Arrests as Occupy protesters mark anniversary
Source: Agencies |
March 19, 2012, Monday
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Print Edition
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POLICE arrested dozens of Occupy Wall Street protesters on Saturday during a protest marking the movement's six-month anniversary at its birthplace in New York's Zuccotti Park.
A police sweep of the park just before midnight capped a day of demonstrations and marching in lower Manhattan. There was no official word on the number of arrests but dozens of people in handcuffs were seen being led out of the park.
Earlier in the day, 15 people were arrested and three officers suffered injuries, police said.
Protesters reconvened at the park following afternoon marches through New York's financial district. By 11pm roughly 300 had gathered there.
"This is our spring offensive," said Michael Premo, 30, of New York, who said he was a spokesman for the movement. "People think the Occupy movement has gone away. It's important for people to see we're back."
Inspired by the pro-democracy Arab Spring, the Wall Street protesters targeted US financial policies they blamed for the income gap between rich and poor, between what they called the 1 percent and the 99 percent. The demonstrators set up camp in Zuccotti Park on September 17 and sparked a wave of protests across the United States.
On Saturday evening, several dozen police ringed the park and watched the crowd. Detective Brian Sessa said no action would be taken as long as the activists made no move to establish a camp.
Shortly after 11:30pm, some protesters began to erect tents near the center of the park and police moved in, protester Cari Machet said. "They came in to shut it down," Machet said. "They told us we had to leave because the park was closed."
When about 100 officers entered the park, dozens of protesters sat on the ground and refused to leave. They were put in police buses and vans.
Independent filmmaker Michael Moore was in the park before the police incursion.
"I think it's great that this movement continues to grow," he said.
"I think the goals are clear. People are concerned that they have no control over their own democracy. They have no control over their own lives.
"This is the beginning. This park is sacred ground for millions across the country."
A police sweep of the park just before midnight capped a day of demonstrations and marching in lower Manhattan. There was no official word on the number of arrests but dozens of people in handcuffs were seen being led out of the park.
Earlier in the day, 15 people were arrested and three officers suffered injuries, police said.
Protesters reconvened at the park following afternoon marches through New York's financial district. By 11pm roughly 300 had gathered there.
"This is our spring offensive," said Michael Premo, 30, of New York, who said he was a spokesman for the movement. "People think the Occupy movement has gone away. It's important for people to see we're back."
Inspired by the pro-democracy Arab Spring, the Wall Street protesters targeted US financial policies they blamed for the income gap between rich and poor, between what they called the 1 percent and the 99 percent. The demonstrators set up camp in Zuccotti Park on September 17 and sparked a wave of protests across the United States.
On Saturday evening, several dozen police ringed the park and watched the crowd. Detective Brian Sessa said no action would be taken as long as the activists made no move to establish a camp.
Shortly after 11:30pm, some protesters began to erect tents near the center of the park and police moved in, protester Cari Machet said. "They came in to shut it down," Machet said. "They told us we had to leave because the park was closed."
When about 100 officers entered the park, dozens of protesters sat on the ground and refused to leave. They were put in police buses and vans.
Independent filmmaker Michael Moore was in the park before the police incursion.
"I think it's great that this movement continues to grow," he said.
"I think the goals are clear. People are concerned that they have no control over their own democracy. They have no control over their own lives.
"This is the beginning. This park is sacred ground for millions across the country."
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