Police end protest in NY park
Source: Agencies |
November 16, 2011, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
Hundreds of police officers in riot gear raided the New York City park where the Occupy Wall Street protests began, evicting and arresting hundreds of protesters early yesterday from what has become the epicenter of a worldwide movement protesting corporate greed and economic inequality.
Hours later, the National Lawyers Guild obtained a court order allowing the protesters to return with their tents to the park where they have camped for two months. The guild said the injunction prevents the city enforcing park rules on protesters.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg told reporters the evacuation was conducted in the middle of the night "to reduce the risk of confrontation in the park, and to minimize disruption to the surrounding neighborhood."
Hundreds of police officers in riot gear surrounded the park overnight, holding plastic shields and batons which, in some cases, were used on protesters. Police flooded the park with lights and used bull horns to tell everyone to leave.
Police "had their pepper spray out and were ready to use it," protester Jake Rozak said.
About 200 people were arrested, including some who chained themselves together. Others chanted or shouted angrily at police and vowed to march in protest.
Protesters in New York fought back the threat of a similar sweep weeks ago, but momentum against the camps appears to be growing as authorities across the US grow impatient with the self-proclaimed movement and its lack of a focused demand.
Bloomberg said the city knew about the court order but had not seen it and would go to court to fight it.
"From the beginning, I have said that the city had two principal goals: guaranteeing public health and safety, and guaranteeing the protesters' First Amendment rights" to free speech," he said. "But when those two goals clash, the health and safety of the public and our first responders must be the priority."
By 9am, the park was power-washed clean by sanitation workers. Police in riot gear ringed the space, waiting for orders to reopen it.
The city told protesters they could come back after the cleaning, but under new rules, including no tents, sleeping bags or tarps, which would effectively put an end to the encampment if enforced.
Concerns about health and safety issues at Occupy Wall Street camps around the US have intensified, and protesters have been ordered to take down shelters, adhere to curfews and relocate so parks can be cleaned.
Hours later, the National Lawyers Guild obtained a court order allowing the protesters to return with their tents to the park where they have camped for two months. The guild said the injunction prevents the city enforcing park rules on protesters.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg told reporters the evacuation was conducted in the middle of the night "to reduce the risk of confrontation in the park, and to minimize disruption to the surrounding neighborhood."
Hundreds of police officers in riot gear surrounded the park overnight, holding plastic shields and batons which, in some cases, were used on protesters. Police flooded the park with lights and used bull horns to tell everyone to leave.
Police "had their pepper spray out and were ready to use it," protester Jake Rozak said.
About 200 people were arrested, including some who chained themselves together. Others chanted or shouted angrily at police and vowed to march in protest.
Protesters in New York fought back the threat of a similar sweep weeks ago, but momentum against the camps appears to be growing as authorities across the US grow impatient with the self-proclaimed movement and its lack of a focused demand.
Bloomberg said the city knew about the court order but had not seen it and would go to court to fight it.
"From the beginning, I have said that the city had two principal goals: guaranteeing public health and safety, and guaranteeing the protesters' First Amendment rights" to free speech," he said. "But when those two goals clash, the health and safety of the public and our first responders must be the priority."
By 9am, the park was power-washed clean by sanitation workers. Police in riot gear ringed the space, waiting for orders to reopen it.
The city told protesters they could come back after the cleaning, but under new rules, including no tents, sleeping bags or tarps, which would effectively put an end to the encampment if enforced.
Concerns about health and safety issues at Occupy Wall Street camps around the US have intensified, and protesters have been ordered to take down shelters, adhere to curfews and relocate so parks can be cleaned.
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