zuccotti park

Zuccotti Park ruling got it right, say experts (VIDEO)

The eviction of Occupy Wall Street demonstrators in Manhattan was a dramatic turn in a nearly two-month standoff, inspiring howls of protest from the protesters and their supporters. But New York and other cities that have cracked down appear to have the law — and history — on their side.

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A judge upheld New York’s decision to clear Zuccotti Park. And even some experts known as supporters of first Amendment rights said the judge had it right.

"the short legal answer to these situations in New York City and other places today is that there are broad rights to protests, to march, to demonstrate and to be heard," said Floyd Abrams, a prominent first Amendment lawyer. "There is no right to occupy a public area on a full-time basis, including housing facilities and sleeping there."

Abrams said the protesters, by successfully bringing public attention to their message of corporate greed and economic inequality, have exercised their first Amendment rights. "What they can’t do is go over the line in what is essentially a seizure by them of public property …. with no limitations."

Not everyone agrees. the American Civil Liberties Union has filed lawsuits — and in some instances, won temporary restraining orders — on behalf of Occupy activists in such places as Nashville, Oakland, Calif., and Trenton, N.J.

"There is no such thing as a beginning, middle and end to free speech rights," said ACLU executive director Anthony Romero. "the right … doesn’t toll after a certain time period."

Romero also said it’s hypocritical to try to limit the duration of protests "when we celebrate the occupation of Tahrir Square (the site of anti-government protests in Cairo). Certainly no one was citing the Egyptians for their overnight, multi-day protests. we ought not to criticize the Occupy movement for demonstrating their points of view with similar zeal."

The judge’s decision Tuesday was the latest development in a growing national drama that began when a community of bed rolls and tents sprang to life in a park near Wall Street nearly two months ago. the movement has spread across the country, and taken with it a tangle of legal, constitutional and public relations problems for city officials.

The 2011 Occupy Movement: 60s All Grown Up

Very amazing things are happening in Wall Street, Chicago, LA, Oakland, Detroit, Boston, and other cities around the Country.and around the Globe. I would call the Occupy Movement.The 60s all grown up. they are succeeding where they couldn’t in the 60s. Don’t take me wrong the 60s movement won their battles.but not before so much divisiveness in the Country. they stopped the war, the civil rights was vindicated, when LBJ signed the Civil Rights Act.and, to an extent, the Women Rights movement won too. US Society, as well as World Society, has been shaped, by what happened in the 60s.

Today, all those issues are part of the establishment’s conventional wisdom. It changed the way American Society is defined today. The Anti-Establishment, grows up.and becomes the Establishment. All this, really brings Hope, to the Progressive and Liberal Movements in America.

We all know, what the Protests are all about, and the reasons for it.what is amazing, the way it has mushroomed throughout the United States, with Occupy groups in every major city in the Country, and spreading though tiny towns in every state. General Strikes are being planned throughout the Nation, Unions are joining in, the Middle Class and the Poor have never related so much, ever before.and it’s not just in America.the entire World, now has Occupy in every major City. This has become a World Movement. All with the same significant issue.the disproportion of wealth. how 1%-2% of the wealth.controls the 98%-99% of the population. we all have the same problems, no matter where you’re from.

The Occupy Movement, will get those changes they want, in time..but, it will not happen immediately. now, why are they getting the country, so much.behind them??? two reasons.they are not resorting to violence, as in the 60s.they are using their heads.the violence is being perpetrated on them, this time.that is one thing that has the Citizenry behind them.you will have the sit-ins, etc.the hard core Activists handle that. Activism in protest, whether is the Red or the Blue.is part of the process. second, in the 60s, the Middle Class.the Hard Hats, followed the Drumbeat of the Republicans.today, that Drumbeat is going down the Democrats’ path.

To me, there is no doubt that the 60′s movement has grown up.much more organized, which is kind of funny, since in the 60s, they where very well organized by the different groups of those days. Today, in the Occupy Movement, there is no central organization.everyone finds a way to get things done, with virtually, no leadership. It truly is people from all different kinds of lifestyles, working together, for the same goals. The best example, was in Zuccotti Park, when they literally got on their hands and knees, and scrubbed down with soap and water, the entire park.its sidewalks, walkways, benches, etc. they have acted completely responsible for every action, they’ve taken.

And every time, Law Enforcement gets their little dirty hands on it, every time someone goes to jail.the Movement doubles You would think, that they would just ignore it, and let it die down. It won’t.they will continue, the Police will continue.

Activism has always been part of demonstrations and protests. Civil Disobedience, has always been the proper and peaceful means to fight for your cause.and now, it is being used once again. Is it wrong for the use of Civil Disobedience? of course not It was used by Ghandhi, it was used by King, it was used by all the 60s movements, it has been used in protests around the world since. This process, has always been scorned by the Right.blame everything on the Hippies was their battle cry.the dirty hippies, free love, dope use the Commie or Socialist label.that always works. Today, the Right, is beginning to revert back to their only attack.It’s Socialism.even FOX News commentators are saying that the Occupy Movement is Socialist inspired and run by socialists, trying to make America, a Socialist Country. All the Free Sex, the Drugs, public urination.every excuse to put the People there, down, as nobody.go out and get a job is the cry of the Right. Some are even saying that the movement is being run by Terrorists, and one crazy character of the Tea Party is calling the movement, a part of Muslim Jihad, and run by the Muslim Brotherhood. When you don’t have positive responses about present circumstances, always fall back to your standard response. what the Grand Old Tea Party doesn’t understand, and why so many have started following the Movement everyday, is that.the Socialism bit, and the Drug bit, and the free sex bit, is too old.40-45 years too old. The truth, things are so straight, in the up and up, that bill Maher.went to an Occupy rally, and was not offered some Pot: I was totally offended he said.

Right now, the Dems, Liberals and Progressives, seem to have the upper hand on the whole situation. who is better? I don’t know, I really don’t.but, the GOP really needs a leader, who will bring the Mainstream of the Party back.which has been turned off by the Tea Party. As its stands, the GOP internally has more problems now, than they ever had before.and if the Tea Party manages to get control of the GOP Platform in 2012, they will gain control of the Party.and it will mean the end, of the GOP as we know it Why is Obama favored by almost every Pundit, Republican and Democrat alike? forget the polls.that doesn’t mean anything till June or July of 2012. Obama, like him or hate him.looks Presidential and articulate, which he is.the GOP has nobody from this collective group of characters, that can go up on him, except Jon Huntsman.but, Huntsman is too liberal in their minds, and not Christian enough.as Mormons are called by the Right Wing; Cultists? Huntsman, is the only candidate they have, that looks Presidential, is articulate, is a bonafide Statesman (as former Ambassador to China), has true moral character, and is a decent and honorable man.that’s why he is near last, in every poll taken by the GOP.it goes with the territory

The Occupy Movement has grown up, since the Radical 60s. Not as radical, and definitely more Prudent.and Honorable. It has grown beyond, what anybody ever expected.and it just keeps growing by the day.and now worldwide. This Movement cannot be stopped, it’s just.Too Big To Fail. oh yes they have grown up

Zuccotti Park cleared of Occupiers « The Confluence

Update: People around the world are sending the displaced occupiers food. If you are in the Foley Square area, you can get breakfast there. to order breakfast for the occupiers, you can call Pete at Cortez Cafe at (212)7663200. there is a minimum $5 donation. A local church as opened its doors for sanctuary. there is an impromptu process going on right now. there will be a GA at 7am. it sounds like occupiers are going to Foley Square. They are having a brief moment of silence to appreciate the morning and sticking together through the night. Wahoo-Dorus!

You can follow the action at globalrevolution.tv

If you want to register your protest, you can call the NYPD and tell them to stop. Here’s the number: (212)334-0611

Um, I *might* have to head up to Foley Square today to do on the spot reporting. does anyone want to put up bail for me in the unlikely event that I am arrested? I have papers to read. I can do that as easily in Foley Square as anywhere else.

Update2: there will be a group meeting at 6th Ave and Canal Street at 9:00am.

There are Occupy the Highway marchers headed for DC. Their goal is to arrive in DC on Nov. 23, the day the supercommittee is supposed to present their deficit reduction cuts to Congress. They were in Philadelphia yesterday. If you’re interested, you can catch up with them between Philly and Wilmington, Delaware today. See this page for further details. Occupy the Highway also has a wordpress site here. Dear Paul Krugman, there’s a student named Whitney Blodgett who is giving Princeton a bad name. could you please administer a strong dope-slap to the back of the head? It’s embarrassing.

Update3: Mike Bloomberg’s statement says something to the effect that protestors were preventing the general public from enjoying the use of the park.  {{rolling eyes}}  Is that the best he can come up with?  Because I never saw anyone prevented from entering or using the park when I was there.  Of course, there were those creepy looking dudes that Karl Rove and Fox News probably hired to scare the tourists away but other than that, no one was prevented from enjoying the park.  In fact, the NYPD was sending the homeless, mentally ill and aggressive indigent down to Zuccotti Park even though some of them were disruptive and potentially dangerous to the people in the park.  Earth to Mike Bloomberg, no one is going to believe that crap.

Update4: Bloomberg is having a press conference at City Hall but the occupiers are not allowed to get into the City Hall.  So the occupiers are going to try to prevent any of the media or press from getting into the building to attend the conference.   Soooo, let’s get this straight, the people who are the subject of the press conference are prevented from attending the public press conference to hear the reason why their protest was silenced.  Ok, occupiers have been alerted by a member of the press that there is an alternative entrance.  They are linking arms to prevent the press from getting in the building.

Meanwhile, the younguns have gotten the distinct impression that they were used by Obama in 2008 and aren’t in the mood to help him next year.

Occupiers are now marching to meet with union and religious leaders.

Update5:  Someone just announced that a judge ruled that Bloomberg can’t evict protestors from Zuccotti Park.  Looking for confirmation…

Here is the ruling from Judge Lucy Giddings.  A temporary restraining order was issued at 6:30am.  The injunction is in effect until 11:30am.  Another hearing is scheduled today in an attempt to make the injunction permanent.

Amy Goodman at Democracy Now was on the scene when the eviction happened.  Her report is on globalrevolution.tv now.

Ok, I can hear Bloomberg in the background.  He calls the arrests, beatings, pepperspraying and the destruction of personal property as “cleaning”.  I’m going to take a guess that the word “clean” was focus group tested. Bloomberg knows what gets to the conservative viewer.  There’s nothing they like more than cleanness and orderliness. Occupiers’ personal belongings were loaded into dump trucks and carted away.  It sounds like the Mayor is going to ignore the judge’s injunction and that Zucotti Park will remain closed until the situation is clarified.

Occupiers can pick up their personal belongings at the sanitation department parking lot tomorrow.  They must provide proper identification. But as Amy Goodman panned across the area where sanitation workers were loading the destroyed remnants of Zuccotti park protestors stuff, it’s hard to believe that anyone is going to find something worth recovering much less identifying as their own.

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Maybe we should have known something was up yesterday when the legal council for Mayor Jean Quan in Oakland quit in disgust and threw his support behind Occupy Oakland. The deputy mayor soon followed.

Or maybe it was the fact that Oakland, Portland and Denver were evicted all at once.

Or maybe it was Mayer Nutter in Philadelphia, newly reelected, who was making noises about OccupyPhilly overstaying its welcome.

Whatever it was, we should have seen it coming.

Details are sketchy because the police aren’t letting journalists near the scene but it looks like the bastards moved in at 2:00am to clear Zuccotti Park. The livestream at GlobalRevolution says that “The police are destroying Zuccotti Park, many arrests, many injured, the police are pushing the press away from the scene. Police are tearing apart library. Broadway and Liberty- arrest teams headed there (Police Scanner)”

You can watch the sanitation workers cleaning the park at globalrevolution.tv.  (They’ve moved on to other things by now)

And here’s a picture that says it all.  NYPD’s finest.

Basically, the police moved in to the park in the dead of night when they thought no one would be looking and destroyed everything, used batons and pepperspray against occupiers and did the bidding of the 1%.

It’s not going to work. They will be back. The genie is out of the bottle. The 1% will never be able to rest easily again because the 99% are all around them. there will be more infiltrations. In fact, the infiltrators are already in place. you can fire the ones you have but a new set of infiltrators will take their place. how are you going to know the difference?

The occupiers in Zuccotti Park were only the ones you could see.

You better be nice because the Zuccotti Park occupiers were models of non-violent resistance. They have no control over what desperate people will do when they’re pushed too far.

Filed under: General Tagged: | arrests, Bloomberg, cleared, injuries, Jean Quan, Occupy Oakland, occupy wall street, OWS

BREAKING: Russell Simmons Makes Historic Announcement (DETAILS)

Russell Simmons is currently in Boston taking part in the Occupy Boston movement.

After this morning’s raid on Zuccotti Park, the birthplace of the Occupy movement, wherein over 100 protesters were arrested, Russell has decided to call an emergency press conference.

During this afternoon’s press conference, Russell is presenting a Constitutional amendment written for a true democracy by a leading Senior Congressman, which bars all but public financing for Federal candidates running for public office.

The amendment goes as follows:

Section 1. all elections for President and members of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate shall be publicly financed. no political contributions shall be permitted to any federal candidate, from any other source, including the candidate. no political expenditures shall be permitted in support of any federal candidate, or in opposition to any federal candidate, from any other source, including the candidate. nothing in this Section shall be construed to abridge the freedom of the press.

Section 2. the Congress shall, by statute, provide limitations on the amounts and timing of the expenditures of such public funds and provide criminal penalties for any violation of this section.

Section 3. the Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

Section 4. This article shall be inoperative unless it is ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by conventions in the several States, as provided in the Constitution.

This is the time when the system fights back against your right to peacefully assemble around the cause of transparent democracy, to make your voices heard.  

Re-Occupy and pass this amendment.

For more on Occupy Wall Street, click here.

At Zuccotti Park, a Sound of the ’60s

Jenna Mandaglio swayed gently to the music, waving a handcrafted sunflower in her right hand.

“It’s an air of 1968,” said Ms. Mandaglio, 20, a student at the Fashion Institute of Technology. “But I’m more of a Grateful Dead fan.”

On Tuesday afternoon, David Crosby and Graham Nash — sans Stills and Young — treated Occupy Wall Street protesters to a five-song set on a marble platform in the middle of Zuccotti Park. “You’re going to know some of the songs, so sing with us,” mr. Nash said before they began, and the prediction proved mostly true.

Though many protesters were decades from birth when mr. Nash, 69, first informed listeners of his “very, very, very fine house,” the pair attracted a significant audience in the crammed space between tents and work stations. Ms. Mandaglio arrived with a classmate, who compared a look at the men to “watching history.” Read More on City Room.

Our New Occupied State

First off I do not consider the occupy movement as a true political movement at all but rather as a popular fad. To me this alleged movement is nothing less than a peaceful form of flash mobs. The original thought was beneficial however in anything that continues for such a great amount of time we witness vast areas of deterioration from its initial purpose while the protesters involved in the program drop to pathetic level which parallel those of young hippie idealists who are prone to failures and exercise bad judgment.

As the days have turned to weeks and we watch the weeks transform into months, we can witness the slow but sure deterioration of the movement taking place. around the nation we find risks are appearing within the realms of the occupied sites such as a source of food-borne illnesses, major flu outbreaks, hypothermia, various sexually transmitted diseases and even the promotion of vermin are but a few of the noticed tribulations which are preparing to mount up within the camps. Authorities in New York are expressing legitimate concern over the potential fire hazards (CBSNY, 2011) which could place the protest group’s safety in jeopardy. The occupy Wall Street protesters are using gasoline generators for power with complete disregards towards dealing with any possible fire. A quick glance around the area reveals gasoline and other flammable liquids out in the open where a stray spark or carelessly tossed cigarette could result in disastrous results. Has Bloomberg’s lack of safety enforcement indicated to the occupy Wall Street protesters that they are exempt from the laws and fire codes while at the same time placing the city in a responsible position for damages or the loss of life which may result from not enforcing those laws?

Occupy San Francisco has reported a rash of food, garbage and sanitation issues (Sweet, 2011). around the vicinity of occupy Boston the residence have complaining of the foul smells emitting from the encampment of the occupy protesters. these activists are living under conditions which fail to meet even the minimum camp site standards that have been established. Violations abound with inadequate spacing between the tents, a lack of portable toilet facilities and improperly stored food sitting on the ground inviting contamination. There are poor fresh water drinking facilities and no shower capabilities while the garbage is frequently mixed with various medical wastes.

I fail to understand why many of the occupiers are even at the protest sites. I can agree to a certain point about some of their proposed grips concerning corporate greed, bailouts or the tarp program however at some occupy location the participant do not even have a clue as to why they are there or what their ultimate goals are. Occupy Norfolk as an example has established its campsite in a plaza but they have yet to work out any specific details on just what they plan to accomplish. Most of the protestors either have no idea why they are protesting or they are simply upset because other people who are hard-working and put in many long hours at their job earn more money than they do. Many of them make jokes of the issue when confronted that they fail to have a firm goal in mind. When asked about their lack of direction will readily laugh and immediately admit that they have no clues to the purpose of this protest. This indicates that the entire occupy movement is rather open-ended with no specific goals clearly established. in short we have a protest in search of a viable purpose.

Many people who are participating in the activities view it as a vacation where they can bring a good book from the New York Times best seller list and finish it cover to cover in one sitting. To blame corporate profits on the state of our inflated economy is totally inaccurate. these profits do not in any way add to our inflation woes. I feel that these profits of corporations enlarge the economic pie and allow everyone to share equally in the windfall. Corporate profits have traditionally pushed America to the height of success and have provided us with the unprecedented standard of living which we have enjoyed for so many years.

It would not take a large stretch of the imagination to realize that with the occupy movements lack of direction it closely borders upon the October Revolution of 1917 which occurred in the Soviet Union. Even the word Bolshevik indicates a majority which is similar to the occupy crowd in their false beliefs that they represent 99% of the Americans. I would guess that if one were to added all of the occupy members together from around the nation there might possibly be a total of 6 to 8 thousand in all. This is hardly representative of 99% of the country. This looks like another example of history repeating itself.

The sad part is that these long camp-outs are breeding frustration and illegal behavior which tarnishes the group’s image. it would be beneficial for them if the occupiers were to fully understand the extent of their freedoms which they appear to take so loosely. As an example, our freedoms guaranteed to us by the constitution are quite extensive however none of our liberties tolerate the repress of those freedoms experienced by others. I cannot assemble a crowd of people in my neighbor’s backyard. I feel there are many groups who would like nothing better than to suppress our goals as a nation and in order to do so they convince the masses to do their bidding for them such as the UAW or the teamsters. it is difficult to take this movement serious after we have often read about the drug use, rapes and other crimes being committed within their frame of influence. Even shootings have risen drastically within New York as the occupy group increasing in numbers. The atmosphere of these gatherings encourages such anti-social, criminal behavior as materialized with one group who enlisted a 14 year-old runaway girl to offer sexual favors to the protesters in the camp grounds (CBSDFW, 2011). This past month they discovered a husband and wife team at the occupy Boston site who were peddling heroin within the camp (CBS Boston, 2011). these are perfect locations for pushers to sell their wares. these are dangerous groups of people mixed with the crowds of protesters who feel they are above the law and are entitled to anything which they may desire.

Inflation is at best a reflection upon our government’s policies and the debasement of the American currency. these protests are not correcting these conditions but they are merely encouraging anarchy. Would we be better in a world composed of anarchy? it is doubtful, if you care to check Cambodia’s infrastructure you will find it to be a complete failure. Would communism be a better political choice for America as some protester would recommend? not really, read up on North Korea’s human rights and see what this -ism has done for them. Do you think Socialism might be the key that the occupy personnel are seeking? Another not so likely candidate, try to get adequate health care in socialist Canada or England and let me know how well you fair. after one has accomplished this research homework they would likely reappear with their eyes opened wider and have a core understanding as to the inner workings of world ideologies. More than likely they would get up and walk away from the occupy locations without even looking back. They would no longer be living as ignorant cretins just because it is easier to protest than to better their position in life through hard work.

Let us assume for a moment that the members of Wall Street stopped providing money to the nation’s universities, various hospitals, and to a myriad of charities around America. What do you imagine would happen to much of the non-governmental infrastructure? The results would not be pretty.

Don’t misunderstand me as I realize that not everyone involved in the occupy program are communists, Marxists or socialists however it really would not matter if they were for if the protesters were to succeed in what they are doing our capitalistic future would look dim at best. our current system is just fine and merely needs a bit of fine tuned and cleaned up to put it back on track. From what I have seen of this so-called movement it is a confused collection of misfits, losers and deadbeats with no defined focus or purpose.

Although I am not a great fan of icy rain or snow perhaps the cold weather could be a mixed blessing. at least we could hope that with the predicted snows due to arrive around the nation this week we may see these misguided occupy groups uncomfortable enough to break up, go home and finally review what they have been doing with a clear mind. my advice would be for these group members with so much additional time on their hands to volunteer for some productive community actions. help out in one of the county soup kitchens or assist underprivileged children in learning a useful skill. help build up the community and not work towards destroying it.

CBS Boston. (2011). Pair Living With Occupy Boston Protesters Arrested For Selling Heroin. Retrieved from boston.cbslocal.com/2011/10/24/pair-living-with-occupy-boston-protesters-arrested-for-selling-heroin/

CBSDFW. (2011). Police Investigating Possible Sexual Assault Of Teen at Occupy Dallas. Retrieved from dfw.cbslocal.com/2011/10/24/accusations-of-teen-runaway-sexual-activity-at-occupy-dallas/

CBSNY. (2011). FDNY Concerned Zuccotti Park Turning into Firetrap. Retrieved from newyork.cbslocal.com/2011/10/24/sources-fdny-concerned-zuccotti-park-turning-into-firetrap/

Hamilton, B. (2011). Shootings way up in two weeks. Retrieved from nypost.com/p/news/local/shootings_way_up_in_two_weeks_rajGrOA0bMpTBslidEUgOI

Sweet, L. (2011). Health conditions ripe for disaster officials fear. Retrieved from bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1376084