OWS protesters cause mayhem across the city, 177 arrested - NYPOST.com
Thousands of anti-Wall Street protesters clashed with cops today across lower Manhattan, starting with a march on the New York Stock Exchange this morning and ending with a crossing of the Brooklyn Bridge that snarled traffic.
Cops responded in force, at one point this afternoon sweeping into Zuccotti Park and arresting anyone inside. In total, at least 275 people were busted by cops; five of whom were charged with assault.
The culmination of the day of protests to mark the movement's two-month anniversary began with hundreds of protesters massing on the Manhattan side of the Brooklyn Bridge.
Ninty-nine people wearing white T-shirts reading "99%" sat down on Park Row, blocking traffic.
Cops quickly moved in and began arresting them. Centre and Chambers streets were packed with protesters.
PHOTOS: OWS PROTESTS
ZUKE KOOK HELD ON $25K BAIL
Cops locked the east side of City Hall that faces the bridge.
But once protesters got to the bridge, many simply began peacefully walking across the pedestrian walkway, making their way into Brooklyn.
OWS's last organized hike across the span resulted in more than 700 arrests on Oct. 1.
The day began when protesters attempted to march toward the New York Stock Exchange.
The march began peacefully, but quickly grew tense and escalated as cops arrested 60 people that had tried to jump over barricades near Wall Street.
Police confiscated about a dozen metal devices comprised of metal sleeves welded together and designed to accommodate individuals who planned to lock themselves to the entrances of Wall Street businesses this morning.
Others were cuffed and hauled off after they sat on the ground in defiance after cops had ordered them to scatter.
"My question is how is that illegal to stand there? I got pushed and stepped on. This is the United States of America. I can walk on any sidewalk I want to," whined Jessica Allure, 24, a student.
"Make no mistake about it, if anyone's actions cross the line ... we will respond accordingly," Mayor Bloomberg warned during a news conference this afternoon, pointing out that protesters had provoked cops.
"Those that break the law or assault other people, particularly our first responders, are going to be arrested," the mayor vowed.
In total, seven police officers were injured in today's chaotic series of events. One of them suffered a cut on his hand that required 20 stitches after a protester tossed an unknown object at him.
Four others were hurt this morning when a demonstrator threw liquid — possibly vinegar — in their eyes.
Organizers have said they were energized by Bloomberg’s decision to clean out the squalid tent city at Zuccotti Park this past Tuesday, resulting in 230 arrests.
The NYPD had been prepared for all-out war — adding an extra 1,000 cops per shift and calling in extra officers throughout the day.
The massive police mobilization is on par with the 2004 Republican National Convention — although today’s protests were far more widespread.
Here is a timeline of today's events:
-- The day began when a contingent of 500 protesters gathered near Zuccotti Park at 7 a.m. and walked towards Wall Street.
At 8 a.m., a large group gathered on the east side of Broadway and splintered into two groups in an effort to fool cops.
"All day, all week, occupy Wall Street," the protesters chanted as they flooded Nassau and Pine streets.
Another crowd of unruly protesters on Broad and Beaver streets also got into a skirmish with cops.
Cops were prepared even though as many as 500 protesters had clogged the streets, pushing and shoving police officers who tried to stop them. Police in riot gear had ordered them to stay away as cops barricaded many of the protesters in an effort to thwart them from blocking traffic and getting near Wall Street.
-- OWS protesters never got close to the stock exchange and the market opened as normal at 9:30 a.m. Traffic along Broadway was briefly halted, causing city buses to take detours.
-- After the 60 arrests near Wall Street this morning, the protesters retreated north along Broadway near Trinity Church. Demonstrators eventually went back to Zuccotti Park, which has been their base since Sept. 17.
A fracas between cops and protesters erupted in the park at about 11 a.m. when demonstrators took down police barricades. Protesters streamed into the park when a few people grabbed a metal barricade and started dragging it, screaming "Whose fences? Our fences!"
That's when cops moved in to restore order, making several arrests and putting the barricades back into place.
-- At about 1:40 p.m., police started forcefully clearing Zuccotti Park, shoving protesters with their batons and making more arrests. The fracas became bloody after a cop's hat was flipped off his head.
Witnesses said they were unsure what sparked the police action, but said no warning was issued. Protesters were penned inside the park as cops allowed no one to enter or exit the area.
-- At about the same time, a contingent of protesters decided to storm City Hall, but unknowingly ran to the Department of Education building on Chambers Street. Once there, they comically chanted, “Bloomberg must go! Bloomberg must go!”
Finally, one of the clueless demonstrators realized the mistake and told the others: “This isn’t City Hall?”
They then ran to 1 Centre Street, where one exclaimed: “There it is! That’s City Hall!” and the chanting resumed.
-- At 3 p.m., Union Square became the site of renewed protests. Over 500 people marched there from Zuccotti Park and converged onto the area.
About an hour later, protesters closed off 14th Street and Fifth Avenue to car traffic when they started marching in the middle of the street. Cops formed a human barricade in an effort to stop them from moving forward as protestors slowly made their way downtown.
Protesters eventually heeded the police's warning and marched on the sidewalks.
Many of them were NYU students who complained of tuition hikes, chanting "We are the 99 percent!"
-- At the same time, other groups of demonstrators fanned out to 16 transit hubs in all five boroughs in an effort to block straphangers from getting around the city.
Dozens of protesters took various subways lines to Foley Square in lower Manhattan to attend a large rally. The subway occupation caused very little disruption to commuters.
-- At about 5 p.m., hundreds of protesters began massing in Foley Square for the Brooklyn Bridge siege. Dozens blocks streets on the Manhattan side, but ultimately the crowd simply crossed the bridge into Brooklyn.
Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/manhattan/roughly_people_demonstration_gathered_dqucDJs1oJYCdedLgh4rwL#ixzz1e4EdYra4
By HANNAH RAPPLEYE, IKIMULISA LIVINGSTON and CLEMENTE LISI
Last Updated: 7:50 AM, November 18, 2011
Thousands of anti-Wall Street protesters clashed with cops today across lower Manhattan, starting with a march on the New York Stock Exchange this morning and ending with a crossing of the Brooklyn Bridge that snarled traffic.
Cops responded in force, at one point this afternoon sweeping into Zuccotti Park and arresting anyone inside. In total, at least 275 people were busted by cops; five of whom were charged with assault.
The culmination of the day of protests to mark the movement's two-month anniversary began with hundreds of protesters massing on the Manhattan side of the Brooklyn Bridge.
Ninty-nine people wearing white T-shirts reading "99%" sat down on Park Row, blocking traffic.
Cops quickly moved in and began arresting them. Centre and Chambers streets were packed with protesters.
PHOTOS: OWS PROTESTS
ZUKE KOOK HELD ON $25K BAIL
Cops locked the east side of City Hall that faces the bridge.
But once protesters got to the bridge, many simply began peacefully walking across the pedestrian walkway, making their way into Brooklyn.
OWS's last organized hike across the span resulted in more than 700 arrests on Oct. 1.
The day began when protesters attempted to march toward the New York Stock Exchange.
The march began peacefully, but quickly grew tense and escalated as cops arrested 60 people that had tried to jump over barricades near Wall Street.
Police confiscated about a dozen metal devices comprised of metal sleeves welded together and designed to accommodate individuals who planned to lock themselves to the entrances of Wall Street businesses this morning.
Others were cuffed and hauled off after they sat on the ground in defiance after cops had ordered them to scatter.
"My question is how is that illegal to stand there? I got pushed and stepped on. This is the United States of America. I can walk on any sidewalk I want to," whined Jessica Allure, 24, a student.
"Make no mistake about it, if anyone's actions cross the line ... we will respond accordingly," Mayor Bloomberg warned during a news conference this afternoon, pointing out that protesters had provoked cops.
"Those that break the law or assault other people, particularly our first responders, are going to be arrested," the mayor vowed.
In total, seven police officers were injured in today's chaotic series of events. One of them suffered a cut on his hand that required 20 stitches after a protester tossed an unknown object at him.
Four others were hurt this morning when a demonstrator threw liquid — possibly vinegar — in their eyes.
Organizers have said they were energized by Bloomberg’s decision to clean out the squalid tent city at Zuccotti Park this past Tuesday, resulting in 230 arrests.
The NYPD had been prepared for all-out war — adding an extra 1,000 cops per shift and calling in extra officers throughout the day.
The massive police mobilization is on par with the 2004 Republican National Convention — although today’s protests were far more widespread.
Here is a timeline of today's events:
-- The day began when a contingent of 500 protesters gathered near Zuccotti Park at 7 a.m. and walked towards Wall Street.
At 8 a.m., a large group gathered on the east side of Broadway and splintered into two groups in an effort to fool cops.
"All day, all week, occupy Wall Street," the protesters chanted as they flooded Nassau and Pine streets.
Another crowd of unruly protesters on Broad and Beaver streets also got into a skirmish with cops.
Cops were prepared even though as many as 500 protesters had clogged the streets, pushing and shoving police officers who tried to stop them. Police in riot gear had ordered them to stay away as cops barricaded many of the protesters in an effort to thwart them from blocking traffic and getting near Wall Street.
-- OWS protesters never got close to the stock exchange and the market opened as normal at 9:30 a.m. Traffic along Broadway was briefly halted, causing city buses to take detours.
-- After the 60 arrests near Wall Street this morning, the protesters retreated north along Broadway near Trinity Church. Demonstrators eventually went back to Zuccotti Park, which has been their base since Sept. 17.
A fracas between cops and protesters erupted in the park at about 11 a.m. when demonstrators took down police barricades. Protesters streamed into the park when a few people grabbed a metal barricade and started dragging it, screaming "Whose fences? Our fences!"
That's when cops moved in to restore order, making several arrests and putting the barricades back into place.
-- At about 1:40 p.m., police started forcefully clearing Zuccotti Park, shoving protesters with their batons and making more arrests. The fracas became bloody after a cop's hat was flipped off his head.
Witnesses said they were unsure what sparked the police action, but said no warning was issued. Protesters were penned inside the park as cops allowed no one to enter or exit the area.
-- At about the same time, a contingent of protesters decided to storm City Hall, but unknowingly ran to the Department of Education building on Chambers Street. Once there, they comically chanted, “Bloomberg must go! Bloomberg must go!”
Finally, one of the clueless demonstrators realized the mistake and told the others: “This isn’t City Hall?”
They then ran to 1 Centre Street, where one exclaimed: “There it is! That’s City Hall!” and the chanting resumed.
-- At 3 p.m., Union Square became the site of renewed protests. Over 500 people marched there from Zuccotti Park and converged onto the area.
About an hour later, protesters closed off 14th Street and Fifth Avenue to car traffic when they started marching in the middle of the street. Cops formed a human barricade in an effort to stop them from moving forward as protestors slowly made their way downtown.
Protesters eventually heeded the police's warning and marched on the sidewalks.
Many of them were NYU students who complained of tuition hikes, chanting "We are the 99 percent!"
-- At the same time, other groups of demonstrators fanned out to 16 transit hubs in all five boroughs in an effort to block straphangers from getting around the city.
Dozens of protesters took various subways lines to Foley Square in lower Manhattan to attend a large rally. The subway occupation caused very little disruption to commuters.
-- At about 5 p.m., hundreds of protesters began massing in Foley Square for the Brooklyn Bridge siege. Dozens blocks streets on the Manhattan side, but ultimately the crowd simply crossed the bridge into Brooklyn.
Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/manhattan/roughly_people_demonstration_gathered_dqucDJs1oJYCdedLgh4rwL#ixzz1e4EdYra4
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