Occupy Wall Street! A Week of Occupation & A Movement Gains Momentum

[sabrina 1]

I am in awe of the people who are protesting Wall St. in NYC.

They are still camped out in Zuccotti Park, renamed Liberty Park by the protesters.

The MSM for the most part, has ignored them, so far.

But the more I think about it, the more I believe that they are slowly building something that no one day protest, no matter how big and no matter how much Media coverage, could accomplish.

It's been a difficult week at times, mainly due to the harassment of the NYPD who sought every excuse to make arrests. Some of those arrests were unnecessarily violent. But rather than deter people from showing up, those arrests only served to increase support for the protesters and double the number of people who slept over after video of the police abuse was seen on their livestream channel and on Utube.



There were rainy days. Tarps were used to protect the media equipment and to stay dry. But the NYPD declared tarps 'are illegal'.

@OccupyWallStNYC
#OCCUPYWALLSTREET

When life gives you rain, you make umbrella flash art: twitpic.com/6pi8vh #OccupyWallStreet #sep17

Clearly their presence and peaceful protests are NOT being ignored by the rulers of this country:


(thank you dixiegirrrrl for the photo)

General Assembly

What I think will make this protest successful and grow in numbers, not only in NYC, but in other cities is the reliance on the idea of a General Assembly. Each day the protesters hold meetings which can be viewed as they are happening on their Global Revolution Livestream

They got the idea from the protesters in Spain. The process is very Democratic, allowing people to make suggestions as to what their goals should be. They keep minutes of the GAs and are forming groups to handle different issues, such as the Legal Group, the Food/General Fund Group and the Labor Group etc. Volunteers then focus on those issues in each group. They decide what actions they will take each day, such as when to march on Wall St. eg.

This is the site for news from the General Assembly Occupy Wall Street General Asssembly

Last night, eg, they joined the Troy Davis protesters and together both groups pushed through the police motor-cycle lineup. Cops weren't expecting such a large crowd. They joined the vigil for Troy Davis starting several minutes before the execution.


Moment of silence for #TroyDavis #OccupyWallStreet #ourwallstreet

At least six people were arrested at the Troy Davis protest.

And yesterday they disrupted an Art Sale at Sotheby's which was organized by one of the groups, The Labor Group

Sotheby’s Action Statement – Labor Group

This morning activists involved in #OCCUPYWALLSTREET disrupted an art auction at Sotheby’s Art Auctions on the Upper East Side. Last year Sotheby’s made profits of $680 Million Dollars. Their CEO Bill Rupprecht awarded himself a 125% raise. At the same time Sotheby’s has decided to use union busting tactics, demanding over 100 concessions to the IBT 814 Art Handlers Union Contract.

#OCCUPYWALLSTREET supporters are appalled at the persistent attack on workers rights. We support the right of the workers to collectively bargain. Sotheby’s wants all new hires to have no collective bargaining rights, no health benefits and no job security. After locking out their unionized work force, Sotheby’s continues to operate using scabs and a non-union subcontractor. Sotheby’s Art Auctions epitomize the disconnect of the extremely wealthy from the rest of us. Sotheby’s Art Auctions are a sanctuary for the financial elite; where hedge fund managers & wealthy bankers bid millions of dollars for art objects; while the rest of us struggle to put food on the table because of their actions. These are the same financial elites who were bailed out in their moment of need and now refuse to pay their fair share in taxes. Many of these Hedge Fund Managers still pay a smaller tax rate than the rest of us. That is our money! End the greed & expose the disconnect!

I have been following events at the blog, The Dissenter. Blogger Kevin Gosztola has set up a Twitter Page where you can find the most credible people who are on the ground at Liberty Park, to follow ~ http://twitter.com/#!/kgosztola/take-wall-street

Coordinating with other Organizations

They have been receiving support from around the country and the world and are getting support from some of the Unions already:

@DustinSlaughter
Dustin M. Slaughter

RT @OccupyWallStNYC: The @steelworkers union sent us encouraging words of #solidarity! #OccupyWallStreet

While the MSM is mostly absent, other media is covering Occupywallstreet:

Al Jazeera Live Stream

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2011/sep/19/occupy-wall-street-financial-system">The Guardian: The call to occupy Wall Street resonates around the world

If the current economic woes in Europe and the US spiral into a prolonged global recession, people's encampments will become a permanent fixtures at financial districts and outside stock markets around the world. Until our demands are met and the global economic regime is fundamentally reformed, our tent cities will keep popping up.

Bravo to those courageous souls in the encampment on New York's Liberty Street. Every night that #OCCUPYWALLSTREET continues will escalate the possibility of a full-fledged global uprising against business as usual.

And a great article from Amy Goodman at The Guardian:

Why 'Occupy Wall Street' makes sense

Outside in the cold Tuesday morning, the demonstrators continued their fourth day of the protest with a march amidst a heavy police presence and the ringing of an opening bell at 9.30am for a "people's exchange", just as the opening bell of the New York Stock Exchange is rung. While the bankers remained secure in their bailed-out banks, outside, the police began arresting protesters. In a just world, with a just economy, we have to wonder: who would be out in the cold? Who would be getting arrested?

Keith Olbermann did a piece on the protests last night also.

Several other US Cities are now organizing occupations in solidarity with the NYC Protestors. I don't have links yet but some of the cities are:

@OccupyCleveland
Occupy Wall Street
#occupycleveland Makes Local News bit.ly/r4oAa0 #occupywallstreet @occupywallstnyc #Oct6 #ohio #cleveland

......

@revolution_info
Révolutions Info
#sep17 Occupy Houston Oct 6th Official Press Release Video: Occupy Houston Oct 6th Official ... bit.ly/ngAM35 #OccupyWallStreet

San Francisco
Cleveland
Atlanta
Houston
Chicago
LA

They are organizing and at least one has already begun their occupation with about 25 people so far.

Donations and food and requested equipment is still pouring in. And Liberatos Pizza is still delivering 'Occu Pies'!

Car Pools are being arranged all across the country for people who want to go to NY. There is a FB link where people can hook up for a car pool in different states

Wisconsin is sending buses.


Speaking of the Police. After the violent arrests on Wednesday people were angry. There was a discussion at the General Assembly as to how they should react to the Police, acknowledging that it is hard not to be angry when they police behave as they did that day. It was decided that they should not react angrily but work on getting the police over to their side. Since some of the cops have said they agree with what they are doing and would be with if they didn't fear losing their jobs, at least some of them understand, they are also threatened with cuts and lay-offs. Tonight one of the protesters gave a cop a flower, and 'he took it' :-)





And someone left a teddy bear ~




Tomorrow, Saturday 24th there will be a rally at Wall St. if the cops do not shut it down again.


They are there for the long haul. This is from the Spanish Revolution about the idea of the General Assembly which was very successful in Spain. They are still protesting there and have sent good wishes to NYC.


Protesters in Spain

The disgust becomes a network.

But what is transformative is the process more than the product. It is the elaboration in open commissions and the decision taken in assembly. It is a new politics for exiting the crisis toward a new way of life built collectively. A slow process because, as a poster reads in Barcelona, “we’re going slowly because we’re going far.” So those who minimize the wikiacampadas still do not understand how profound they are. They may leave the squares, to return to them periodically, but they will not leave the social networks and the minds of those who participate. They are no longer alone. And they have lost their fear ..

The principles behind this form of protest are different than the one day big demonstrations. I can see it growing already.

And finally:

11 Things You Can Do to Help the 'Occupy Wall Street' Movement

1) Spread the word -- there's something going on. People have started a movement -- they're occupying Wall Street. Hundreds of people have been camped out in lower Manhattan for four days!

2) If you're in New York and can only spare a little time or money: bring American flags, cardboard, markers, water, etc. down to Liberty Park.

3) If you're in the New York area and have a day, a morning, an afternoon, go down there. The weather appears to be holding. Take the day off and just go. I know it sounds hard to believe but you will be heard. This is an open general assembly effort and you will get your say and be a real participant.

4) If you are a little ways from NYC, organize foursomes to go to NYC for the day. It will cost you the train/bus/car fare. Take nothing but some food and water and your body.

5) Too far to get to NYC? Sign this petition and I will read your name and comments in Liberty Park this week, I promise. Break Up Goldman Sachs Now!

6) Be subversive against the big money interests wherever you are and encourage others to do the same. Don't give the banksters 4 percent of every purchase you make with a credit or debit card -- use cash. See: UseCashMovement

7) Be subversive: max out your credit card on large ticket items and return them the next day. (This one is right out of the Saul Alinsky playbook.)

8) Move your money from a big bank to a credit union.

9) Picket a local branch of a bank. When the press asks you what the heck you think you're doing, tell them it's in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street.

10) Send food to the protesters in Liberty Park through a New York friend or go to the live stream chat for information on local eats that will take your order. (Yes, you'll have to use your credit card, big spender!)

11) Do you know anybody who knows anybody who knows a writer, a celebrity, etc. who will show their face at the protest? Get to them now.

Bonus Support Idea 12) Spread the word again, and repeat!

[patrick t. cakes]

1. Just a bunch of hipsters

or what the fuck ever. :eyes: :sarcasm:

Hey DU ney sayers...

GET THE FUCK OUT OF THE WAY!

[Firebrand Gary]

2. K&R

[Ichingcarpenter]

3. Ditto...n/t

[Leopolds Ghost]

49. Time to throw a monkey wrench in the gears of the corporate death machine

[NYC_SKP]

4. K/R from me.

[DemVoter2012]

5. ...WOW!

WOW! I admire folks who are so determined like those folks are. Unfortunately, most media outlets are owned by large corporations, so I can understand why they wouldn't be covering something like this. I know that police departments are often pressured by the local government to do certain things or to not do certain things, so I suppose that's just what they were doing... though I guess they were also annoyed at the protesters for ... whatever. It's a shame that protesters are arrested while protesting peacefully, even if they do ignore arbitrary police orders to vacate public spaces. It's also a big disgusting to me that the government doesn't just regulate Wall Street more. I mean, like any child, Wall Street is going to try to get away with as much as possible, but government needs to be there to set limits on this stupidity...

[Scuba]

6. Kick.

[Admiral Loinpresser]

7. K & R! n/t

[xchrom]

8. recommend

[LeftofObama]

9. Fantastic post, Sabrina1

Thanks so much for all the info, and I agree with the other poster who said, Nay sayers need to get out of the way!

[mod mom]

10. k&r

[malaise]

11. Fabulous post

Rec

[raouldukelives]

12. K&R

Left out a big way to help on the list. Liquidate your stocks & refuse to enable Wall St.

[sabrina 1]

19. Good idea.

[NuttyFluffers]

98. NO! at least keep one stock...

this (usually) allows you to look at the company's books for disclosure to shareholders. by corporate charter they often have to make accommodations to shareholders who want to review what the company has been doing. technically you cannot then use that information to damage the company, or disclose it to people not in the need to know. but knowledge is a wonderful thing!
:7

[Hotler]

13. k&r Do you hear the people sing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmaTNf4YhEs&feature=related

[sabrina 1]

17. Nice, thank you. They are starting the march on Wall St. right now

Their livestream is down again. They need help with that. NYFD, (love the NY Firefighters), just passed and honked at them:

[sabrina 1]

24. That song should be the anthem of the protesters.

I just listened to the lyrics, it is beautiful! Thanks for posting it.

Do you hear the people sing?
Singing a song of angry men?
It is the music of a people
Who will not be slaves again!
When the beating of your heart
Echoes the beating of the drums
There is a life about to start
When tomorrow comes!


Will you join in our crusade?
Who will be strong and stand with me?
Beyond the barricade
Is there a world you long to see?
Courfeyrac:
Then join in the fight
That will give you the right to be free!

ALL
Do you hear the people sing?
Singing a song of angry men?
It is the music of a people
Who will not be slaves again!
When the beating of your heart
Echoes the beating of the drums
There is a life about to start
When tomorrow comes!

Will you give all you can give
So that our banner may advance
Some will fall and some will live
Will you stand up and take your chance?
The blood of the martyrs
Will water the meadows of France!

ALL
Do you hear the people sing?
Singing a song of angry men?
It is the music of a people
Who will not be slaves again!
When the beating of your heart
Echoes the beating of the drums
There is a life about to start
When tomorrow comes!

[Fuddnik]

14. I can't make NYC. But I'll be in D.C. Oct. 6th, and thereafter.

I'll post photo's and blog when I have the chance.


STOP THE MACHINE!!!!!!!!!

[sabrina 1]

15. You just reminded me, the WallSt. protesters and the DC Oct 6

organizers are now working in solidarity with each other. Wish I could be there, but maybe I'll get to the NYC one in Jan. I have a feeling they will still be there.

[fasttense]

100. Wow, that's great news.

I was posting both of the events every chance I got. Nice to know they are coming together to work together.

[lunatica]

16. Great post! kick'd and rec'd

[TBF]

18. Solidarity with all who are resisting. K&R nt

[sabrina 1]

20. Update! The number of cities planning occupations has grown

Live Blog of #OccupyWallStreet: One Week Later & Growing Stronger by the Day

The one week milestone has been reached. Occupy Wall Street has struggled and toiled through the week and made through to the weekend. The occupation survived: pouring rain, police harassment and intimidation, a media blackout, media coverage aimed to diminish the significance of the occupation, lack of supplies necessary for holding an encampment and lower turnout than hoped for on the first day.

Having made it to the weekend, “reinforcements” are arriving. From Maine, Wisconsin and other areas of the United States, carpools are making their way to Wall Street. There are also no less than 27 cities attempting to organize occupation actions of their own to show solidarity with Occupy Wall Street.

A march is planned for today at noon. The size of the group camping can also be expected to grow, regardless of the rain. Plus, Liberato’s Pizza continues to receive orders for food to be delivered and donated to the occupation.

I hope it doesn't rain. The NYFD is supporting them also, and at least two Unions have sent messages of support.

27 cities! I hope it spreads all over the world!

[sabrina 1]

21. Car Pool for anyone who can get there but needs transportation.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Carpool-to-Occupy-Wallstreet/222614057794752

[sabrina 1]

22. Update: Arrests at the March today which began minutes ago, being reported on Twitter

@TheOther99
TheOther99
BREAKING NEWS! "The Other 99" can CINFIRM two arrests in front of Chase Manhattan Plaza. Still unfolding... #OccupyWallStreet

.....

@nyluckyaward
crank file
"#NYPD just came thru handing out paper NOTICES about shutting #OccupyWallStreet. With this paper, we'll make origami!”

The crowds are big, according to reports so far:

@jasminepw
Jasmine
MT @OperationLeakS Huge number of protestors are now marching to WallStreet livestream.com/globalrevoluti… #OccupyWallStreet

Another arrest and the NYPD behaving like foreign occupiers again, it seems:

@jopauca
Joshua Paul
Another photo of the police videotaping the crowd. #OccupyWallSt @OccupyWallSt @OccupyWallStNYC twitpic.com/6pxk2f

......


@AyeshaKazmi
AmericanPaki
Horrible! Video of arrest of Robin Stevens of Wittburry, MN! #occupywallstreet #ourwallstreet bit.ly/qupjKa via @DhaniBagels

Did they ever arrest any Teabaggers?

NYPD working for Wall St. We need to take back our civilian police force also.

[sabrina 1]

23. Horrible, police arrest law student minutes ago. Video.

Why do they have to be so nasty?

http://www.twitvid.com/SKEI7

[white_wolf]

29. Why? Because it is what they are paid to do.

The police are not on the side of the average American. They might act like they are and say they are, but as these arrest shows, the police are firmly the servants of the Oligarchs. They exist to protect the sacred right of private property and they will arrest or harass anyone who even looks like a threat to that "right".

[sabrina 1]

34. I think that has become very obvious. Some of the shots

taken of them guarding the Bull eg, when no one was doing anything other than exercising their rights to peacefully protest. But some of the people reported that some of the cops told them 'we would be marching with you' but are afraid of losing their jobs.

Right now it is getting very tense. The crowd marched to Union Square and then decided to go to the UN. The police started making arrests. The live feed is not working very well. They need help with that. It is down right now but a lot of reports of the police getting more and more angry.

@theGigiMarie
Gigi Marie

@DustinSlaughter i see reports that 5 have been arrested. 2 bleeding. @OccupyWallSt twitpic.com/6pzbxi #owsnews #occupywallstreet

.........

@JoeSmithSDK
Joe Smith SDK
Cops Using Tear Gas On #OccupyWallStreet Protesters mass arrests Cops incited violence this !
14 minutes ago via web

They've been targeting the media team again. They've arrested two of them so far. Maybe that's why the live feed is not working. They are running old footage right now.

[dixiegrrrrl]

42. THIS is what I have been talking about! ONE week.

Now is when the cops will attempt to make it all go away..
rather, when TPTB use the cops to make it all go away.

This time around, the stakes are much higher, the legal protections for protesters are weakend.
This has to be a long haul effort.

If anyone can afford to donate to legal support, even 5.00, I know they can use it.

[sabrina 1]

52. I posted the number for the legal fund somewhere in this thread.

I saw that the ACLU gave them advice, I think pro bono, during the week.

I am afraid you are right. The more successful they are, the more likely the PTBs will try to stamp it out before it grows any bigger. I hope they have contingency plans. I am also afraid the police will plant trouble-makers in the crowd to provide them with the excuse they need to crack down. But I know the protesters are expecting that.

[joshcryer]

69. This is the moment of truth, this and the coming week, if they have the momentum...

...and masses necessary, then no amount of mass arrests will work (go look at history and the IWW protests, they arrested thousands, local jails were full, no effect because there was no leadership or hierarchy, it's one reason they started creating "labor laws" which neutered labor by a large margin and allowed cops to arrest people before they were even able to exhibit their free speech).

[white_wolf]

71. I'm currently reading A People's History of the U.S. and Zinn is talking about the I.W.W.

and early labor movement. It's very eye opening. The mass arrests of the I.W.W. and the Socialist Party are shocking. I never knew how bad it was. Hell, Debbs himself got arrested three time.

[joshcryer]

72. Yeah, and look at the laws that went into effect.

Laws where the federal government would ban no-labor contracts (seen as a good thing, but in reality was a bad thing; no-labor contracts allowed labor to selectively boycott companies which were hostile to labor!). Would not file injunctions on peaceful protests (very very bad thing, because it forces labor to be violent to get an injunction, and violence usually breaks other laws like destruction of property or actual assault).

The Labor Acts even took it further, mandating a hierarchy for labor. No longer could anyone simply take the bully pulpit and keep the movement going (indeed, that's why the arrests were so pervasive, they'd arrest the speaker and pow another one would take their place).

[sabrina 1]

74. I meant to add that the IWW has been in touch with them and

some members were at one of the General Assembly meetings this week. They plan to join them also. I will definitely look up their history, not familiar with it.

So they Steelworkers and the IWW have already been in touch. I am hoping that the Labor Group will contact other Unions also. Maybe even the Longshoremen's Union who are currently fighting exactly what this is all about. A multi-national corp that has locked them out, hired cheaper labor, scabs, and is refusing to negotiate. Going to do an OP on them also.

I hope you're right about mass arrests not stopping them. I think the way this is going so early on, there will be a lot of that.

[joshcryer]

79. I'm in the IWW, anyone can join, and I had no doubt the IWW would be there.

IWW was the pinnacle of socialist thought in the United States, before it was hijacked by other groups. It was truly an "American flavor" of socialism. Were it not for two world wars we probably would be socialist right now. Fucking fascists ruin everything. :( :P

[white_wolf]

80. That they do,

The ruined socialism here and they crushed it in Spain.

[sabrina 1]

25. Message from Noam Chomsky to protesters

@MJEdminster
Michael Edminster

Zing... "@DhaniBagels: Just received a personal email from Noam Chomsky to read to our General Assembly! #occupywallstreet #ourwallstreet"

And the police have issued an eviction notice to the protesters. But the park is privately owned. Unless the owner wants them out, the city can't do this.

[patrick t. cakes]

26. k/r

[sabrina 1]

27. Thank you, the crowd is huge!

'This is the most beautiful thing in NYC for a damn long time' ~ protester. I agree!

You can see it live here: http://www.livestream.com/globalrevolution

They are chanting at each other 'You got bailed out, we got sold out' to a drum beat. Very impressive.

There have been four arrests, again one of the media people who was filming at the time.

[patrick t. cakes]

33. Thank you sabrina

I only wish I were in New York. Solidarity!:fistbump:

[G_j]

28. thank you!

:applause:

[TeeYiYi]

30. ...and I am in awe of your post. Thank you. k&r

TYY

[WillyT]

31. HUGE K & R !!! - Thank You !!!

:bounce::yourock::bounce:

:hi:

:kick:

[varelse]

32. K&R

[rhett o rick]

35. Thanks for what you do. Do we know how many are there now? How many have been arrested?

Are there links to the youtube arrests?

[sabrina 1]

38. At least 60 according to the live stream.

They arrested the media team, so the live feed went dark. But a lot of people caught the arrests on their cell phones and they have been looking at them on the live feed which is back up right now.

They really need backup, since it's clear the police have been targeting their media equipment and the team.

http://www.livestream.com/globalrevolution

There is a site that has been putting up the violent arrest videos, can't find it right now. But when I do I will post it.

Edited to say, see Dixiegirrrrl's post below, she has found video of the arrests.

[sabrina 1]

40. Make that over 100 according to latest reports.

It looks like first they took out the media team, then they started the arrests.

@TracyLeigh10
Tracy Phillips
There were 2 mass arrests, 1 on 12th 1 on 13th, each 40-50 people, loaded onto buses and paddy wagons #occupywallstreet #OccupyAmerica

Guy on the livestream telling what happened now. He's saying it got 'really ugly' lot of brutality, some blood etc. Why are they doing this though? All it does is get more people involved!

[rhett o rick]

45. Thank you very much. nm

[sabrina 1]

36. Wow, mass arrests at Union Square and the Media Team was

targeted. They really do not want this protest to be seen.

The live feed went out, but seems to be back now. People caught the police violence on their cell phones though.

The live feed is saying that there have been 60 arrests so far. Including the media team.

http://www.livestream.com/globalrevolution

@NOteabags
Rebuild the Dream

#occupywallstreet Video of video team being arrested for NO REASON: dailykos.com/story/2011/09/…
6 minutes ago via web
Favorite Retweet Reply

.....

@dragonfire1024
Jason Safoutin
Confirmed: all of media team (Prior to Union Square) was arrested (according to live feed) #occupywallstreet

[bread_and_roses]

37. K&R & a HURRAH for USW (Steelworkers) n/t

[sabrina 1]

75. And the IWW who have already met with the protesters!

:-)

[bread_and_roses]

103. I love IWW

They are on the right track. Thanks for that - I should have included them.

[dixiegrrrrl]

39. Mass arrests now. Photo:

[sabrina 1]

43. Hey dixiegirrrrl, thanks. It looks like they are really cracking down now.

@skry
skry
The NYPD are reportedly pepper spraying peaceful demonstrators. Shameful! Protest is a protected right of US citizens. #OccupyWallStreet

.....

@efleischer
efleischer
100 people have reportedly been arrested. Catch up with #occupywallstreet here: evanfleischer.com/tagged/occupyw…
2 minutes ago via TweetDeck

They were using pepper spray, no tear gas, and some are saying they used tasers.

Now the police are telling the media crew they cannot use umbrellas to cover the equipment. They are really being obvious about what their job is, to shut down any reporting of this. Who are they working for?

I will have to go in a few minutes. Just heard they have a legal team to try to get the protesters released.

[joshcryer]

66. As I predicted, I hope they have enough momentum so that this has no effect.

They are using a line of sight argument to stop anyone from doing anything that builds a structure, be it an umbrella or a tent. It's psychological warfare.

[dixiegrrrrl]

41. Youtube video of police arrests, pepper spraying, violence.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiraDbcx14c&feature=youtu.be

live stream team arrested, live stream down.

people are posting video when they can.

[sabrina 1]

44. Thank you, good for them. There was no need for any of those

arrests. That should be another goal of these protests, to take back our civilian police depts from those who are giving them orders right now. They have forgotten who they work for.

Protesters were chanting that to them earlier 'who do you represent'?

[rdking647]

56. how does occupy wall streetr = union square

the protestors where by wall street.. the arrests happened as they marched to union square... Im assuming they wern't marching down the sidewalk and instead where blocking traffic.. Of course the cops will arrest them

[sabrina 1]

57. They were not blocking the sidewalk. The cops have Wall St.

barricaded. They had marched, peacefully, to Union Square, then started to go to the UN. The cops went after the media team (those filming the livestream) and arrested them. Then they started going after others. The livestream had stopped, but bystanders got it all on their cell phones. You can see it for yourself, no one was doing anything wrong.

But that's been happening all week. Now they are surrounding the park, which is privately owned, and word is they are going to raid it tonight. Hopefully they will not. The protesters have permission to be there.

The cops started pushing people, seen on film btw before the livestream stopped. People have been injured. This was totally unnecessary and will only have the effect of more people joining them.

And probably lots of lawsuits. Not too smart if ending it was their goal. After the violent attacks on Wednesday morning, the numbers in the park doubled.

[joshcryer]

68. Cop is filming at the 13 second mark. It'll be used to create trumped up charges.

Yelling, that is, exhibiting your free speech rights, will be construed as disorderly conduct and disturbing the peace.

[louslobbs]

46. You are a class act Sabrina, thank you for the continued updates and photos.

Your friend,
Lou

[louslobbs]

47. And thank you dixiegrrrrl, you rock.

Lou

[dixiegrrrrl]

50. Not as much as I used to, but I try. thank you.

[louslobbs]

51. You bet.

Your friend,
Lou

[sabrina 1]

92. Hi Lou!

:hi:

[TheKentuckian]

48. Sabrina, you are the shit!

[sabrina 1]

53. The police are surrounding Liberty Square being reported now.

@bhoggard
Barry Hoggard

.@wagnerblog says 200 cops have suddenly surrounded Liberty Plaza, HQ of #occupywallstreet
45 minutes ago via Seesmic

......


@USDayofRage
US Day of Rage ☮
Tons of police and vehicles heading towards plaza. via @NYCSep17 #occupywallstreet
51 minutes ago via web

They will probably wait until after dark and then raid them again. I hope they have been in touch with their legal team who probably should be there.

This is scaring someone on high!

[rhett o rick]

54. Is any of the Corp-Media broadcasting this? nm

[sabrina 1]

55. Not that I know of.

[Gin]

58. a FB comment...when you screw us, we multiply! :)

[sabrina 1]

83. Lol, I like that!

Like cockroaches, we are! Just kidding :-)

[rbnyc]

59. Thanks for pulling all this together. nt

[sabrina 1]

60. Update: Photos of arrests:

Land of the Free!

More here! http://www.flickr.com/photos/31167233@N08/sets/72157627744225952/ Photographer on Twitter asked to spread them around

[Fire Walk With Me]

61. Fantastic thread! Keep the faith!

[Dawson Leery]

81. Overpaid, worthless bastards

wear the uniform.

[stormpilot]

62. A CBSnews mention of Occupy Wall Street, Arrests

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/09/24/national/main20111240.shtml

[Fire Walk With Me]

76. One of the Comments posted the "penning, macing" of peaceful females video.

[sabrina 1]

77. Finally, one of them got there. I heard that there was a lot of

foreign media there. I know RT is there and they did a good segment on the protests during the week. Thank you for the link.

[TBF]

63. Kicking this up - Solidarity.

:kick:

[Joe Shlabotnik]

64. the live stream matters - Turn off your T.V.: its trying to dumb you down

http://www.livestream.com/globalrevolution

[sabrina 1]

82. Hi, welcome to DU. And you are correct, watching the livestream

is necessary because when the MSM finally gets there, they will distort the picture as much in favor of the Wall St. criminals as they can.

[Joe Shlabotnik]

88. agreed, big money doesn't want people thinking or asking questions

thanks for the welcome (I've actually read DU almost daily for the last 5+ years, but finally felt compelled to post, I'm one of the %99)

[joshcryer]

65. Nicely done OP! The live stream has tripled in viewership since I first started watching!

Hopefully they'll persevere!

[sabrina 1]

78. The livestream was over 7000 earlier. Haven't checked since

we got back home, but definitely with the police doing what they are doing, they are just making more people get involved.

[Smarmie Doofus]

67. Kick, Rec. Ad astra, per aspera. N/T

[DemReadingDU]

70. +++

[hootinholler]

73. Thank you Sabrina! n/t

[certainot]

84. if the protestors want media they might want to send a contingent to the nearest limbaugh station

same purpose but go to the root of the problem- the best weapon the think tanks have for selling deregulation and lower taxes on billionaires is RW talk radio.

it would be something completely different- and the media might like a chance to get back at the medium that has been threatening them and pushing them around for 20 years.

[sabrina 1]

85. That is a great idea. They should also demonstrate outside of CNN

MSNBC, ABC, NBC, Fox. The media is a huge part of the problem. I know they are drawing up a list of goals, things that need fixing and that is certainly one of the most important issues. They will be there for a long time, so there is time to do that during the week. You can suggest things on the Assembly Page which I think I linked to in the OP.

[certainot]

89. RW blowhards will not just be ignoring the protests, as other networks will, they will be attack

ing and threatening and distorting- and getting away with it- a free speech free ride.

[sabrina 1]

90. Yes, they will. I'm sure Rush will blathering away about

'hippies' all week. I'm surprised they've been so quiet about it so far. Probably waiting it see who the protesters really are before they start calling them 'hippies' etc.

In a way, I think it's a good thing the MSM has stayed away. The foreign media is so much more fair. Al Jazeera, RT, The Guardian eg, all have done some good reports so far. And so many people get their news online now, who needs the MSM's distorted reporting?

[certainot]

104. if mainstream takes it up so the rest of the country gets wind of it the 1000 radio stations will

kick in (after getting notes from the think tanks) and in many blue and red areas where RW radio dominates, the national blowhards will get reinforcement from local blowhards.

the think tanks are watching for response from MSM and politicians and leaders and RW radio will do the groundwork repetition and spread for the GOP/corporate response.

hopefully, as usual, a few ignorant jerks with big microphones won't be able to completely negate and distort and yell over another protest- that is a real possibility and that is why i think it's so important for all protests on major issues to begin to include RW radio stations for peaceful picketing and local sponsor boycotting.

their effectiveness depends on their being unchallenged.

[rhett o rick]

86. It's midnight back there. What's happening? nm

[sabrina 1]

87. I just read that they have lawyers there, which will deter the cops

from behaving badly they hope. I can't tell if they have no power, or the cops won't let them use the generator, of if they just wanted to light candles. But so far they have not been raided, as they feared. And they are working by candlelight. Here's a link to photo taken just a short time ago. Can't get it to post as a jpg, but it is a nice shot: &xsize=640&ysize=640

@Newyorkist
Newyorkist
Legal observrs from Nat'l Lawyers Guild at #occupywallst (w/neon green hats) tell @ANIMALNewYork presence help deter bad behavr from police

37 minutes ago via web

[Marrah_G]

91. Thank you Sabrina

[sabrina 1]

93. You are welcome, Marrah. Quick Update from Liberty Park.

They are feeling uneasy. The reason is one of the arrested protesters said her husband heard the police say they were 'going to arrest all of them tonight'. So far it's been quiet, but seems people are still awake, probably nervous. Some of those arrested have been released. Complained about being kept in the paddy wagon, handcuffed, for three hours with no water or air.

Wow, Democracy Now is still there and has been interviewing the people who were arrested and released. Amy Goodman is the real deal. I don't know if SHE is still there, but she has done some great coverage all week.

From the official Twitter feed, which is populated by the activists themselves, on the ground:

@fuelnyc
fuelNYC

Some protesters released. Were just interviewed by Democracy Now who is still here. Thanks guys! #OccupyWallStreet #ourwallstreet
1 hour ago via TweetDeck

......

@fuelnyc
fuelNYC

Still quiet on the front line but surrounded by police and paddywagons. #OccupyWallStreet #ourwallstreet #takewallstreet
8 minutes ago via TweetDeck

Oh, this should be good. They arrested a PBS reporter, not sure if the knew who s/he was. Maybe that is why PBS did a piece on the protests. Just to let the NYPD know they will cover it if anything happened to the reporter.

@fuelnyc
fuelNYC

PBS reporter spent 9 hours in jail and charged with civil disobedience. For reporting! #OccupyWallStreet #ourwallstreet #takewallstreet
1 hour ago via TweetDeck

Arresting media people. I also read that CNN has done a piece which is supposedly pretty good.

[Marrah_G]

96. I love Amy Goodman

I wish I could take the time off to go and join the protest. I see alot more chatter about it on facebook among people who are not political junkies- so word is getting out there.

[txlibdem]

113. They're arresting media people who actually want to be journalists

... journalists who won't STFU or just sign their name to the approved "news" that comes from on high as ordered.

This is a sinister turn in the class war that the top 2% have been waging against the rest of us since Reagan took office over 30 years ago!

[azul]

94. Nicely done.

Answer the call for celebrities to lure media attention, Tina Fey, with a perfect impersonation of Sara Palin roughing-up banker stooges.

[Fire Walk With Me]

95. RT's September 19th story on OWS

http://rt.com/usa/news/wall-street-arab-spring-899/

[Desertrose]

97. Thank you! Awesome thread/post. K&R

Thanks so much for letting us know what's happening in NY!!



OCCUPY WALLSTREET!!!!!!!!!!!!

[EFerrari]

99. I was happy to see ACLU tagging up with the protesters on Twittert

this evening, and exchanging contact information. :)

[fasttense]

101. Kicking for the early morning crowd.

These protesters really make me proud.

The police are getting more brutal. I think the idle rich are mildly annoyed that their puppets in the government haven't stop this.

These protesters are what is real in America.

Can you imagine a group of teabaggers getting this kind of treatment from the police? But let real Americans protest and the brutality begins to seep out.

[malthaussen]

102. White Shirts, Black Hearts

I've noticed that in most of the videos showing arrests and violence, the white-shirted police are apparently the instigators/directors. Are they some special class of NYPD storm trooper?

--Mal

[quakerboy]

105. Its probably just coincidence

But I also noted that the white shirts appear to be wearing body armor. It could just be that its easier to see under the white, but you can kinda see the outline, not just the darkening under the white, where I do not notice it under the dark shirts.

[truthwillout777]

106. one more idea

The Media Will Not Cover the Wall Street Protest? Take the Protest to the Media!!
http://getsmartnews.com/news/220689

[sabrina 1]

107. Yes, I think that is a very good idea. I think they have formed a media

group and that would be a good thing to put on their list of things to do. They have lots of time, as they are going to be there for months so they could focus on one media outlet at a time, putting on signs the Corporations that own them.

This kind of protest has so much potential to do what we really have failed to do all along, to form focus groups who have the time and the inclination to stay on an issue until it gets enough attention to start making changes.

I also think they should start making lists of 'good media' and 'bad media/propaganda'. I noticed already that some in the media are becoming defensive about their non-coverage. If this becomes a huge movement, and I think it will, those who were there from the start, doing what journalists should be doing, should get the credit and be used as examples as how the media ought to work in a democracy. Amy Goodman comes to mind.

Yesterday, eg, the Guardian reminded people that they have been covering it. So the criticism is beginning to work. Btw, the Guardian did do some excellent stories on this.

Corporate Media should be and it think it will, a really big issue for this movement. They have actively contributed to the corporate silencing of the American people. This movement's methods of operating is already beginning to shake things up.

[malthaussen]

108. A Simple Slogan

They could confront the various media outlets with a single, simple slogan, which is the most effective means of projecting their message. "Tell the truth" would be short and to the point.

In later exposition they could explain that the media's failure to provide unbiased coverage of dissent in the US is in direct contravention of their public trust.

Not that the moguls will care, but it might provide a twinge of regret for some of the soi-disant "reporters." If that seed can be planted, it would be worth cultivating.

-- Mal

[txlibdem]

109. Praise these brave people

We are all tired of being jerked around by the top 2%... the folks occupying wall street are getting zero media attention (at least not a drop here in GOP-land Dallas, Texas), and they are acting for all of us who can't be there.

Were I not disabled I would either be there, sending food or money for signs or flowers to give the police (in an homage to the Viet Nam War protesters putting flowers down the rifle barrels of the National Guard troops sent to stop them - that part of the OP was poignant for me).

[sabrina 1]

112. I agree, I don't know where you are in Texas, but I am going to

put together some information about the other states that are now starting the same kind of protest. There are going to be some in Texas and I will post the information they have provided so far as soon as I get a chance to concentrate on it.

27 other states have begun to do what they are doing in NYC so that people who can't get there, will not be unable to participate. There is going to be one in Huston, and I believe one in Dallas. When I get a chance I will post the info. Plus, people are arranging car pools and buses to get to NY to support them there also. I have a feeling this is only the beginning, and I really admire them for taking the first step which was long overdue.

Thank you for your comment, I appreciate it :-)

[steve2470]

110. k&r nt

[swilton]

111. Wasn't able to recommend this

because it wasn't within the 24 hour window - BUT -

I can't (unofficially) recommend this enough! Wonderful wrap up - those of us beyond shouting distance from NYC are all ears and are with you in spirit!

Wonderful approach to the NYPD!

Don't give up - thanks for the 12 recommendations.....