I sent this email to a few friends and my family after returning from Zucotti Park on Thursday afternoon. I wanted to see what was happening post court case.
(footnote: Sadly, when I left my house Thursday morning I did not know that I would be needing my camera so all pictures were taken with my (new) iphone and while I hope they capture some of the mood, it just is not the same...)
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From: Roffman, Elana
Sent: Thursday, November 17, 2011 2:44 PM
Subject: FW: NYPD Attack at Zuccotti Now Underway
Hi,
I just returned from zucotti park. There is a wall of fencing around the park and then a wall of officers. There were hundreds of police. There were people marching outside the fenced in park-yelling things like go fight crime. We were there and watched the riot, for lack of a better word. The interior of the park was cop free when we got there and a fight between a man and an officer broke out and then the police stormed the park. I don't know exactly what led up to the man getting beat up and then arrested but I cannot imagine it was anything life threatening to the police that would warrant that reaction. Also, people were throwing things at the police which wasn't smart but didn't warrant the hundreds of cops then storming the park. Beth P., Diana S. and I almost got stuck, the police stopped letting people out but luckily and somehow we got out and I have pictures of the fighting and video, too. There was blood. It was intense. Beth and I both sorta wish we were trapped there but also glad to be free. Beth H. thought we were trapped in the park and didn't know who, in management, to tell. I am glad for her that we aren't trapped.
Pictures to follow.
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From: EMAIL SENT TO MY UNION LISTSERVE, AT THE EXACT TIME I WAS TRYING TO LEAVE THE PARK
Sent: Thursday, November 17, 2011 2:07 PM
Subject: NYPD Attack at Zuccotti Now Underway
As being webcast on OccupyNYC, hundreds of NYPD have just attacked Zuccotti Park, not allowing anyone in or out, assaulted occupiers with batons, unknown number of arrests:
http://www.livestream.com/occupynyc
This is my lunch story...
It started with a walk from the east side of the city, where we work, to Zucotti park. As we got closer to the park, the police presence increased. We could hear protestors yelling as they marched down the street, police helicopters overhead and the sirens all around us.
The streets were barricaded and there were hundreds of police officers milling around.
There were barricades around the park but we found our way inside where we ran into a friend of BP's.
BP, friend, DS
(I thought wherever you stood in America was a free speech zone. Apparently I was wrong.)
A large crowd gathered in front of me. People were pushing. It was raining. People started yelling "peaceful protest" among other chants. I didn't find out the story until afterwards.
So, here is the story about how the riot start, as most reporters are telling it... (honestly, if you throw things at police officers and steal their hats, you should expect trouble and ulitmately to get arrested. My clients get hurt by the police, and/or arrested, after less instigation or none at all. However, as someone who was in the park, peacefully observing the scene, the hundreds of cops who felt the need to swarm the park to effectuate the arrest seemed unneccessary.)
I do not think there were any police within the barricaded park when I got there.(this is the blood of the guy who got beat up)
(This man does not hold a bible in his hands. It is the constitution.)
 |
| a legal observer. I want the green hat. It is on my list of things to do. |
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| this is BP. we were trying to find out way out. It wasn't that easy because all the entrances were closed. one officer let us out, after making a snide comment to BP. We later found out that when we were trying to leave, they were refusing to allow people out of the park. |
I am happy we got out.
stay tuned for pictures from the bridge.
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