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500 Arrested on Brooklyn Bridge in Occupy Wall St. Protests

By Jeralyn, Section Civil Liberties
Posted on Sat Oct 01, 2011 at 08:51:53 PM EST
Tags: Occupy Wall St (all tags)
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Police arrested 500 protesters participating in Occupy Wall St. at the Brooklyn Bridge today. The NY Times reports many felt they were tricked.

Protesters who used the Brooklyn Bridge walkway were not arrested,” said the head police spokesman, Paul J. Browne. “Those who took over the Brooklyn-bound roadway, and impeded vehicle traffic, were arrested.”

But many protesters said that they thought the police had tricked and trapped them, allowing them onto the bridge and even escorting them across, only to surround them in orange netting after hundreds of them had entered.

Earlier in the afternoon, 10 buses from the Department of Corrections at Rikers Island were dispatched to the site.

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    500 Arrested on Brooklyn Bridge in Occupy Wall St. Protests | 25 comments (25 topical)

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    The Occupied Wall Street Journal (5.00 / 2) (#3)
    by Towanda on Sat Oct 01, 2011 at 11:01:40 PM EST
    is in print today, a run of 50,000, making their own media if media won't do so.  And they already have raised twice the money needed to keep publishing.

    Is that why the NY Times now gives the movement ink, or was it because there weren't enough arrest before?  Does it take 500 arrests?  Good to know.

    Oh, and the daily protest in Wisconsin's capital continues, something like its sixth month now sinc Occupy the State Capitol.  A friend on Facebook also posted a photo of a banner flown by a plane that circled over the Badger game today: a Recall Walker banner.  It wasn't allowed to be shown on tv, the friend says, but that's why we have Facebook.

    The media, the politicians, had better start to get it soon.  There are Occupy sites all over the country, dozens of cities and towns (arrests elsewhere today, too, not just in New York).  This is a movement well on the way, with a newspaper and websites and fundraising. . . .

    New York Times reported that police tricked them. (5.00 / 3) (#11)
    by editor u on Sun Oct 02, 2011 at 11:42:20 AM EST
    Their second version of the story, though, left that fact off the lead.

    See here for a comparison. Pay special attention to the clarifying comments by affinis and MsExPat (the latter commenter was at the scene).

    I stopped at the park last night to give them an umbrella (alas, I was about six hours too late for yesterday's wretched downpour). I'll either order them some pizza or buy some cotton socks and take those over later today.

    I don't quite understand why a protest (5.00 / 1) (#13)
    by tigercourse on Sun Oct 02, 2011 at 12:49:47 PM EST
    march against Wall Street and big business was going over the Brooklyn Bridge.

    Nice view. (5.00 / 1) (#15)
    by oculus on Sun Oct 02, 2011 at 01:24:02 PM EST


    Parent
    After being processed (none / 0) (#1)
    by NYShooter on Sat Oct 01, 2011 at 10:19:57 PM EST
    thru Rikers, they`ll come out different people than they went in.

    500, maybe naive kids, turned into battle hardened protesters (and/or anarchists?)

    A headline somewhere today: "Ray Kelly, The Protester's Best Friend."

    (I would toss in Mayor Bloomberg)

    I saw that New Yorker piece friday (none / 0) (#2)
    by Mr Natural on Sat Oct 01, 2011 at 10:36:42 PM EST
    Here by a guy who also wrote yet another damnation of White House economic policy, Wrong-Way Corrigans in Charge at White House.

    That said, anybody wanna reminisce about sit-ins?

    Parent

    Poor people's march (none / 0) (#6)
    by Coral on Sun Oct 02, 2011 at 08:33:42 AM EST
    That's what it reminds me of. These testimonials touch a nerve because they represent people and situations that are very familiar to me.

    Parent
    Of course (none / 0) (#18)
    by lentinel on Sun Oct 02, 2011 at 03:24:56 PM EST
    this will have no resonance in the White House.

    It will only capture Obama's attention if it spreads.

    There is certainly enough anger and discontent in the land, and no candidates to represent it. No candidates, that is, on the left - on the side of life, liberty and the pursuit of just staying alive.

    If the government continues on its clueless path, we may wind up with another 1968 democratic convention. Only this time it could be worse because the attempts to confine the protesters, the people, will be more vicious.

    Parent

    There is something deja vu (5.00 / 1) (#22)
    by Towanda on Sun Oct 02, 2011 at 08:57:30 PM EST
    about the voter discontent at this stage that is reminiscent of the runup to the 1968 chaos, which came after a Democratic president decided late in the game to heed the polls and not run for a second term. . . .

    Parent
    LOL - Someone asked me recently (5.00 / 2) (#23)
    by sj on Mon Oct 03, 2011 at 12:34:15 AM EST
    if there is anything Obama could say at this point that would make me happy.  I had to think about it but I finally realized "I shall not seek, and will not accept..." would probably do it.

    Parent
    I think (none / 0) (#24)
    by lentinel on Mon Oct 03, 2011 at 07:26:35 AM EST
    that we will need a challenger on the Democratic side to complete the picture.

    I would love to see it.

    Many Elizabeth Warren would consider shifting her sights...

    Anyway - someone like her - straightforward - uncomplicated - passionate - + a touch of anger.

    Parent

    Chicago was plenty violent. Didn't you (none / 0) (#19)
    by oculus on Sun Oct 02, 2011 at 03:32:20 PM EST
    see the TV coverage?  Probably too young.
    Shouldn't the Pres. "reach out" to the protestors?  No one else will.  

    Parent
    I do (5.00 / 1) (#21)
    by lentinel on Sun Oct 02, 2011 at 05:59:29 PM EST
    know about the violence in 1968.
    I have seen the footage.
    I think that this time around, it could be even worse.

    Yes.
    Obama should reach out to the protesters.
    He should also address their concerns.

    My guess is that he will not.

    Parent

    I agree (none / 0) (#5)
    by lentinel on Sun Oct 02, 2011 at 06:06:21 AM EST
    with what you wrote...

    And what does that express about the kind of enemies we are creating by continuously killing people in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq?

    Are we in fact Al Qaeda's best friend?

    Parent

    They wouldn't process them thru Rikers (none / 0) (#7)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Oct 02, 2011 at 09:08:12 AM EST
    You are only held for a few hours when arrested for protesting, and if they abuse anymore participants at this point it will only serve to make the protest larger and may even trigger violence.  I'm pretty sure they know this.  I think this protest was destined to get huge and unavoidable, but Tony Baloney with the pepper spray sure sped that up.

    Parent
    What (none / 0) (#4)
    by lentinel on Sun Oct 02, 2011 at 06:01:34 AM EST
    a wonderful bit of nostalgia.

    It brings back fond memories.
    Kent State.
    Riots.
    1968 Chicago.
    Putting protesters in cages or fenced off areas so as to protect our fragile elected officials from having to witness such disgraceful conduct.

    I love the netting idea.
    Orange netting did you say?
    Love it.
    Kind of like fishing for crabs.

    And - for a grand finale - how about Obama designating one of these guys as an enemy combatant and offing him?

    I'm poppin' my buttons.

    They always find ways to put barriers up (none / 0) (#8)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Oct 02, 2011 at 09:12:16 AM EST
    at every protest I've ever been to once it lasts longer than 24 hours or if they were able to anticipate it.  One way to get around that without inciting violence from the cops is to outgrow your space.  What can they do?  They didn't provide enough room in their "free speech zone".  This protest has now done that.

    Parent
    As citizens, (5.00 / 1) (#17)
    by lentinel on Sun Oct 02, 2011 at 03:19:28 PM EST
    why do we tolerate being treated like cattle?

    Parent
    Good question (none / 0) (#20)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Oct 02, 2011 at 05:21:56 PM EST


    Parent
    Hope (none / 0) (#9)
    by dead dancer on Sun Oct 02, 2011 at 11:15:01 AM EST
    kdog, oculus, and/or ruffian didn't get caught up in this mess.

    More privacy issues; that the press just doesn't seem to give a cr*p about.

    oculus is safely home in CA. (5.00 / 1) (#10)
    by oculus on Sun Oct 02, 2011 at 11:35:18 AM EST


    Parent
    Ruffian is home in Orlando (5.00 / 2) (#12)
    by ruffian on Sun Oct 02, 2011 at 12:37:22 PM EST
    no jail this weaken. I hope I would have been brave enough to do it if I were in NYC. I so admire those that are.

    Parent
    Should I text kdog? Probably playing (none / 0) (#16)
    by oculus on Sun Oct 02, 2011 at 01:24:35 PM EST
    football with the Post Office team.  

    Parent
    Sorry D.D.... (none / 0) (#25)
    by kdog on Mon Oct 03, 2011 at 10:27:30 AM EST
    you wasted your concern on a total lame-o.

    My best laid plans to join the freedom party on Saturday went up in smoke when I woke up on a porcelain pillow after too much revelry, not enough food, after the stupendous Elvis Costello & The Imposters show Friday Night.  

    Embarassing...I am part of the problem, not part of the solution.

    Parent

    The Prez (none / 0) (#14)
    by SOS on Sun Oct 02, 2011 at 12:58:33 PM EST
    must be chainsmoking again. Drawing down to the filter, one after another, in the Prezidential bathroom with the window open at every opportunity.

    500 Arrested on Brooklyn Bridge in Occupy Wall St. Protests | 25 comments (25 topical)

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