Some 80 people have been arrested in lower Manhattan as the ongoing “Occupy Wall Street” protest enters its second week. Police have been harsh in quelling the rally. However, not much of their violence is being reported by the mainstream media.
Tensions are rising near Wall Street, where hundreds of demonstrators fed up with the existing financial system have camped out to protest against bank bailouts, the mortgage crisis and social injustice. They also protested the US state of Georgia’s recent execution of Troy Davis.
On Saturday, hundreds of protesters marched through lower Manhattan in the direction of Union Square, where police tried to corral them using orange plastic netting and used tear gas against some of protesters.
Nearly 80 people were arrested in one day, the greatest number since the protest began on September 17.
Protesters’ spokesman Patrick Bruner slammed the police response as “exceedingly violent,” saying that the protesters sought to remain peaceful.
The videos posted online by eyewitnesses show violent actions by police. On one video, female protesters are being penned in and maced by police officers. On another, a young man is being brutally knocked down and arrested for apparently talking to an officer.
Police said that most were arrested for disorderly conduct, obstructing vehicular and pedestrian traffic, resisting arrest and, in one case, assaulting a police officer.
“We’re seeing an absolute erosion of our civil rights,” said 23-year-old student Patrick Bruner, of the “Occupy Wall St.” movement, according to NYDailyNews.
While popular unrest in the Arab countries has been widely covered by mainstream media, the events right in the heart of New York City seem to be underreported. Major news outlets are either not paying it enough attention or making fun of the protesters.
The “Occupy Wall St.” movement had stated beforehand that its mission was to bring 20,000 people “to flood into Lower Manhattan, set up beds, kitchens, peaceful barricades and occupy Wall Street for a few months.”
According to the organizers, the demonstration was inspired by the massive protests that took place in Egypt, Greece, Spain and Iceland. An “Occupy Wall St.” group on Facebook calls on followers to “deploy this emerging stratagem against the greatest corrupter of our democracy: Wall Street, the financial Gomorrah of America.”
The protesters claim that they are “the 99 per cent that will no longer tolerate the greed and corruption of the 1 per cent.”
Protesters have set up a “wearethe99percent” web page, where those supporting the movement explain why they are protesting.
“We are the 99 per cent. We are getting kicked out of our homes. We are forced to choose between groceries and rent. We are denied quality medical care. We are suffering from environmental pollution. We are working long hours for little pay and no rights, if we’re working at all. We are getting nothing while the other 1 per cent is getting everything. We are the 99 per cent,” the website reads.
“My parents put themselves into debt so I could get a fancy degree. It cost over a hundred grand and I have no job prospects. I am the 99 per cent,” says a college graduate.
“I have a master’s degree and I am a teacher yet I can barely afford to feed my child because my husband lost his job due to … a chronic illness. His meds alone are more than I make in a month,” says a women from “the 99 per cent.”
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WTF? Where are the counter arresters? Why was anyone allowed to be arrested at all? What were the odds? There should be a prevent-arrest and counter arrest arrester ‘protocol’ among marchers in the future. Think and organize otherwise don’t even bother to rally.
@ David K
When a govt allows banks and corporations to pay for the laws to optimize their profits at the expense of taxpayers and their health (offspring included), violates international law and sacrifices American troops for corporate goals in the Middle East (see USS Liberty cover up), it would be foolish to presume, victims of a lawless govt would obey any law at all, unless, like the case with banks and corporations, they are to benefit. With outsourcing unabated, the army of angry unemployed people will only grow.
I like how one picture line said “…Colin Moynihan that reveals a white-collar police officer reached over a barricade and took hold of a protester without provocation, and then lied about the details.” I’m sure it was “unprovoked”. Just like grass is purple.
@JanB
The “gestapo like actions” were because the protesters were breaking the law and since their 9-5 job and paycheck requires them to uphold the law, they did just that. no sympathy for the leftist hippies who just protest to protest. ask any of them why they’re there, and you will get the paragraph off the pamphlet or website of the group. I am suprised the media isnt all over this. they usually like to bash police at any opportunity. Heck most are probably on or are trying to get on some type of government aid. They dont realise that the “evil rich” pay almost half their income, if not more in taxes. I’m for unfair self payment, but none of us are entitled to any of wall-street’ money except what you have in it. now why don’t they target the real source of some of their problems. the white house. and then themselves.
Wow… I’m appalled at your inability to see what’s going on around you. Wake up, we are in trouble!
With the Gestapo-like action of the police it might have become obvious that Washington is a govt for banks and corporations and goes over dead bodies (American too) when that results in higher profits.
Wall Street does not produce anything, apart from forcing higher prices by HFT (High Frequency Trading IOW automatic via computers), speculation on questionable products (garbage like MBS, Mortgage Backed Securities and derivatives).
Summarized, its activity only causes misery for the people (the 99%), but big bonuses for the 1%, the banksters and their political marionets.
The peaceful demonstrators need all possible support!