NYPD Rings In New Year With Arrests, Press Harassment

Occupy Wall Street returned to Zuccotti Park this weekend for a planned New Year's Eve celebration in which protesters, according to the Facebook event page, would "reclaim" the park, "and the area around it."

Hundreds turned out for the protest, documented by vigilant tweeter Newyorkist:

"There is a small tent in Liberty. Toy sized. Police tried to remove. Ppl locked arms around it," "Police turning ppl away from park. Is it closed, I asked. No, one said. Can ppl come in? No, same said. Who's enforcing it? No one answered," "Just spoke w/ Captain Duffy of NYPD. Tells me NYPD closed park because 'going to be impending arrests. We don't want anymore ppl inside,'" "Officer told man who asked, as soon as tent is put away, Zuccotti Park will reopen," "Now 25 ppl circling park, chanting "we are unstoppable another world is possible," and "Via mic check: deal discussed btw mom, kids w/ tent and NYPD. Hand tent over & police will open park. Kids to personally hand tent over."

Gothamist has a nice recap of the night's events here. At one point, protesters tore down the metal barricades that have been set up around the park since the early days of the now-destroyed Liberty camp.

Read on...

No comments: