Police check IDs at East 79th, which is entirely blocked off to the public.

[The Straight Story]

Police check IDs at East 79th, which is entirely blocked off to the public.

Civil rights attorney Norman Siegel is calling East 79th Street from 5th Avenue to Madison a "No First Amendment Zone" because it is blocked off to pedestrians.

"That's Mayor Michael Bloomberg's block -- his home is on the north side of the street on 79th."It's unconstitutional," said Siegel, who has been at the protests since 2 p..m. "They've made East 79th ... a 'No First Amendment Zone.' Last time I checked, the law doesn't say that people have the right to ... protest except when it's Michael Bloomberg's street."

"This shows that the police would rather protect Bloomberg," he said. "It's an overreaction."



http://live.nydailynews.com/Event/Occupy_Wall_Street_Continues_in_New_york_City

[Sarah Ibarruri]

1. Are they allowed to block public areas when they feel like it? nt

[doublethink]

3. From the Occupy People's Library ...

#OccupyBloomberg and the “frozen zone”

"In response to the drum circle, the NYPD has closed E 79th St. near the Mayor’s home and they are now describing it a “frozen zone.” A little research online shows that a “frozen zone” is usually an area where the NYPD use their authority to suspend the law in order to maintain the law. The declaration of a “frozen zone” amounts to declaring martial law or creating a state of exception and has previously been used by the NYPD during terrorist threats. Josh Harkinson of Mother Jones has reported on the “frozen zone” being used to deny reporters access to Liberty Plaza. So what is “frozen” in these zones?" -snip-

Check out the link with embedded links here ...
http://peopleslibrary.wordpress.com/2011/11/20/occupybloomberg-and-the-frozen-zone/

Also a great resource in general to keep up day to day with what's going on out there. Peace.
http://peopleslibrary.wordpress.com/

[Sarah Ibarruri]

4. I'm wondering when lawsuits against the City will begin. They'd better start soon nt

[doublethink]

6. Agreed. n.t.

[Vincardog]

2. Isn't it against the law for the police officer to stand in the street?

[UnrepentantLiberal]

5. I don't hear any drums on the live feed.

Did they confiscate them?

http://www.livestream.com/globalrevolution

[Historic NY]

7. They need vuvuzela.....at 3am

[hootinholler]

8. I would love to hear the official explanation for that!

I hoped someone was on it.

[Fire Walk With Me]

9. Okay: 72 kazoos for $6.00. Easy to hide, imagine the flash mob

all doing "stars and stripes forever" or "roll out the barrels", together...

http://preview.tinyurl.com/7dv768o

[RC]

10. That's good.

I would hope someone does do that. :evilgrin:

[Fire Walk With Me]

16. I wonder if a group could do "Afternoon Delight"...that would probably get them labelled as

terrorists :O

[darth marth]

11. that HAS to be illegal!

Outrageous!

[lindysalsagal]

12. They do have to keep the street open to residents, and it doesn't matter

how close the protesters get: It's t he fact that they're there-not the proximity.

OWS is starting to scare the crap out of them.

[zbdent]

13. so ... liberals are alleged to be the "pacifist" types, the "anti-gun" types ...

so a pacifist, no-gun liberal would not be allowed into the "free speech zone" (ironically-named) ... but a RWer, who probably supports concealed-carry rights to the nth degree, would be welcome? Seems like the ones advocating carrying all kinds of weapons ought to be the ones they should concern themselves with ...

[WillyT]

14. WTF ??? - K & R !!!

:wtf:

:mad:

:kick:

[WinkyDink]

15. 2003. NYC police cordoned off streets near and leading directly to the protest stage.

I know; I was stopped by three cops on a corner and told to make a round-a-few-blocks detour.

[Mister Ed]

17. I happened to walk by the mayor's front door three or four weeks ago,

on the way back from dinner with a friend. At that time there were just a pair of cops at the door, with whom we exchanged smiles and nods.

This new development is just one more sign that the heat is on, and that OWS is having an effect.