this miracle can happen in New York. Please try to explain to them that it is also their job and their kids' jobs, their food, their mortgage, their freedom, their future. Its also them being held down by the machine of power and fear. We fight for them aswell, for we are ONE! Communicate this, approach them as free individuals with reason and choice. There are no enemies here, just a situation that has to be changed.
You are all incredible people. You are changing the world. We are everywhere and we are with you
EchWell
http://i55.tinypic.com/2119wso.jpg
hey grab some size 3xxx mens t-shirt's / line them with a plastic 13 gal. kitchen trash bag: How to do this: 1. Get cotton embroidery floss, large eyed needle, sew it (using 3 strands) - turning shirt INSIDE OUT: pin the bag carefully with super fine sized pins at a few places the bottom of the bag is along the neckline, and 'pin closed' the inside sleeve SEAM - (not the hemmed end of the sleeve)....Then sew shut the sleeves on that inside seam, at the armpit seam, CONTINUE to the sides of the shirt body & do the neckline next same way AND & leave bag loose UNSEWN at bottom of shirt. Remove pins - Turn right side OUT. This can be rolled up, crushed somewhat and used as a media cover for electronics. No one will see the plastic bag inside and makes it waterproof. You can 'safety pin' a bunch together at the sleeves TO avoid puncturing the plastic later when using - or PIN at the bottom hems (one at each side right & left, by not puncturing the plastic, only pinning through the fabric). One can safety pin a whole 'boatload' together for example; to cover a large camera or whatever -- if rain does fall .. a series of shirts pinned this way can safely protect people too, like an umbrella effect as well.. Just have a lightpole of some type or tree to start with in that use & go from there -- extend them over like a tarp to the next tree, pole, etc. by using 3xx makes them wide enough to go a ways ... (wink)!
we need to demonstrate onthe lawns of CEO's private houses, not downtown. we need to boycott companies who outsource or dont hire seniors, etc. we need to call out the names of abusive corporations. FUCK CORPOCRAP AMERICA, government is only a paid puppet of the police state of corporations. we need a nationwide revolution
Police Riot in Liberty Park. Take video of the nameplate and badge number of the police officers involved. Say the name and badge number outloud.
Can you find all of these people to come back to Wall Street to protest? They look like nice people. VIDEO from 2010 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWP9WF5dj-g
i think it may just be that the cops dont want to be there and they are just getting mad that they have to be there so instead of hearing what you guys are saying and supporting you. they blame you for having to stay there day after day and are taking it out on you. if not then there just being told to respond this way to strike fear in you guys.either way hang in there. and thanks.
No, they are being ordered from high up to harass the protestors to break morale and eliminate the message. the police are Unionized government employees. Most of them realize that their own livelihoods are on the political chopping block. The unions are being gradually eliminated and local governments everywhere are cutting municipal costs by eliminating firefighters, police, EMTs, etc. Gutting unions makes this process easier for the powers that be. the smarter police are aware of what's at stake. However, they follow orders because not performing their ordered duty is enough for them to lose their jobs. If there is enough momentum, they WILL join us and stand by our sides. Most of them want this to succeed. In Egypt, the police who were ordered to fight the protestors joined them once there was enough momentum. Unfortunately, this was not before some of the protestors were shot.
I hate to be put in a position where I must contradict you but I have to say that your faith in the neutrality of the police is absolute fantasy. The police are the armed fist of the capitalist class, and they are the front-line defense for the Wall St. tycoons. Not only can we NOT expect the police to join a demonstration that seeks to attack the capitalist class, it would be suicide to allow the police in the ranks of the working class army! The police will pretend to support the protestors only to infiltrate and ultimately betray the workers. Though individual cops may come to the side of the workers they must be carefully watched and kept far away from any important organizing and leadership activities, because it is most likely that even in such cases they are just spies for the police organizations. They are so subconsciously in the thrall of the capitalist class that they will almost always take sides with the capitalists in the final analysis. Far more harm can come to the workers by misplacing trust in so-called "ex"-cops than by treating every cop as persona non grata. Cops have no place in the organizations of the working class. They have no place in our unions either. Cop unions are not workers unions - they are COP unions and that's all they are and that's all they ever will be. All historical precedent shows that they simply can not be trusted. In every revolution that has ever taken place, the police have shown themselves to be the sworn enemies of the workers right up until and even after the workers have seized power.
Workers of the World, Unite!
Varlet
The police I have known in my life would be behind this movement 100%.
Thank you guys for what you are doing! My support to all of you standing your guard out there right now, holding up signs, peacefully protesting! There are many people behind you, I know it, it'll just take some time for everyone to come out of their comfort zones of being a do-not-raise-attention-to-myself-kind-of-citizen! I hope it will spread to Canada soon as well! Keep on keeping!
This is just insane... this abuse of power and authority by the NYPD. This needs to be on the news EVERYWHERE.
BRAVO AND WE ARE WITH YA!
hang in there! the cops are attacking because the powerful are scared!
Their tactics are all according to plan. And of course the DA will be shocked, SHOCKED at the abuse of power...
Stay strong!
Is there anything we can do to help the arrestees?
Aren't you people worried about the real and ever present threat to america? Your congestion of the streets and attraction of attention on the 10th anniversary of an attack on america's soil right where it happened 10 years ago while america is already in turmoil presents those who wish to harm you with ample opportunity. Do not flood the streets in protest to complain about unemployment when you are expecting the government to give you an answer that isn't there. The reason we are in so much trouble is because when initially america was built on the backs of those who would work to receive credit and payment for services or work rendered. When one would pride himself or herself in laboring in order to provide for their families. And now the generation which has seen this growth from the sweat of their fathers and mothers expects to have jobs given to them and blame the educated for having jobs? And now by publicly making a spectacle instead of going and adding value by working hard at jobs which may seem menial but are what america was built on. Not everyone 50 years ago after the war had a good job, they went and did what they could, as they did what they could they found out what they were good at, and thus created growth and opportunity for those like u who complain to have jobs. Wasting time and creating a spectacle while waiting for someone to listen to your whining and answer with a solution should get up and take pride in your nation. By individually going and trying to do what the immigrants do, they go and do any jobs that come their way, and budget and save without credit to build their place in american society. America wasn't built so that everyone could b given things for free. If you want that go to a socialist country but then don't expect to ever accomplish something for yourself and be given deserved valuable consideration for your contribution to your society with ingenuity. You are only creating instability and opportunity for those who want to kick you when you are down to do so. And if that happens expect to lose a lot more freedoms. If I was you , I would shut my lazy mouth , and not expect to be given something for creating a spectacle. No1 is taking away your rights by studying hard in school and getting a job in one of the most complex businesses in the world such as quantitative finance. Half of america cannot pronounce the study, but they still damn it because they lack the backbone to take pride in their hard work, it leads to jobs that collect 99% of the nation's wealth, because the 99% of people spend their money on things which they cannot afford that are the product of that 1% ingenuity. America has become a laissez faire nation. And all of you who participate in "peaceful protest" are just letting yourselves be until someone else fixes your problem. Start one pebble at a time by taking pride in your nation, go move a stone to earn a penny and before u know it you've moved a mountain and earned a fortune. You have to keep on moving like flowing water to stay clean and crisp, whatever is in your way flowing water can bore through in time. Or sit and fester like water in a pond and then you will b left with nowhere to go but to live in a product of your own dissent. Your nation was built on determination, perseverance, patriotism. And now you are creating a stage for enemies of your cause (happiness and freedom) to make an example of you because of the way you deal with things. Don't do it to your nation, don't do it to the people who work on wall st . They create jobs as well, and don't allow for the enemies of the nation to execute your freedoms publicly by congesting an already hot area. Go out and create value . No1 pays for something that's worth nothing
Aren't you people worried about the real and ever present threat to america? Your congestion of the streets and attraction of attention on the 10th anniversary of an attack on america's soil right where it happened 10 years ago while america is already in turmoil presents those who wish to harm you with ample opportunity. Do not flood the streets in protest to complain about unemployment when you are expecting the government to give you an answer that isn't there. The reason we are in so much trouble is because when initially america was built on the backs of those who would work to receive credit and payment for services or work rendered. When one would pride himself or herself in laboring in order to provide for their families. And now the generation which has seen this growth from the sweat of their fathers and mothers expects to have jobs given to them and blame the educated for having jobs? And now by publicly making a spectacle instead of going and adding value by working hard at jobs which may seem menial but are what america was built on. Not everyone 50 years ago after the war had a good job, they went and did what they could, as they did what they could they found out what they were good at, and thus created growth and opportunity for those like u who complain to have jobs. Wasting time and creating a spectacle while waiting for someone to listen to your whining and answer with a solution should get up and take pride in your nation. By individually going and trying to do what the immigrants do, they go and do any jobs that come their way, and budget and save without credit to build their place in american society. America wasn't built so that everyone could b given things for free. If you want that go to a socialist country but then don't expect to ever accomplish something for yourself and be given deserved valuable consideration for your contribution to your society with ingenuity. You are only creating instability and opportunity for those who want to kick you when you are down to do so. And if that happens expect to lose a lot more freedoms. If I was you , I would shut my lazy mouth , and not expect to be given something for creating a spectacle. No1 is taking away your rights by studying hard in school and getting a job in one of the most complex businesses in the world such as quantitative finance. Half of america cannot pronounce the study, but they still damn it because they lack the backbone to take pride in their hard work, it leads to jobs that collect 99% of the nation's wealth, because the 99% of people spend their money on things which they cannot afford that are the product of that 1% ingenuity. America has become a laissez faire nation. And all of you who participate in "peaceful protest" are just letting yourselves be until someone else fixes your problem. Start one pebble at a time by taking pride in your nation, go move a stone to earn a penny and before u know it you've moved a mountain and earned a fortune. You have to keep on moving like flowing water to stay clean and crisp, whatever is in your way flowing water can bore through in time. Or sit and fester like water in a pond and then you will b left with nowhere to go but to live in a product of your own dissent. Your nation was built on determination, perseverance, patriotism. And now you are creating a stage for enemies of your cause (happiness and freedom) to make an example of you because of the way you deal with things. Don't do it to your nation, don't do it to the people who work on wall st . They create jobs as well, and don't allow for the enemies of the nation to execute your freedoms publicly by congesting an already hot area. Go out and create value . No1 pays for something that's worth nothing
Aren't you people worried about the real and ever present threat to america? Your congestion of the streets and attraction of attention on the 10th anniversary of an attack on america's soil right where it happened 10 years ago while america is already in turmoil presents those who wish to harm you with ample opportunity. Do not flood the streets in protest to complain about unemployment when you are expecting the government to give you an answer that isn't there. The reason we are in so much trouble is because when initially america was built on the backs of those who would work to receive credit and payment for services or work rendered. When one would pride himself or herself in laboring in order to provide for their families. And now the generation which has seen this growth from the sweat of their fathers and mothers expects to have jobs given to them and blame the educated for having jobs? And now by publicly making a spectacle instead of going and adding value by working hard at jobs which may seem menial but are what america was built on. Not everyone 50 years ago after the war had a good job, they went and did what they could, as they did what they could they found out what they were good at, and thus created growth and opportunity for those like u who complain to have jobs. Wasting time and creating a spectacle while waiting for someone to listen to your whining and answer with a solution should get up and take pride in your nation. By individually going and trying to do what the immigrants do, they go and do any jobs that come their way, and budget and save without credit to build their place in american society. America wasn't built so that everyone could b given things for free. If you want that go to a socialist country but then don't expect to ever accomplish something for yourself and be given deserved valuable consideration for your contribution to your society with ingenuity. You are only creating instability and opportunity for those who want to kick you when you are down to do so. And if that happens expect to lose a lot more freedoms. If I was you , I would shut my lazy mouth , and not expect to be given something for creating a spectacle. No1 is taking away your rights by studying hard in school and getting a job in one of the most complex businesses in the world such as quantitative finance. Half of america cannot pronounce the study, but they still damn it because they lack the backbone to take pride in their hard work, it leads to jobs that collect 99% of the nation's wealth, because the 99% of people spend their money on things which they cannot afford that are the product of that 1% ingenuity. America has become a laissez faire nation. And all of you who participate in "peaceful protest" are just letting yourselves be until someone else fixes your problem. Start one pebble at a time by taking pride in your nation, go move a stone to earn a penny and before u know it you've moved a mountain and earned a fortune. You have to keep on moving like flowing water to stay clean and crisp, whatever is in your way flowing water can bore through in time. Or sit and fester like water in a pond and then you will b left with nowhere to go but to live in a product of your own dissent. Your nation was built on determination, perseverance, patriotism. And now you are creating a stage for enemies of your cause (happiness and freedom) to make an example of you because of the way you deal with things. Don't do it to your nation, don't do it to the people who work on wall st . They create jobs as well, and don't allow for the enemies of the nation to execute your freedoms publicly by congesting an already hot area. Go out and create value . No1 pays for something that's worth nothing
We do need to become more politically specific, especially with our short-term goals. Some short-term goals from my blog robertdavis.info:
Clip the Capital Gains “protections” (and loopholes). AKA Make it income tax. And fix the income tax laws so that they actually function properly. That we actually have a system that prevents the biggest earners from contributing is unfathomable.
Make the megacorps actually pay their corporate income tax. Many, such as GE, pay nothing, so they contribute nothing to our country. The law doesn’t require them to pay. Change the law. If they won’t pay, kick them out and ban them from doing business within our borders. Replace them with honest companies.
Use Gov’t subsidies to build a functional clean energy infrastructure (which will create more jobs than anything else that anyone could do). Don’t contract this out to the oil companies, either. Use incentives to spark new commerce. How will we pay for it? This could create a million jobs or more. Those people will pay taxes. New companies should pay taxes, too. It’ll more than pay for itself.
Withdraw U.S. forces from Afganistan and Iraq. The burden placed on families here is unconscionable. The slaughter of millions of innocent civilians is evil; there’s no other way to describe it. EVIL. The amount of money being spent on two wars that shouldn’t be happening in the first place is beyond absurd.
Never offer bailouts again. Instead, offer new business initiatives for start-ups to replace the corps that are stupid enough to commit suicide. Really. Companies should fail if they do bad business. If I were a less rational person, I would say that one more bailout should lead to sweeping assassinations across the economic and political spectrum – French Revolution style. But I’m rational. Violence is not the answer.
This protest should be occupying Pennsylvania Ave, from the White House to the Capital. You think the Fat Cat Bankers are buying this country, you're absolutely right. Why don't we make sure that the Government has nothing to sell them. A government with no authority over our individual liberties has nothing to sell to Wall Street.
You're down there focusing on the symptoms when the virus is in our nation's capital.
The government are hired representatives of the big corporations. More of them are based out of Wall Street than D.C. The politicians are the symptoms. The big corporations and their practices are the virus. If you have a few billion to throw around, you, too can own your very own politician. We can't attack puppets. We have to go after the hands pulling the strings.
I think you're making the same mistake as the police make in the "war on drugs" you're attacking the buyers and the sellers, not the root cause...the root cause is the POWER that politicians and the Government can exercise over our lives. Limit the power, limit the problem.
BOYCOTT WALMART PEOPLE! Walmart costs taxpayers $1,557,000,000,000 to support its employees.
In 2000, Wal-Marts assets totaled more than the GDP of 155 of the 192 countries in the world with annual sales more than $137.6 billion, however the average female Wal-Mart sales associate makes $12,688 per year IF permitted to work full-time.
Walmartmovie.com
Its corporations like these that are destroying our country. If you can't make it to the protest on Wall Street, boycotting is something ANYONE can do!
I am truly concerned that the 'law' is going to send someone in to stir up trouble making it look like it's coming from the protesters. Please, just try to stay with in their guidlines giving them NO REASON WHATSOEVER to go on the attack or misconstrue the protest into something violent. I am thankful for every effort you all are putting forth. Keep the peace but keep it going!! BTW is there a media blackout on this?? I am not seeing anything on basic TV about it.
This absolutely will happen. The group has to weed them out before they have a chance. They will most likely look like "punky anarchists" with shaved heads.
Bravo to the police they handled this embarrassing situation exceptionally well :)
I'm sorry to say, but you inaccurately portray the Liberty Plaza events that took place at 12:30 pm. I was there on my lunch break and saw what was happening. Yes, some folks were peacefully standing on a sidewalk engaging passerbys. Others (maybe a "working group") were running up and down on Liberty Street between Church and Broadway yelling and screaming, scaring tourists and people. There were two middle aged foreign women that were almost stomped - two officers pulled them aside. At that time one of the men was arrested. What you consider peaceful, us, worker bees, see as infringement on our time and territory: financial district is blocked restricting our movements, your guys are running around preventing us from going to work and questioning our safety. I'm just curious, anyone in your group has a job?
Please know that one of the most frequently employed tactics by police/agents/military is to plant agents within groups, purposefully attracting negative attention by pretending to be one of them and being a source of mayhem. here in Orlando, police dress up like homeless people to scour the streets and use the cover to be belligerent. It happens regularly. I'm not saying this is definitely what you saw, but I'm requesting that you not be easily fooled.