Occupy Wall Street protestors were forcibly removed from Zuccotti Park last night at 1:00 am ending a two month occupation. Hundreds of police officers were put on the task; Tents were violently ripped apart, more than 140 peaceful protestors arrested, and press weren’t allowed into the park.
Those wishing to follow to protest news live can find ABC News stream of Bloomberg’s presser here, NYC stream here. Journalists to follow, who are there, include @antderosa, @quinnorton, and @caraNYT. @xenijardin at BoingBoing is doing a great job remotely of pulling information together. @krucoff has been offering some great commentary over twitter. Art tweep @manbartlett has been at the protest since the news broke last night, but his phone has died so only the archives are useful right now.
In a statement made this morning, Mayor Bloomberg explained the rationale for the eviction;
The law that created Zuccotti Park required that it be open for the public to enjoy for passive recreation 24 hours a day. Ever since the occupation began, that law has not been complied with [because the protesters had taken over the park] making it unavailable to anyone else. I have become increasingly concerned — as had the park's owner, Brookfield Properties — that the occupation was coming to pose a health and fire safety hazard to the protestors and to the surrounding community…
When press asked why they were not granted access to the park, a right they are required by law, Bloomberg responded, “Police routinely keep media off to the side to prevent a situation from getting worse and to protect the press”.
A temporary restraining order has already been secured by lawyers for the protesters, barring the city from “evicting protesters” and “preventing protesters from re-entering with tents & other property.” The city will be fighting that order this morning at 11:30.
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The protester are/were the public enjoying passive recreation 24 hours a day.
…where as riot police don’t pose a “health (and fire) safety hazard to the protesters”?
I know right? Where Bloomberg been on improving the conditions of homeless shelters which are known to be unsafe?
Exactly, in a city with so many homeless they sure have one of the lowest tolerance for the needy. First they foreclose their homes, then use eminent domain to kick them out to build condos, and then they kick people out of shelters or arrest them on the street for sleeping in public! I’d like to know who is living and working in the NYC Bloomberg often refers too so passionately?
Corptocrat Boss Bloomberg, will be forever labeled the mayor who crushed Democracy in one of the biggest cities in the world. The history books won’t look favorably upon his regime, he is a villain the likes of Boss Tweed. He should resign now and impose a self inflicted exile from New York City. Â
They came like thieves in the night…Bloomberg’s Blue Shirts. They robbed us of our rights, and our possessions…while preventing reporters from reporting on the scene. No free press…no free speech. Welcome to NYC. Bloomberg, the self-proclaimed number one defender of free speech (pause for gagging), said in no uncertain terms: “yes, you have the right…..the right to remain silent. So just shut up, and obey”. But this is only the beginning dear Mayor .0001%., not the end. This WILL be your legacy- of repression. But you will NOT succeed. These mayors, governors, city councils, police chiefs, and street cops of America need to realize that it is NOT UP TO THEM whether or not Americans peaceably gather, protest, discuss, or demonstrate. It’s up to a document called the US CONSTITUTION. You can beat us and arrest us and tear-gas us, you can try to “permit” us to death….but you can’t kill an idea. You can’t keep down a people’s hopes and dreams for a better life….for us, and for our kids. America USED to work. The people had work. The system worked (sort of). Hey, EVEN the Congress used to work (sometimes). God knows, it was far, far, far from perfect -but at least we all had some share in the struggles AND the rewards. But somewhere along the way, we lost our way. Because now we have an economy and a political system that seems to work only for the rich. With OWS America has found it’s voice, and that voice demands fairness and justice – for ALL. This land IS our land! AND WE WANT IT BACK! We want our LIVES back! We want our FUTURE back! But it’s much more than just words…. it’s much more than politics….. it’s your freakin’ LIFE, and how you want to live it, and how you WILL live it. Find a quiet place somewhere, and consider this: Each of us has only one brief life….one chance….one roll of the dice….and many choices. The time has come to choose….to risk…and to act. If not now…then when? If not you, then….who? You DO have the power my friend….and the choice IS yours. Don’t let your dreams die….
finally!
If this goes too much farther, I would guess that Brookfield Properties will simply revoke the city’s right to use the park as a public space and have all trespassers arrested. Thanks, OWS.Â
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