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We are the 99 percent

Occupiers in Union Square Stormed in Late Night Raid

Posted 12 years ago on March 20, 2012, 7:57 p.m. EST by OccupyWallSt

occupy union square

3/21: Union Square's occupation, active since the brutal NYPD police raid on Liberty Square on 3/17, is currently under threat of eviction. People are needed NOW to converge on the park and hold our public commons! Follow @OWSUnionSquare.

Live updates

  • 6:07 AM: Park officially re-opened.
  • 5:20 AM: via Twitter: ¨The NYPD have officially fled the scene of their crime.¨ Tonight, at least four people were arrested, books needlessly destroyed, and one woman knocked unconscious by police brutality -- all for the ¨crime¨ of laying down in a public park.
  • 4:37 AM: Most police appear to be leaving in advance of the arrival of rush hour traffic when public wakes up. Occupiers return to park, laying down again. Chanting ¨goodbye!¨ at NYPD.
  • 4:21 AM: Mainstream media on the scene. The District Attorney has also arrived. Union Square still blocked off. Police still moving Occupiers incrementally to allow sanitation to ¨clean¨ the park. Occupiers being slowly pushed out of the park. Occupier: ¨I really thought the police were going to be chill tonight about this. They were calm and rational earlier. Then they bumrush us, throw girl with head trauma around....¨
  • 4:19 AM: Occupier: ¨The rest of the country is going to see this in the morning!¨ Chant: ¨Oppress us, we multiply!¨
  • 4:10 AM: Heard on livestream: ¨Wake up [NYPD]; six months of beatings and we´re still here! We´re not going anywhere!¨
  • 4:07 AM: Chanting: ¨You have no authority¨ at NYPD; ¨1 we are the people 2 we are united, 3 this occupation is not leaving!¨ Police officer seen with hand on pistol. Other police steal Occupier´s books and throw them away.
  • 4:04 AM: EMT and medics approach woman knocked unconscious by police. Cops aggressively storm them, brutally rush into crowd, trample people, causing panic. People screaming. Peaceful protesters are being ATTACKED because they tried to give professional medical attention for head trauma! Injured woman was stepped on.
  • 3:56 AM: Police rush the crowd, shoving and attacking people. Livestream briefly down, back up now. At least one person reported badly injured, now unconscious, after being grabbed and thrown to the ground by cops. Medics on the scene.
  • 3:48 AM: Police surround protesters on the ground, move in to make arrests.
  • 3:43 AM: Sanitation trucks have arrived, threatening to take possession of any unattended property. Police again threaten anyone who is sitting or laying down. OWSers chant: ¨Homeslessness is not a crime!¨ and ¨Get your hand off your gun!¨ at police who motioned to draw a weapon.
  • 3:22 AM: Police warn anyone else laying down will be arrested. Sitting down is illegal. Mic check: ¨Let´s move the People´s Library somewhere safer¨
  • 3:14 AM: Line of police, some in riot gear, confront protesters singing Solidarity Forever. According to @OccuyWallStNYC: ¨"So, the park will be open at 6am and they can all go back in?" asks one NYPD captain. "Yup" says the other.¨
  • 3:01 AM:: Police just made an arrest. Threatening other Occupiers for sitting on the sidewalk.
  • 3:00 AM: Police still harassing people in the Square. Livestream is still up. Protesters chanting "we get confused when the law changes everyday.¨ Presence of counter-terrorism officials confirmed, won´t give name.
  • 2:47 AM: Occupiers peacefully singing and laying down. Remember, donuts.
  • 2:30 AM: Occupiers asking NYPD: ¨What are your demands? How long will you be occupying?¨ Large cuddle pile on the south side of the park.
  • 2:09 AM: We will not be divided, we will not be provoked. Chants of "BAD COP? NO DONUT", and other assorted silliness. Most NYPD officers unable to hold composure and are smirking.
  • 2:02 AM: Donut has been put at the end of a string, string has been tied to the end of a stick. Occupier is using stick to dangle donut over barricades. There are chants of "This is a peaceful donut". Occupiers keeping the mood one of joy and celebration.
  • 1:59 AM: Pizza has arrived, occupiers simply sleeping on sidewalk.
  • 1:24 AM: NYPD officers look bored. They are shown shifting around, fidgeting, etc.
  • 1:22 AM: Situation is somewhat calm, standoff in park. Need more people to park.
  • 1:16 AM: Sanitation workers "cleaning" the park. These are some of the most well-defended sanitation workers in history.
  • 1:03 AM: Sanitation workers have arrived, NYPD appears to have run out of barricades and are bringing in wooden sawhorse style barricades.
  • 12:52 AM: Badge #5647 put her hand in front of a badged press camera, turned around when asked for a badge number.
  • 12:48 AM: NYPD has begun carrying in barricades to barricade off the park.
  • 12:36 AM: Occupiers are holding general assembly just outside park steps.
  • 12:28 AM: Occupiers have once again begun chanting "Who do you serve, who do you protect?" NYPD threatening violence in the form of saying "I don't want nobody to get hurt."
  • 12:25 AM: First arrest has been made. Officers trying to physically force people further away from their public property.
  • 12:22 AM: Officer on megaphone announcing to leave the park. Need more people to park, wake up your friends, wake up your family.
  • 12:13 AM: Lone occupier left sitting on a crate inside park, surrounded by line of riot NYPD. Who do you call when the police are rioting? Tim reports NYPD Conterterrorism arriving. Ambulance arriving for pregnant woman.
  • 12:11 AM: 20 more NYPD have arrived in riot gear from behind the park. Occupiers shouting "remember your oath" at NYPD.
  • 12:10 AM: NYPD repeating false claim that the public park is "closed". Estimates are 70 NYPD officers.
  • 12:05 AM: NYPD has shut down the Union Square subway station. NYPD claims occupiers can stay on sidewalk.
  • 12:04 AM: Occupiers chanting "Who do you serve? Who do you protect?"

88 Comments

88 Comments


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[-] 9 points by PopsMauler (182) from Chicago, IL 12 years ago

"To protect and serve,"

But the end of the oath was omitted, "the 1%".

[-] 6 points by ARod1993 (2420) 12 years ago

Here's the thing; there are good cops and then there are not-so-good cops, and then from what I can tell there are situations in which every cop turns into a not-so-good cop. Put 'em within ten feet of a protest and it's back to the '60s we go complete with the gratuitous beatings (as evidenced by the cracks in the window of one of the buses they requisitioned; how f---ing hard do you have to slam someone's head into a window to do that?), pepper-spraying of the elderly, and whatever else they think they can get away with. They're treating civil disobedience and politicized dissent as if it's organized crime, and as far as I'm concerned that's both totally unacceptable and as much of an institutional issue as a problem with any particular police officer (although there are a few rather egregious examples of individual cops crossing the line).

As far as I'm concerned the requisitioning of buses for anything other than a legitimate organized crime bust needs to end now, and whoever replaces Bloomberg this coming winter needs to lay down the law with the NYPD about civil rights in general. Stop and Frisk, however effective it may or may not be, needs to end. No warrant, no search; if things are really that much of an issue then talk to a judge about the constitutionality of getting a search warrant for traffic at a particular checkpoint during a time period of 24 hours or less. Behaving like Bull Connor when you have to deal with protesters is unacceptable, as is beating people on their way to jail, or bouncing them from precinct to precinct so that their lawyer can't find them. This complaint isn't even really about the merits of Occupy Wall Street; even if you disagree with the movement we still have civil rights just like everyone else and it's not OK to infringe on those rights simply because you feel like it.

[-] 3 points by Quark2 (109) 12 years ago

Even the good cops turn a blind eye to the bad cops. Thus, making them in my eyes, bad cops.

[-] 1 points by pewestlake (947) from Brooklyn, NY 12 years ago

"...there are good cops and then there are not-so-good cops..."

That's it? Just those two categories? You didn't want to include "bad cops," "corrupt cops," and "one-snitch-away-from-prison cops?" ;-)

[-] 2 points by ARod1993 (2420) 12 years ago

What can I say; I figured a little understatement would go a long way ;)

[-] 1 points by PopsMauler (182) from Chicago, IL 12 years ago

Right on. Great points.

[-] 1 points by eli87 (1) 12 years ago

So do you suppose we sit and wait around for.crime to happen arod??? If a person is walking down the street really fast wearing a puffy winter coat when its 75 degrees out, u expect this person not to be stopped bc theres no visible weapon or.drug??? You know very well you would be one of the first people to cross the street or avoid someone like that coming towards you! The same people who complain about stop & frisk are also the first people that would say " enough wasnt done" by law enforcement if an incident did happen--especially if YOUR loved one was involved.

[-] 3 points by ARod1993 (2420) 12 years ago

No, I don't propose that we simply "sit and wait around for crime to happen" but you're basically implying that we're going to have to either stand by and tolerate an unacceptably large power grab by the police or let the city slide into lawlessness and anarchy. There's an entire range of acceptable responses in between those two extremes and rapping the NYPD on the knuckles when they get out of line is the only way I can see to encourage them to stay within the range of legally and constitutionally acceptable responses.

[-] 1 points by lange (1) 12 years ago

Think about this one for a while: Who have the power to tell you what your rights are? In my oppinion, no-one.

[-] 1 points by ARod1993 (2420) 12 years ago

True; as far as I'm concerned the only rights we really have are the ones that we have the wherewithal and the resources to defend. I'm not usually one to fearmonger or scream about a police state, but the NYPD has basically started creatively reinterpreting the First and Fourth Amendments over the past few years. This may well have been going on for longer than that (I'm not really sure because I've never had an unpleasant interaction with a cop, but I know others haven't been so lucky) but at this point it's starting to get outrageous and we as citizens need to find some way of reining in the cops before this goes even farther.

[-] 1 points by gestopomillyy (1695) 12 years ago

if that were the only people getting stopped then maybe... what about the ones in t shirts and shorts? got a good reason for that?

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[-] 4 points by SelfDefense (9) from New York, NY 12 years ago

I was trained in combatives by the same people who teach the NYPD. I'd be glad to teach self defense to anyone in Occupy. If they are going to assault people peacefully assembling and continually beat women unconscious, obviously the line has been crossed. I respect anyone who's a pacifist but I personally am not. At least learn to defend yourselves. Time to take the attitude of protestors in Greece and Europe and make them afraid of us. You need to get some former military (I've seen some at Occupy) and trained fighters to intercede when these atrocities like women being beaten up occur.

[-] 1 points by proudofOKC (361) 12 years ago

I agree with you, and thank you for offering to help. There is a fine line here that we must pay special attention to, that of not provoking the police into using live rounds on us.

[-] 1 points by SelfDefense (9) from New York, NY 12 years ago

That's always a possibility. That's what totalitarian systems do to resistors. You can't conduct your life based on that fear though and no successful liberation movement has backed down from guns. I'm certainly not calling for random violence, but I've seen some of the ex military guys stare down and shame the police, making them back off. Maybe instead of Yoga you should be training in Muay Thai or Krav Maga.

[-] 4 points by shadz66 (19985) 12 years ago

Please try to consider the following article :

"Police State Blues - Our rights do not end where the caprice of authoritarian bullies begins.", by Phil Rockstroh ; http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article30858.htm .

~

See that Bloomberg's & J.P.Morgan's NYPD

Can only mean "Not Your Police Department" !

Mercenary Cops are 'We The People' too and that

We try to Love All Sinners so long as they Repent !!

Yet Elite Parasites are incorrigible & unworthy of trust

As They will always seek to stifle any and all Dissent !!!

We Are 'The Enlightened Ninety-Nine point Nine, Nine'

And That Truly They are "The Darkside 0.01 Percent" !!!!

~

pax, amor et lux ...

[-] 4 points by PopsMauler (182) from Chicago, IL 12 years ago

That's a good article. Thanks for sharing, it was very well written! It helped me expand my rhetorical aresnal. I didn't know there was a term to describe what's been happening worldwide in the form of neoliberalism.

Much appreciated.

[-] 3 points by Bighead1883 (285) 12 years ago

News from Occupy Melbourne Australia,Melbourne case 'being watched closely around the world' Updated March 21, 2012 17:33:14

PHOTO: Occupy Melbourne movement wants the right to return to protest. (ABC News: Jon Harrison) RELATED STORY: Occupy Melbourne court challenge on right to protest MAP: Melbourne 3000 The Occupy Melbourne group says its constitutional challenge on the right to protest, could set a valuable precedent internationally.

The Occupy movement swept around the world last year, but similar legal challenges in London and elsewhere, have not succeeded.

In Melbourne, the group has taken its fight to the Federal Court, challenging the laws that allowed Melbourne City Council and Victoria Police to issue notices to protesters.

Last year protesters were evicted after occupying the City Square for more than a week.

Human Rights lawyer Anna Brown says the notices issued to protesters, and the items confiscated, were in breach of the implied freedom of political communication, as well as in breach of human rights.

"Our argument is that protesters were impacted unfairly and disproportionately by the actions of the City of Melbourne and Victoria Police," she said.

She says it is an important test case on human rights, which is being watched closely worldwide.

Ms Brown says it could set a precedent for how local authorities respond to protests around the world.

"(If successful) it will be a really valuable precedent internationally," she said.

"We have cases in London and across the world that haven't succeeded.

"The Sydney protesters are looking very carefully, and waiting for its outcome."

Sara Kerrison was one of the protesters wearing a costume tent at last year's Occupy Melbourne movement.

"It will be good to have some information from the court, and whether or not their actions were unlawful, and it may be some closure for me in the end," she said.

James Muldoon is also party to the legal proceedings.

"I was concerned about the fundamental rights to protest for all Australians.

"I think this is an important test case for civil rights.

"We want to establish this right to protest so that we can continue to occupy Melbourne," he said.

The case has been set down for three days.

Topics: law-crime-and-justice, community-and-society, rights, activism-and-lobbying, melbourne-3000

First posted March 21, 2012 17:15:22

[-] 3 points by ogrdanny (73) from Grand Rapids Charter Township, MI 12 years ago

A couple funny anti-meatsoldier scenes:

"No donuts, no peace!"

Presents donut on a string to an Occupier "I'm just checking your reaction to the donut, making sure you aren't an officer..."

"Treat us like animals, we treat you like pigs!"

(Of course, they aren't the enemy per se. They just serve them unquestioningly.)

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[-] 2 points by Draevonaer (2) from New York, NY 12 years ago

Well You Now Have Another OWS Member. (Draevonaer "Alexzandr Davi Bowie" Vaundrvaunt (Or Vaunt)-Vaughn (AKA: Loki "Street-Shifter" Abooksigun).

Because Of The NYPD's Unnessarry Force. I Was There When This All Happened and I'm P.O.ed

[-] 1 points by hicks72 (1) 11 years ago

I support some of the stuff ows says they support-I was wondering what kind of point ows was making when pouring human waste around New York City as reported by NBC news.I want to support you, but cannot condone throwing waste around.

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

I love that chant: What are your demands? ...How long will, you be occupying?

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

Union Square Park has for years had signs posted stating that the park is closed from 9:00 PM to 6:00 AM. This has absolutely nothing to do with OWS. However, closing this very busy subway station, which is always very well guarded, makes no sense to me.

I have been an early supporter of OWS and am appalled at the childish behavior of some of the protesters. Taunting the police does absolutely nothing positive. It would only appear to invite violence, which is not in the interest of anyone who cares about liberty.

OWS should question the motivations of the people that are taunting the police. Are they paid plants used to discredit OWS?

OWS was to be a p e a c e f u l protest, and as such has the backing of much of our citizenry. OWS is not a physical threat.

The excessive police reaction - especially slamming people to the ground face first, very tight plastic wrist restraints that cut off circulation, pepper spraying forcefully on already corralled women, or holding people in jail until they agree to have their iris' photographed - are reprehensible. This is not the NYPD that I have known for almost 50 years!

I would expect that some of the officers might be suffering from "battle fatigue" considering all of the really unnecessary overtime spent on OWS. As a NYC taxpayer, I think that far too many police are called on to do what many fewer could accomplish. As a citizen, I find that the overabundance of police make it hard to get around in these areas.

Let's get back to responsible and respectable behavior on both sides.

[-] 1 points by SelfDefense (9) from New York, NY 12 years ago

Neighbor, the police have absolutely no reason to interfere with a peaceful public assembly. You're worried about morons who would do that and have beaten women unconscious and maced them being "taunted". This exhibits the problem with the US compared to Europe. If 2 woman protestors in any country in Europe were beaten unconscious in the space of three days the cops would be dodging molotov cocktails and millions of people, including middle class mothers and elderly people would be in their faces. That's the response they should get in NYC for their abuses against constitutional rights and human rights in their crackdown on Occupy. Again, we need to bring in some muscle, trained fighters and ex military to halt their brutality and defend peaceful assembly.

[-] 1 points by CatLady2 (248) from New York, NY 12 years ago

Bravo! I am behind you on all points 110%

[-] 0 points by CatLady2 (248) from New York, NY 12 years ago

Wondering how many folks actually watched the live feed last night until TimCast went off air around 2 am. Up until then, the NYPD was calm, they came into the park with orders to disperse the crowd. The protesters responded by screaming, cursing, goading and taunting the police expecting a negative reaction. That did not happen . The cops put up the barriers, no one was shoved, no one was pushed and no one was threatened. Occupiers repeatedly went right up into the cops faces screaming for badge numbers and questioned thier position. I watched as one young lady screamed across the barrier to a cop accusing him of police brutality as he stood there . Over and over she cursed at him . Once all the barriers went up the cursing continued. It was a constant barrage of F**k the police. Shaking and rattling the barriers. At one point during the GA , some guy told the crowd that in 15 minutes they were going to play " Tag George Washington". They were heard talking how to jump the barriers and run thru the police line to touch the statue of GW. Tell me how that is peaceful or has anything to do with the issues at hand. Just provoking. I don't think I could have kept my cool the way the NYPD did during the hours I watched the livefeed. What happened after that in the later hours remains to be seen, but I didn't see anything peaceful on the protesters part.
Looks to me like they were doing nothing more than challenging the NYPD. For those of us who actually live and work in NYC, pay taxes and abide by the laws , we welcome the NYPD . Many of us did welcome OWS in the early fall, when things were more coherant. OWS needs to get on track with the real issues at hand, not this silly game of cat and mouse with the police.

[-] 2 points by pewestlake (947) from Brooklyn, NY 12 years ago

You may be right on some points but each incident isn't happening in a vacuum. The NYPD established the tone months ago when they deliberately led marchers onto the Brooklyn bridge and then arrested a third of them, when we saw white shirted "commanders" pumping pepper spray into the faces of unarmed and helpless young women, when they destroyed the people's library instead of allowing enough time for an orderly withdrawal, and so, so many other shitty tactics that are the hallmark of the utterly incompetent Ray Kelly (who was the Chief in L.A. that led to the Rodney King incident).

Also, your view that the NYPD is a welcome force in NYC is not universally shared. I doubt you'll find too many people in Brownsville singing the praises of the NYPD these days. I'm a white, middle class, male from Park Slope and even I'M not so thrilled with the NYPD these days. Every inch of progress made by the NYPD in the recent past is entirely attributable to the incredible work and foresight of William Bratton. And every day we lose a little bit more of his excellence. How I wish he were still here!

[-] 2 points by CatLady2 (248) from New York, NY 12 years ago

Im not looking to be right on every point, but only speaking aboiut what I saw happen last night and the tone was absolutely one of anger and rage towards the cops while I watched the feed.
Of course there are some lousy cops, just like there are lousy folks in every profession, but overall I have found most to be decent. I live on the Upper west side, real quiet and when Im walking home alone after a night out I am happy to see cops on the street or patrolling in cars. I do urge you to look at the feed from last night tho, to me, the cops held back under extreme verbal fire.

[-] 2 points by pewestlake (947) from Brooklyn, NY 12 years ago

By all rights, most cops should be on the side of the 99%. They're civically minded, low-wage, blue-collar union members. Putting them into an antagonistic situation with the protestors is designed to keep them separated from their own interests and from a movement that might empower them to get more than $23k per year for a rookie. I don't want to see an antagonistic relationship between the people and the cops.

But if I was a peaceful protestor in the park and some meathead jock on steroids came at me with a baton, not only would I take it personally, I would see to it that he understood just how personal things can get in life. And that's no joke. Everything we do in life is a personal decision. You can walk away any time. Any cop who thinks bashing women with batons or pepper spraying non-violent activists is a good policy is an unthinking coward. And anyone who lacks the balls to stand up to an illegal and immoral order doesn't deserve any respect whatsoever.

As I said before, last night didn't happen in a vacuum. It doesn't matter what the cops had to put up with because they brought it upon themselves in the first place. (Maybe not THOSE cops, but it hardly matters when dealing with a faceless agency that can use violence with impunity.) And it's their responsibility to handle the situation professionally and in accordance with the wishes of the public. And unless and until violence is committed, they have no authority to use force to compel law-abiding citizens to do anything in a public space.

WE make the rules they enforce. Not them. If they don't like the arrangement, they can go into another line of work. The NYPD had every opportunity and then some to work with the protestors to accommodate their desires without infringing on the community. The police exist to protect society in all its manifestations. Just because the police may not like something doesn't mean they have a say in it's legitimacy. They don't. But they sure act like they do. And that's been rubbing OWS the wrong way from day one.

[-] 1 points by CatLady2 (248) from New York, NY 12 years ago

So basically what you are saying is the protesters can do whatever they like with no consequences?

[-] 1 points by pewestlake (947) from Brooklyn, NY 12 years ago

I suppose I kinda was but I didn't mean to. I should have qualified the phrase, "It doesn't matter what the cops had to put up with," because it clearly does if they're facing firearms or other forms of violence. But absent actual violence, given the history of the relationship that was dictated by the actions of the police and no one else, I don't care if they had to put up with protesters insulting their mothers in the most barbaric terms. Words are words. The difference between words and bullets is pretty unmistakable. The NYPD set the tone first. If they don't like getting an earful all night, they should have thought about that before they decided to act like assholes.

[-] 1 points by CatLady2 (248) from New York, NY 12 years ago

So what do you suggest NYPD do? Sit back and let them the protestors do whatever they want? Every park in the city has rules. Im watching the live feed again tonight.. Id really like to know what protesting at 1 am is doing in terms of making changes.

[-] 1 points by pewestlake (947) from Brooklyn, NY 11 years ago

[Sorry for delayed reply. I bookmarked and then plumb forgot.]

You keep coming back to this:

"So what do you suggest NYPD do? Sit back and let them the protestors do whatever they want?"

I don't think it's wise to keep boiling this down to a choice between police brutality and total anarchy, which is what your question implies, whether you realize it or not. Nobody said policing was easy. But neither is challenging a decades-long entrenchment of private power within public institutions.

The police should really start thinking things through a lot more. One death of a protestor at the hands of an out-of-control cop and all bets are off. And they've already run that risk multiple times in both NYC and Oakland and that's just the incidents I know off the top of my head. No matter what you do for a living, following orders is a personal choice, which means your actions will be taken personally. This is a bad way to police any city.

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[-] -1 points by TryingForAnOpenMind (-358) from Yonkers, NY 11 years ago

yeah cat lady..OWS is perpetually trying to gin up nypd confrontation... In hopes of lucking out and getting to to play the righteous victim card

[-] 0 points by CatLady2 (248) from New York, NY 11 years ago

Are you saying they aren't provoking confrontation? My guess is you haven't been downtown recently to see and hear what's going on. Everything is not peaceful, unfortunately. I have not once said they shouldn't protest, what I said is there is no purpose to middle of the night yelling and screaming.

[-] -2 points by TryingForAnOpenMind (-358) from Yonkers, NY 11 years ago

No..I said they ARE provoking it..That's all there about...the headlines.. They don't care about anyone, maybe about themselves,...getting weed.., causing a disturbance & getting noticed...Which satisfies their twisted egos.

[-] 0 points by CatLady2 (248) from New York, NY 11 years ago

I misunderstood your first post.. sorry bout that. And yes way too many egos in play.

[-] -1 points by TryingForAnOpenMind (-358) from Yonkers, NY 11 years ago

No problem...I am met with extreme derision here secondary to voicing an opposing view. Freedom of speech only applies for those who fall in line with the manifesto. Have a good evening.

[-] 0 points by CatLady2 (248) from New York, NY 11 years ago

Welcome to the club. You aren't alone in your views or opinions. Be well.

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[-] -2 points by TimSykes (-22) 12 years ago

Sounds like you clowns provoked them

[-] 1 points by B76RT (-357) 12 years ago

they did.

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

Are you trying to say that the police are allowed to get physically abusive because they can't take a joke? One may be considered assault ( verbal abuse ) that is might be considered as such depending on delivery as well as content. The other however is assault with battery with a deadly weapon ( clubs ) when you start beating people up because you are angry. These are not your everyday people these are professional "peace" keepers who went over the line. They are supposed to be held to their training not their emotions, that is why they are police - not thugs.

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[-] -1 points by TimSykes (-22) 12 years ago

No but it sounds like you guys were trying to get a reaction out of them so you could complain about it. I guarantee if you walk up to a police officer and start verbally abusing him, you will be restrained, as this is against the law. I don't really understand why yall are dragging the NYC police force into this movement, but it would probably be wise not to mess with them.

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

Being restrained by the police does not call for a beating before during or after. It is the peoples right to speak out in protest and that includes protesting having their rights trampled by the powers that be who employ the police to repress legal protest.

This should be well understood by all going in. If the police want to talk then they will be talked with. They do not need to break up peaceful protest - legal peaceful protest. All they need do is see that it stays peaceful. Not provoke resistance.

If they would like to switch the perception of the people now. Then they have fences to mend.

[-] 1 points by TimSykes (-22) 12 years ago

Maybe they were in the wrong, but why were they provoking the police officers. It seems to me like the protesters were trying to evoke this action from the police so they could complain about it. So I think they got what they deserved

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

All instances of shouting at the police that I have witnessed was right as the police were massing for action. So that is actually the 1st provocation by a professional and paid force who are supposed to be trained to keep the peace not incite the public into doing stupid things.

[-] 0 points by TimSykes (-22) 12 years ago

Say what you want, but you guys are all about this better hippy world where everyone is treated equally or whatever. So what was the point of this? This article should be pointing fingers at the occupiers not the police. Hopefully those idiots learned there lesson

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

What does a healthy and prosperous world for all have to do with Hippies? You think the average person does not want this? You think the average person is OK with corruption manipulation pollution etc.etc.?

[-] -1 points by TimSykes (-22) 12 years ago

I will assume that since you changed the subject, you accept that I am right. And it has to do with hippies because most of the occupiers I see, are in fact hippies. I guess I shouldn't generalize though.

[-] 2 points by Human (23) 11 years ago

The hippies are senior citizens. Get some new material.

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

U can ASS-U-me anything you want it just does not make it so.

And no I did not change the subject I just commented on your stupid Hippie comment.

[-] 0 points by TimSykes (-22) 12 years ago

Yes but I wanted to know why you guys are making the police out to be the bad guys when what the occupiers were asking for it. You guys are all about the peaceful protest, I don't think shoving signs in peoples faces, yelling obscenities at people or taunting police officers is very peaceful, yet you're always the victims.

[-] -1 points by TimSykes (-22) 12 years ago

No response?

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

No need it has already been amply explained.

You can feel free to troll somewhere else now.

Thanks for playing.

Please come again.

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[-] 0 points by TimSykes (-22) 12 years ago

Im not trolling... This is my Occupy Occupy Wall Street movement. Im just trying to understand you guys. No one on this website even knows what this movement is about. For you to say you want to live in a world thats free of corruption and manipulation is hypocritical because your marches show the complete opposite of that! I think the tables have turned on you guys. In my eyes, 99% of the occupy movement supporters are just in it to be in it, and only 1% know what they are doing.

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

[-] 0 points by TimSykes (2) 3 minutes ago = (x)

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

A troll by any other definition still stinks. Go away supporter of corruption.

[-] 0 points by TimSykes (-22) 12 years ago

Classic, can't respond so once again I must be right. Ill leave, as long as you losers quit trolling in front of my bank.

[-] 1 points by CatLady2 (248) from New York, NY 12 years ago

They absolutely did provoke.

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

Are you trying to say that the police are allowed to get physically abusive because they can't take a joke? One may be considered assault ( verbal abuse ) that is might be considered as such depending on delivery as well as content. The other however is assault with battery with a deadly weapon ( clubs ) when you start beating people up because you are angry. These are not your everyday people these are professional "peace" keepers who went over the line. They are supposed to be held to their training not their emotions, that is why they are police - not thugs.

[-] 1 points by CatLady2 (248) from New York, NY 12 years ago

Did you watch the live feed last night DKA?

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

Nope. You have a link handy? I did watch on the 17th. So supply the coverage as it's not on MSM. Then we can continue the discussion about wrongful actions. We can go over the footage together and discuss it point by point.

[-] 0 points by CatLady2 (248) from New York, NY 12 years ago

I will look for the link when I am home later. I didnt watch on the 17th but I know it was a mess..but last night I have to say the cops really held back . I dont think I would have had as much restraint as they did with the way alot of the protesters were behaving. I just don't know what the answer is here, its a difficult situation.
I will find the link tonight and get it to you here and we can discuss it. Maybe some rational thinking between us can come up with some better solutions.

[-] -3 points by TimSykes (-22) 12 years ago

they absolutely deserved it then

[-] 3 points by Human (23) 11 years ago

Really? A woman in her Eighties DESERVES pepper spray in her face? College students peacefully protesting DESERVE to be hosed directly in the face with pepper spray like insects? A few women need to be trapped in a net and pepper sprayed? A veteran DESERVES a head wound from a canister lobbed by the police? Sykes, you and the rest of you who collude with the corporate state and their puppets, the politicians, surely will wake up one day. That day, when you have no voice, when you have no rights, will be the day you understand. Until then, you are nothing more than a treasonous ass kisser.

[-] 1 points by CatLady2 (248) from New York, NY 12 years ago

I watched the livefeed for 2 hours last night... was appalling how they taunted the cops. And this is happening at every march and occupation in NYC

[-] -3 points by TryingForAnOpenMind (-358) from Yonkers, NY 12 years ago

ows desires a confrontation....and are badly in need of their kodak moments. there presence is akin to a rat or roach infestation.

[-] 4 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 11 years ago

TryingForAnOpenMind

How is that going for ya?

Did the surgeons forget to put the top back-on? Or did you have it equiped to open and close?

Did you leave it open for too long?

I think you now need to try for a clean mind.

Use something safe and naturally biodegradable non-toxic.

I would suggest hand washing. Don't toss it in the machine.

[-] -1 points by TryingForAnOpenMind (-358) from Yonkers, NY 11 years ago

it's going well :)

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[-] -3 points by TryingForAnOpenMind (-358) from Yonkers, NY 11 years ago

Your mind appears to be saturated in koolaid.. ows is a bunch of degenerate phonies looking for an on camera fight.. please it's all so transparent.

[-] 3 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 11 years ago

Well now that you have (x)-u-med your state of mind. You can change your name to Gaveuponbeingopenminded.

[-] -1 points by TryingForAnOpenMind (-358) from Yonkers, NY 11 years ago

have a nice day... your lame attacks on opposition are getting very predictable

[-] 3 points by Human (23) 11 years ago

Give up trying. You need a soul first.

[-] -3 points by TryingForAnOpenMind (-358) from Yonkers, NY 11 years ago

Please, OWS is a heartless, soul-less..puppet organization..that wants agitation and delights in violence...not solutions...Your tactics and message is quite clear to us working folk.

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[-] -3 points by CatLady2 (248) from New York, NY 12 years ago

Ya know.. watching last night I couldn't help but think just how narcisstic some of these kids are.. all smiles for the cameras as they yelled F**k you pigs.

[-] -2 points by TryingForAnOpenMind (-358) from Yonkers, NY 11 years ago
[-] 2 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 11 years ago

Troll advertising for a troll how cute.

Very supportive missingmind.

[-] -1 points by TryingForAnOpenMind (-358) from Yonkers, NY 11 years ago

thanks DK...your interest is appreciated. enjoy your day...don't do anything bad

[-] 2 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 11 years ago

Bad? I leave that up to the trolls like yourself.

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[-] 2 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 11 years ago

Do you deliver?

Nevermind nomind I don't drink shit like that. You want to be a troll?

Then deal with it.

[-] -1 points by TryingForAnOpenMind (-358) from Yonkers, NY 11 years ago

don't get your verbiage. what r u about?

[-] -2 points by TryingForAnOpenMind (-358) from Yonkers, NY 11 years ago

for sure...reminiscent of violent bored youth...like those portrayed in, Burgess's "clockwork orange"...dont ya think?

[-] 1 points by jacyl (3) 11 years ago

To catlady and tryin....if anything you two sound bored and discontent. These kids have been an inspiration to me. See, I was like you two...an old man sitting around complaining about how the kids these days have not a care or respect. I held no hope forthis generation...until ows. You think they are angry? Well, shouldn't they be? They were brought up on a lie, then they found out that th system they were brought up to trust in only serves the rich and powerful, and puts the bill on the poor. Hell, I'm angry for them. But to compare them to violent bored youth? Really? You sit there in comfort and watch the feeds and pass judgement on those who are out there in the cold fighting for not only their rights, but yours? Then you come here and redicule them for trying to do something about an unjust, inequitable system that tramples their rights? Maybe you two could create a forum where you and like minded individuals could sit in your sties, smug in you self perceived intelligence and superiority, safely insulated from actually having to do anything but critique those that are actually striving for a better future. That's where you two belong, on the sidelines...safe.

[-] 1 points by CatLady2 (248) from New York, NY 11 years ago

Show me where in any post where I ridiculed anyone. Show me where I claimed to be superior. You won't be able to because it just is not true. If you expect everyone to think the same, do the same and feel the same, and not question anything. If you think the 99% are represented by alot of these actions, you are dead wrong. Without respectful dialogue, no one wins here.

[-] 0 points by TryingForAnOpenMind (-358) from Yonkers, NY 11 years ago

You sound depressed and confused...What do you do for a living?...You seem unhappy...Are you tired of trying?...does blaming others work for you? I don't think it does...Good luck with losing the bitterness..It's not a virtue :)

[-] -1 points by TryingForAnOpenMind (-358) from Yonkers, NY 11 years ago

don't get your panties in a bunch..it's saturday ...dora the explorer is on tv.

[-] 1 points by jacyl (3) 11 years ago

Tryin is a kid with too much time of hands who just wants something to do...I get it so I am done with even tryin to speak to him. Catlady first let me apologize for grouping you with Tryin...my apologies. You made a statement about how narcissistic these kids are...what kid isn't and why shouldn't they be? But that aside, I felt that you were marginalizing and passing judgement when these kids need the support and compassion of their peers and elders. I've been guilty of it myself in the past...but these kids don't deserve our judgements. They face an establishment that only wants them quiet and submissive...but they are defiant. If the police were on good behaviour it was an exception. I've witnessed some of the abuses by the police in this area, and its been eye opening. I always held the police department in the highest regards...until seeing them bash soldiers with night sticks fresh from the theatre of war who were only tryin to keep the peace. Dialogue doesn't work when their side doesn't respect the process. Most times the only thing protecting these kids from abuse are the live feeds and video. It's been a disturbing thing to witness.

[-] 0 points by TryingForAnOpenMind (-358) from Yonkers, NY 11 years ago

hey Jacyl ...those OWS peeps need to start obeying the law..like working folk. They are only about getting O back in...So transparent...they will be gone after 11/12,,,watch.

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[-] 0 points by TryingForAnOpenMind (-358) from Yonkers, NY 11 years ago

waz up lara

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