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We are the 99 percent

In Union Square, Occupy Is Blooming

Posted 12 years ago on March 21, 2012, 9:33 a.m. EST by OccupyWallSt

union square is occupied

After brutalizing Occupy Union Square late last night, NYPD again arrested Occupiers in Union Square around 4:30pm EDT for holding signs. In the latest of arbitrary rules used to harass Occupiers, NYPD now says banners are not allowed in the park. Members of the New York City Council were on hand denouncing police brutality. All supporters of Occupy Wall Street are urged to head to Union Square to show solidarity ASAP! Let´s show NYPD we aren´t afraid! Follow @OccupyWallSt, @OWSUnionSquare, and #UnionSq for updates.

via @OccupyWallStNYC:

Last night the police attacked the Union Square Occupation. This is unacceptable. We must respond the way we always have, by continuing to demonstrate and standing our ground. Come to Union Square today. Show your support. Silence and inaction encourages our opposition. Now is our time.

At 6PM, we will also march in solidarity with the Million Hoodie March for Trayvon Martin, also at Union Square. Follow #TrayvonMartin and #millionhoodies. Livestream will be up again for the march.

This spring, Occupiers are taking back public space to renew the visible face of our movement. In New York, despite constant police harassment, we are maintaining an Occupation in Union Square. Elsewhere, Occupy Oakland has announced a major civil disobedience action for today at 6pm in response to NYPD´s assault on peaceful Occupiers. Occupy London has announced a new home in solidarity with #OWS and on-going anti-austerity protests in the U.K.:

A new chapter is beginning – the Global Spring.

As the Government today announces a tax cut for the one per cent, social and economic justice campaigners in London have occupied a new site – Occupy Limehouse in Tower Hamlets – in preparation for Occupy London’s next big event: Occupy May. The new site was taken in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street as it marked its six month anniversary a few days ago by retaking Zuccotti Park.

In the shadow of Canary Wharf, set along the path of workers from the local financial services industry, Occupy Limehouse (corner of Branch Road and Horseferry Road, E14) has been chosen as an ideal location from which to carry on the Occupy movement’s critique of global capital. It is the first of a number of new autonomous tented sites expected to pop up around the capital in the coming months, in addition to Occupy London’s existing site at Finsbury Square – in operation since 22 October 2011.

17 Comments

17 Comments


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[-] 4 points by mng (7) 12 years ago

I am all for freedom of speach and certainly identify with the outrage about these injustices. I would however, like to encourage people to continue protesting in a peaceful manner. I was walking through one of these protests in Union Square in October and was attacked by two men who threw red paint all over me and pushed me down to the ground. I was minding my own business and just walking through. I ended up in the hospital with a concussion, split open head and bruises all over my body. It took a month for my head to heal. Please be mindful that these kinds of incidents will not help the cause. Please be peaceful and have a greater impact with your word.

[-] 0 points by Odin (583) 12 years ago

Sorry...I don't believe you.

[-] 3 points by mng (7) 12 years ago

You don't have to, but I have no reason to lie and I've never had an experience like that in New York. The red paint was on the sidewalk for weeks. I just don't think the violence helps in the credibility of the protests. I agree with the cause, but don't think attacking innocent people is acceptable in any circumstance.

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[-] -1 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 12 years ago

OH MY

Interesting entrance.

Now how will this go south.

Stay tuned.


mng

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[-] 1 points by Ruckasse (28) from Norwood, NC 11 years ago

Somewhere in time there were tar and feathers, somewhere in time there were riots in Chicago. Move ahead and face change. If violence comes, face it head on, but if peace comes, open up your arms and embrace it.

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[-] 1 points by Samson (5) 11 years ago

They can't ban banners. That's definitely against the constitution. If they do that they lose legitimacy right away.

[-] 1 points by iamausername (119) 11 years ago

well, banning banners in and of itself isn't neccesarily unconstitutional, but in context it inhibits free speech. Did they give a reason for the ban on banners (lol wordplay)? other than "we don't want this protest"

[-] 1 points by iamausername (119) 11 years ago

im going to laugh if they forget about the banner thing in like 40 years... and theres some new store opening with a banner... and the cops crack down on it and pepperspray a bunch of random people... because that's about as logical as the ban on banners

[-] 1 points by bigbangbilly (594) 12 years ago

lets IMPLEMENT MY "MANNEQUIN STRATEGY" BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE: http://occupywallst.org/forum/we-need-more-mannequins/

[-] 0 points by Odin (583) 12 years ago

I don't know....do we really want to get away...to escape? We are there in defiance of a corrupt system...a system that let's people who have caused immeasurable pain to millions of people get off the hook scot-free. How stupid...hideous...contemptible of them to man-handle and arrest some kids in a park who are trying to make this a more just world...while the real criminals continue in their jobs and get bonuses to boot......and we are forced to endure more of their same criminal behavior. The incredulous irony of that is outrageous.

[-] 1 points by bigbangbilly (594) 11 years ago

There is a huge supply of practical pragmatism that we are not using. SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO RUN TO BE ABLE TO PROTEST ANOTHER DAY.

[-] 0 points by Odin (583) 11 years ago

All the tactics at OWS get debated I assume from people that have studied social movements, and like Sun Tzu implies in the Art of War...which is one of the books widely read ...you have to choose your battles...and deception is part of the game. So you be right in concept...but I just don't think it is practical costwise, or logistically.

[-] 1 points by bigbangbilly (594) 11 years ago

Is clothing that is not current worn and vaguely human shaped objects (that are also human sized objects) a relatively small price for the goal?

[-] 0 points by RonHamilton (19) 12 years ago

I wish I could be there too.

The congress is being ran out of town. The Federal Reserve will be removed. Wall St., Dow Jones Industrial will become a distant memory.

Corporate media can't hold the lies much longer, this thing is coming down and David Petraeus will do the honors.

[-] 0 points by youngryman (0) 12 years ago

The new Free Speech Exerciser Bib (Tyvek envelope turns into wearable protest bib with room for writing a message) is a clever way to avoid police attempts to ban carrying posters and banners. http://www.creativereview.co.uk/cr-blog/2012/march/free-speech-exerciser-bib-paradoxy

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[-] -1 points by Odin (583) 12 years ago

I love how relentless we are. THEY really don't think that corruption and the social injustices that have prevailed are something that we are going to accept anymore....do they?! I've read where THEY are scared. THEY have good reason to be....after having broken the trust of the people.

[-] 1 points by MattLHolck (16833) from San Diego, CA 12 years ago

I'm a bit miffed about all these new arrests