Eviction of Occupy Wall Street From NYC Park Postponed
EmailABC News’ Greg Krieg reports from New York City:
City officials today postponed a cleanup of Zuccotti Park after earlier threatening to evict Occupy Wall Street protesters who have been encamped here. Jubilant protesters later poured from the park to the Wall Street area, some clashing with police. As many as 15 people were reportedly arrested for blocking access.
As the announcement was made via the “people’s mic” at 6:40 a.m., the crowd waved their brooms in triumph. Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s office tweeted that Brookfield Properties, owner of the park, (and not the city) decided to postpone cleaning. The city was informed “late last night.”
Occupy Wall Street had vowed yesterday to stay in the park and try to prevent the cleaning crews from entering. The crowd of at least a thousand has gathered before dawn today, girding for a struggle.
In Denver, dozens of police in riot gear pushed Wall Street protesters into retreat outside the state Capitol, and the protesters are retreating without resisting, the AP reported. Many of the protesters chanted “Peaceful!” as they backed away from their encampment early Friday.
Officers were placing plastic handcuffs on some protesters. Authorities began taking down dozens of tents at around 3:30 a.m. At about 6:30 a.m., officers in helmets and carrying batons advanced on the a line of protesters who had locked arms around the tents, including a makeshift kitchen.
Back in New York, one protester was injured by a police motorcycle. The extent of the injuries wasn’t immediately clear.
Protester Greg Disney told ABC News: ”We came here from DC on a bus at 4 am because we thought they were gonna thrown out. What happens here is the catalyst for all the actions everywhere around the country. This is a boost.”
Disney added: “I think tomorrow will say a lot. There’s a day of rage planned and I’m sure it’ll be pretty awesome.”
Ben Maer, a New York City native, said he’d been by with a friend to support the group several times. ”But we haven’t slept here or camped out. But with the eviction, we wanted get here early and support them.”
“It just shows the city doesn’t really care about ‘sanitation’ or whatever. If they wanted to help that put a few port-a-potties around.”
In a statement on Wednesday, Deputy Mayor Cas Holloway said the protest, “created unsanitary conditions and considerable wear and tear on the park.” He explained that Brookfield Properties, the real estate company that owns the park, asked for police assistance to empty the park in order for it to be cleaned.
According to a notice from Brookfield Properties the cleaning was scheduled to begin at 7 a.m. on Friday.
The owners of the park have informed protesters that following the cleaning,rules against camping, the erection of tents or other structures, placing tarps or sleeping bags on the ground, lying on the ground or on benches would be enforced.
While the movement appears to be united in its desire to stay in the park, Occupy Wall Street remains leaderless without an organized message or list of demands.
On the Late Show with David Letterman, Wednesday night, former president Bill Clinton said it’s time they took a proactive position.
“I think on balance this is going to be a positive thing, but they’re going to have to transfer energies at some point to making some specific suggestions,” he said. “They need to be for something specific and not just against something because if you’re just against something, somebody else will fill the vacuum you create.”
In a blog posted on his website, Clinton’s former vice president Al Gore expressed his support.
“Count me among those supporting and cheering on the Occupy Wall Street movement,” he wrote.
Cititgroup CEO Vikram Pandit said he understands why the protesters are frustrated.
“Trust has been broken between financial institutions and the citizens of the U.S., and that is Wall Street’s job, to reach out to Main Street and rebuild that trust,” Pandit said on Wednesday according to Businessweek.
Pandit even offered to speak with the demonstrators.
“I’d talk about the fact that they should hold Citi and the financial institutions accountable for practicing responsible finance,” said Pandit. “I’d be happy to talk to them any time they want to come up.”
ABC News’ Ben Forer, Richard Esposito and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
RSS
Twitter
Facebook
Make whatever statement you want, protestors. HOWEVER, you should NOT be allowed to create unhealthy, unsanitary, or unsafe conditions where you are. Taking dumps on police cars, leaving garbage and trash lying around, and otherwise slowly turning the place into a toxic waste dump should NOT be allowed. And then I hear stores and see pictures about the protestors bringing infants and children into that filthy site. Clean up yourselves and set an example about how others should clean themselves up, or your message will just be contradicting itself……
Posted by: MNResident | October 14, 2011, 7:51 am 7:51 am
Deputy Mayor Cas Holloway said the protest, “created unsanitary conditions and considerable wear and tear on the park.”
Considerable wear and tear on the park?!?!? This park doesn’t even have any grass! It’s all concrete and a bunch of skinny trees! Talk about a lame excuse……….
Posted by: Searambler | October 14, 2011, 8:16 am 8:16 am
Deputy Mayor Cas Holloway said the protest, “created unsanitary conditions and considerable wear and tear on the park.”
Considerable wear and tear on the park?!?!? This park doesn’t even have any grass! It’s all concrete and a bunch of skinny trees! Talk about a lame excuse….
Posted by: Searambler | October 14, 2011, 8:17 am 8:17 am
Deputy Mayor Cas Holloway said the protest, “created unsanitary conditions and considerable wear and tear on the park.”
Considerable wear and tear on the park?!?!? This park doesn’t even have any grass! It’s all concrete and a bunch of skinny trees! Talk about a lame excuse…….
Posted by: Searambler | October 14, 2011, 8:17 am 8:17 am
Why are these people being allowed to take over a private park and trash it? While I agree that it seems unfair that Wall Street traders and uncrupulous banks can cause harm to the economy and all of us, people who were largely not involved in any of these actions, the protesters seem unorganized and unsure and are just flailing around yammering incoherently. This protest is not going to solve anything. It’s too much like the Tea Partiers who are also just flailing around with their own extremist idiocy. Civil discourse and real solutions to problems are what we need instead of that kind of nonsense.
Posted by: EarlGrayHot | October 14, 2011, 8:25 am 8:25 am
I see where a majority of the protesters are white in their mid 20′s with 34 percent of them believing that the USA is no better than Al-Qaeda. The left can have that bunch of punk losers.
Posted by: todd | October 14, 2011, 8:42 am 8:42 am
Zuccotti Park, once known as Liberty Plaza Park, is now named for the CEO of the firm that owns it and rebuilt it after 9/11. It was built in 1968 but U.S. Steel as part of a “height swap,” which allowed them to build the skyscraper that is now known as One Liberty Plaza taller. Perfect irony.
Posted by: Shelby G. Spires | October 14, 2011, 8:44 am 8:44 am
Americans you are sad people, I am ashamed to say I am an American. You all post these sad comments about how should they be allowed to trash a private park, WHAT ABOUT MY PRIVATE TAX DOLLARS, the government does what every they want with it. OH and a little secret no one seems to know, wall street controls them!!!! so at least some one wants that to stop. I feel so sorry for all of the brainwashed americans who think this is ok. Congress is full of people who graduated law school. Rule #1 never trust a Lawyer!!!
Posted by: Michael | October 14, 2011, 8:47 am 8:47 am
After watching these kids on the livestream from the park last night, I can say with 100% certainty these people are not representative of 99% of anyone I know. The silly dancing, the drum beating and lack of personal responsibility are not the values that my parents instilled in me. Perhaps they should join the Peace Corps and contribute something to humanity. There are constructive ways to make the world a better place..these people are selfish brats that have taken a park meant for everyone and turned it into their own personal garbage dump.
Posted by: Rebeka | October 14, 2011, 8:56 am 8:56 am
I wonder if Alec, Kayne, Susan and I almost forgot, Al Gore are working on the clean-up. They could probably just send the house servants
Posted by: jamescbuilder | October 14, 2011, 8:58 am 8:58 am
Disney added: “I think tomorrow will say a lot. There’s a day of rage planned and I’m sure it’ll be pretty awesome.”
Interesting that a man named “Disney” is calling for “rage”. Mr. Disney, I hope when you “rage” cops put you in a cell.
Posted by: Robn1020 | October 14, 2011, 9:01 am 9:01 am
Deputy Mayor Cas Holloway said the protest, “created unsanitary conditions and considerable wear and tear on the park.” To paraphrase the Deputy Mayor: Wall Street greed and the bribing of politicians by all vested interests have “created unsanitary conditions and considerable wear and tear on” America.
Posted by: libertyjustice33 | October 14, 2011, 9:06 am 9:06 am
Obviously none of you posting about the protestors “trashing” the park read ANYTHING other than ABC news, or you’d know that the Occupy protestors encamped in the park have a SANITATION DEPARTMENT that cleans EVERY DAY with people assigned cleanup work time slots. They have a supply of city garbage bags, a recycling center, and they’re even filtering and reusing “gray water” from dish washing to water the flowers in the park. They also have a medical station, staffed by volunteer EMTs, nurses, and doctors where anyone needing it gets FREE medical care. They recently switched their electric power supply from gas generators to solar panels. These people ARE taking care of the park and they ARE organized and taking care of all issues that come up. The mayor and the rich owner of the park are simply looking for any excuse they can find to “legally” abridge the protestors FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS to assemble and protest !
Posted by: bubbleburster | October 14, 2011, 9:11 am 9:11 am
I am in favor of the message of the protests, they are on PRIVATE property and the owners do have the right to protect and maintain their property. This was not an Eviction so much as an exercise of the rights of the owner. We must respect that.
Posted by: pksk531 | October 14, 2011, 9:14 am 9:14 am
I guess it’s a big no-no to point out that the majority of OWS protestors are caucasion. So why is that bad ABC?
Posted by: Gunner_1959 | October 14, 2011, 9:19 am 9:19 am
I love the sympathy the mainstream media gives these folks….can you imagine the attacks from the left leaning mainstream news media if this were a Tea Party gathering. I have no respect at all for these gatherings with their total lack of any coherent message; no solution strategy other than to whine; and total civil disobedience. They should take their message to Obama….it is HIS policies that brought us to over 9% unemployment (or are you idiots still blaming Bush).
Posted by: More T | October 14, 2011, 9:27 am 9:27 am
US Citizen | October 14, 2011, 9:14 AM…..
LOL! …. the minions always fall for the fancy, simple worded, one liners “9-9-9″, and nice reading poems. These things don’t require any intelligent thought.
Posted by: Forrest Gump is DEFINITELY a Republican | October 14, 2011, 9:30 am 9:30 am
“It just shows the city doesn’t really care about ‘sanitation’ or whatever. If they wanted to help that put a few port-a-potties around.”
What? you stage a protest and you expect the city to provide for you? Talk about an entitlement mentality? Get your own port-a-potties and stop waiting on the government to save you…lord knows they wont
Posted by: david | October 14, 2011, 9:40 am 9:40 am
Nice quote from Ann Coulter:
“Curiously, the only point universally agreed upon by the protesters and their admirers in the Democratic Party and the mainstream media is that “Occupy Wall Street” should be compared to the tea party. Yes, that would be the same tea party that has been denounced and slandered by the Democratic Party and the mainstream media for the last three years.
As a refresher: The Democratic National Committee called the tea partiers “angry mobs” and “rabid right-wing extremists.” ABC said they were a “mob.” CNN accused them of “rabble rousing.” Harry Reid called them “evil mongers.” Nancy Pelosi said they were “un-American.” CNN’s Anderson Cooper and every single host on MSNBC called the tea partiers a name that referred to an obscure gay sex act.”
She is refering to all the libs and lib media calling the Tea Party “TEA BAGGERS”. All the libs that said that a simply BIGOTS!!!
Posted by: BOSS | October 14, 2011, 9:40 am 9:40 am
“‘It just shows the city doesn’t really care about “sanitation” or whatever. If they wanted to help that put a few port-a-potties around.’” It’s YOUR private protest, not the city’s. Rent your own.
Posted by: Publius | October 14, 2011, 9:41 am 9:41 am
I wonder what the “fee” will be for the CEO of citigroup tp speak …
Posted by: yeah.i.said.it | October 14, 2011, 9:42 am 9:42 am
I would love, truly and honest, to know the demographics of the folks staging these protest. Without that and from what I have seen I would venture to say many of the protesters do not hold real jobs (how could you protest for a month and keep a full time job?). Do not have mortgages, 401k’s, insurance payments, car payments, children, property taxes. If it were not for Wall street I would not have a house. I was laid off due to a decision by Obama and am surviving off what little I had in a 401k, invested conservatively. Now I have a bit of breathing room while looking for a job during this horrible job market. Must be nice to have a job as a full time protestor instead of actually looking for a real job. I do not think my last comment was posted, lets see if this one makes it.
Posted by: uguual | October 14, 2011, 9:42 am 9:42 am
Deputy Mayor Cas Holloway said the protest, “created unsanitary conditions and considerable wear and tear on the park.”
Considerable wear and tear on the park?!?!? This park doesn’t even have any grass! It’s all concrete and a bunch of skinny trees! Talk about a lame excuse……….
Posted by: Searambler
_________________________
You don’t need grass in a park or in any area in order for there to be wear and tear. If your heroes are defecating on cars, leaving trash everywhere or pushing drugs, your heroes are going to cause wear and tear even if the area is not a park.
However, I applaud the ruling that the eviction of your heroes has been postponed. The longer your heroes are in the news having scuffles with police, throwing trash everywhere and making themselves look like manics who belong in straitjackets the more they play right into the Republicans’ hands and give them a victory in 2012..
Posted by: ivan | October 14, 2011, 9:44 am 9:44 am
Forrest Gump is DEFINITELY a Republican said “the minions always fall for the fancy, simple worded, one liners “9-9-9″, and nice reading poems.”
You mean like “Hope and Change”….yeah a bunch of you fell for that line.
Posted by: david | October 14, 2011, 9:46 am 9:46 am
This is sad and pathetic.
Antisemites, well paid protesters,democratic politician cheerleaders and their press lackeys all a part of a freak show that anyone in a sane state of mind would not be a part of.
Worse, we have a President, former President and former vice President who love what is occuring.
Sad.
Posted by: david | October 14, 2011, 9:59 am 9:59 am
Go Occupiers!!!, the American Spring is here, about time!..I am fine with corporations making money, i am fine with banks making money, but they also are in the business of lending it. The difference between the tea party and the occupiers, is that the tea party put most of its blame on one man..hmm, I wonder who they blamed. Where as the occupiers blame the current system, where CEO’s get huge bonuses, even when their companies fire them, or the company is not profitable. They blame a system where wages for most workers have been stagnent, yet CEO’s pay has continued to grow exponentially. I for one, take the responsibility to own what I can afford, I am not out to impress my neighbors, so I saved and saved, and bought responsibly. The GOP is more worried about a “trade war” with China, than the real wars they started. Yes, when your kids are not in harms way, who cares about the body count. But they continue to bow to their corporate masters, the occupiers have said..we will not bow to the ulmighty need of greed.
Posted by: MiketheElectrician | October 14, 2011, 10:06 am 10:06 am
Ok…I DO support Occupy Wall Street…however, I DO NOT support uncleanliness!!
Posted by: justayreal | October 14, 2011, 10:19 am 10:19 am
Cleanliness is Godliness!
Posted by: justayreal | October 14, 2011, 10:22 am 10:22 am
Pandit: “that is Wall Street’s job, to reach out to Main Street”
Is this man mad? Where does he think he is? There is no constitutional right or obligation for businesses to reach out to anyone. Let this buffoon take his ignorance & get the heII out of the country.
Posted by: vonteller | October 14, 2011, 10:29 am 10:29 am
I guess the NYPD is looking for more Tear Gas, rubber bullets ans Tasers, did not have enough in stock.
Posted by: Lack of leadership Obama | October 14, 2011, 10:42 am 10:42 am
not99 – facebook
Posted by: Dave Smith | October 14, 2011, 10:46 am 10:46 am
Forrest Gump: …nice little one liners…that would be like “Change You Can Believe In”…that worked out well, huh…?
Posted by: Salty | October 14, 2011, 10:54 am 10:54 am
I was there and we were going to let the cleaners into the park. We were planning to give up 1/3 of the park at a time for cleaning, during which time we would occupy the 2/3.
I spent all night on a sanitation crew boxing up and labeling people’s stuff and cleaning (picking up trash, sweeping, scrubbing the ground with soapy water and deckbrushes). We, the protesters, were trying to prevent the park from becoming unsanitary.
Posted by: Steve | October 14, 2011, 10:55 am 10:55 am
OWS Doctrine-October 14, 2011
“……government of the people, by the people…..”
1) Financial Crisis-Responsibility:
Every Board Member and member of the Executive Management Team of any and all companies that had any knowledge of the lending abuses of the last decade should resign from those companies without severance pay and be banned from the banking/lending business for minimum period of 10 years. If the resignation does not occur by December 31, 2011, these Board and executive members will be prosecuted for fraud. If the State and Federal governments do not finance or support the suits, the members of the OWS will finance the suits on behalf of public interest and the shareholders of said companies.
2) Short & Long Term Stimulus:
Any Senate or House member that does not support (vote in favor) of immediate and long term programs to put American’s back to work, will be asked to resign from their seats by December 31, 2011. If the members of the Senate and House do not vote to create jobs, the OWS will organize to support any new candidate for the next election in the incumbents city, district, or state. The OWS will organize to support such opposition candidates and will actively recruit supporters to get the vote out against said incumbent.
3) Reallocation of Funds:
The OWS is insisting that there be an immediate pull out of all troops and equipment from Iraq and Afghanistan. The Senate and the House of Representatives will reallocate all the funds (budget) the Government was spending annually on the two wars, for rebuilding highways, bridges (infrastructure), schools, and for teachers salaries and school supplies as the school systems require.
4) American Jobs & Trade:
The USA should not allow any imports (dollar for dollar) to be exported into the USA unless the U.S. companies can ship an equivalent of American made goods to those same exporting countries. Import and Export trade is to be monitored dollar for dollar. (Ex. If China exports USD $1 Billion in goods to USA, then USA must be allowed to ship the same USD $1 Billion to China. China will not be able to ship $1 more of goods or services than what the USA ships to China). The tariffs, duties, taxes, tax incentives for all trading parties cannot exceed the USA tariffs, duties, taxes, and tax incentives, dollar for dollar.
5) Reinvigorating the housing industry:
Housing is the back bone of the U.S. economy. The U.S. Government must guarantee home loans for any American with a job at a rate of a maximum of 1% over a 40 year payment term, with a maximum down payment of 5% for any and all “existing” homes (not new homes). In exchange, the Government will maintain a 25% equity interest in all homes in the program. The government will forfeit their equity interest if the homeowner does not default within the first 20 years (240 months) of said loan.
6) Education:
Any elementary, middle or high school that improves their “proven and verified” test scores by a minimum of 10% for the entire student body will reward the teaching staff , office and support staff with a bonus at the end of each school year in the amount of 10% of the base salary. If the same school increase the overall test scores by 15%, then the bonus will be equal to 15%. This incentive will be instituted for a minimum period of ten (10) years. For every high school that reaches a 90% acceptance rate for their graduating seniors to a junior college or better, will receive a 10% bonus from base salary from the State for the high school teachers, office and support staff of that high school.
7) Oil Dependence:
a) Auto Companies: They will be required to provide the American public, vehicles that provide 60 MPG no later December 31, 2014, or be charged a fuel tax of $2000 for every vehicle sold in the USA.
b) Major Oil Companies: Charged an import fee of 25% of all net profits generated from U.S. sales generated from imported oil sold in America. Circumvention will be punished and treated as Treason.
c) Federal Tax credit for oil companies for 35% of the cost to find/locate oil generated from the U.S. territories.
8) Taxes:
Reform the U.S. Tax code no later than December 2012. Amnesty for any individual or company for repatriating any funds/profits presently located overseas. Reduce taxes to zero (0) for anyone making less than $25,000/year. Instituting a flat tax for individuals, and corporations to encourage investment in America.
This is where we start
Posted by: BBRRI | October 14, 2011, 11:02 am 11:02 am
what piece of advice would you give to the Occupy protesters?
Posted by: littlebiggygirl | October 14, 2011, 11:02 am 11:02 am
@steve….well that’s a nice break from defecating on cop cars.
Posted by: david | October 14, 2011, 11:02 am 11:02 am
Republicans have done away with pensions and now we have 401ks. Corporate America and Wall Street sucking employees dry…not on their hit list is Social Security. Of course Republicans in Congress retain their generous pensions and aren’t investing in a 401K. Note Congressmen love their TAXPAYER FUNDED automatic raises, COLA increases, health care and pensions, they don’t care about the rest of us. Reagan gave tax cuts to the rich and raised them on the poor and middle class (payroll taxes). Bush gave even more tax breaks to the rich. Now we have people like Cain, Perry and Romney who went to further erode the middle class in favor of the ultra rich and finish making this a Third World Country…trust me in the Third World those with out money and connections are poor and they are demonized for being so. They will do away with what little safety net for the indigent is left so instead of 220 foot yacht some dope can buy a 250 ft yacht.while children starve.
Posted by: Hege1321 | October 14, 2011, 11:03 am 11:03 am
fact correction: as of Sept 30th, Occupy Wall Street released their demands and what they’re standing for: Maybe check a bit more before posting- it’s on their website. great journalism…
Posted by: nicky | October 14, 2011, 11:05 am 11:05 am
DING DING DING THE TEA PARTY HAS BEEN SOLD TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER. THE TEA PARTY has been infiltrated by NEOCONS, probably helped by the Rothschild Group. Originally the Tea Party was RON PAUL. Now it has turn against RON PAUL and the issue of Labor Unions. Surely Labor Unions are not a primary issue when it comes to the economy. The primary issue is ……..THE FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM and its MASTERS the insider private commercial banks. How to counter their stranglehold on the constitution and the lackey politicians in Washington.
There was a time when the TEA PARTY was exclusively about bringing down the FED SYSTEM and restoring the constitutional republic. Now it has turn to the more mundane world of REPUBLICAN POLITICS. IMAGINE the TEA PARTY supporting HERMAN CAIN. HERMAN CAIN is for the FED.
Notice how the mainstream media is now reporting on the Tea Party continuously. This surely is not a good sign. Everyone knows that as soon as the mainstream media is reporting on an issue its because it is supporting the ROTHSCHILD AGENDA. I urge all TEA PARTY MEMBERS to think for themselves and support the CORE ISSUE in Occupy Wall Street. THE CORE ISSUE IS OUR MONETARY SYSTEM: THE MAIN GOAL IS TO DISMANTLE THE FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM AND MAKING BANKS 100% RESERVE REQUIRED (ENDING FRACTIONAL RESERVE BANKING).
Posted by: ANTONIO ALEJANDRO | October 14, 2011, 11:06 am 11:06 am
Xiva Revolution Let’s do to the rich in this country what the French peasants did to the aristocrats.
Posted by: Hegel321 | October 14, 2011, 11:06 am 11:06 am
Who’s behind all of this? Sorros, Obama & ACORN’s offshoot the WFP
The “Working Families Party” which is run by Obama’s “Karl Rove type of guy” (White House political director Patrick Gaspard). This is a white House operation people! Obama political advisor Patrick Gaspard holds the same White House position his Bush-era predecessor, Karl Rove, did. But before he was the White House political czar he worked in several far left organizations as activist and agitator.
One of the more disturbing aspects of the Obama-ACORN connection is that the White House political affairs director is one Patrick Gaspard.
New York’s Working Families Party was first organized in 1998 by a coalition of labor unions, ACORN and other community organizations, members of the now-inactive national New Party, and a variety of public interest groups such as Citizen Action of New York.
Posted by: Red Blooded | October 14, 2011, 11:12 am 11:12 am
You don’t have to be able to explain exactly why something is wrong to know that it is wrong. The opposition to the OWS movement focus their attention on protestor’s hygiene, age and attitude. There are few opposing comments that aren’t cheap-shots, completely ignoring the main message which is surprisingly pro Republican in nature. Keep the federal government out of our private affairs. We don’t need a nanny state.
Posted by: MarkHarmon | October 14, 2011, 11:16 am 11:16 am
Wow, so many of you are dumping some aggression on the protesters. Those who say that they are just a bunch of hippie college-age kids may be right, but at least they are standing up for what they believe. It’s creating discourse around the nation, yet doesn’t seem to receive top billing on ANY news site. And those complaining about unsanitary conditions, just stop. They freaking cleaned the park up themselves you idiots. I for one, am PROUD of what is occurring and wish I was in a position to join in the fight.
Posted by: H C | October 14, 2011, 11:17 am 11:17 am
H C said “They freaking cleaned the park up themselves you idiots”
Only because they were forced to. Why were they not cleaning it up all along?
Posted by: david | October 14, 2011, 11:22 am 11:22 am
TO ALL COMMENTORS LISTEN UP! THIS IS NOT A LEFT VS RIGHT MOVEMENT LIKE THE MEDIA PORTRAYS! 99 of the 99 are NOT “lazy” people looking for a handout while dreaming of an Obama induced socialized America. They are sick of our “we the people” democracy RUN BY (and bailing out), the banks and corporations. 99 of the 99 want a more fair tax system because hard working middle class like me pay 30% taxes while the super rich like Buffet pay 17%. 99 of the 99 students have a mountain of debt, and can’t find a job while corporations are posting record profits and the unintended consiquences of a government subsidized education system is sending tuition through the roof. The inequality between the super rich and the poor has never been higher in America and all great civilizations fall when this occurs. These people are out in the cold and rain standing for “we the taxpayers,” and yes that’s me. I am a registered Republican and i stand with the Protesters.
Posted by: JC | October 14, 2011, 11:27 am 11:27 am
Take their iphone or gameboy away and they would go home.
Posted by: todd | October 14, 2011, 11:28 am 11:28 am
its creating discourse…no press coverage…..protest all you want but really know one is listening.the press has already given 1000 out of 350 million people to much coverage.you think you represent 99%. its less than 1%. furthermore your occupying private property and you make it a cesspool.this is why you are in the position you are in life.make your own home your cesspool. most folks see you as the same way they saw the protestors in the u.k…..nothing more than whiners.
Posted by: catman | October 14, 2011, 11:40 am 11:40 am
The protesters have the right idea, and I have not seen the park first hand. Though it seems to me that those of you leaving comments about how their trashy are missing the whole point of this protest. The point being that the citizens of the United States are fed up with the banks and government pushing us around and treating anyone not in that top 1% like a total fool. They take your money and spend it on whatever they want, not what is RIGHT, but on what THEY WANT. That in it self is stealing, and the last time I checked that is a crime, a BIG CRIME. The US government and our volley of soul less corporations have milked us dry, it will never be enough for them.
Once they have eaten up the US population and there are no jobs left at all. Then what? It just all falls apart and we have a 3rd world county with many, many more parks just like Zuccotti Park all over the United States. A country where the rich hide behind police forces in walled communities because they know if they come in to the real world with us, we’d kill em’. (worst case scenario)
The bad guys have a (slavery) system, with perpetual debt setup in their favor, what have we got? The right to protest! As long as we sit by and let them rob us they will continue. With protest come change, at least that is the idea. Chances are to stop these fat cats, however, would take a full on internal civil war. So those of you who are downing them, go to hell. We have to start somewhere, NY seems like a good place to me.
Posted by: Britton | October 14, 2011, 11:45 am 11:45 am
CORRECTIONS
I was LIVE STREAMING both New York and Seattle last night (12 AM). All was CALM and PEACEFUL. No sign of the tension you describe. SHAME on you!
These demonstrators are brilliant. And another CORRECTION: there were 1000 in New York’s OccupyWallStreet demo last night.
Proud of them in Seattle
Posted by: Janette | October 14, 2011, 11:45 am 11:45 am
I thought the left wing wanted a clean environment
Posted by: jamescbuilder | October 14, 2011, 11:46 am 11:46 am
What the hell are you talking about with “While the movement appears to be united in its desire to stay in the park, Occupy Wall Street remains leaderless without an organized message or list of demands.” You call yourselves journalists? Keith Olbermann Covered and read the OWS collective statement on MSNBC. Your incompetence is staggering.
Posted by: Colin | October 14, 2011, 11:47 am 11:47 am
It seems this escalation this morning was brought about by the NYC Police Commissioner and the City. Bloomberg said all the city wanted was to clean the park and the Police commissioner said they were not going to allow sleeping bags and tents back into the park. This upset the protesters and gave ammunition to the vocal groups in the park. Backing down and delaying the clean up was too late since alternate forms of protest had already been put into place. The demonstrators moved and the violent ones were pumped for a confrontation. It seems calmer heads prevailed and the disruption was kept limited. If this had happened overseas cars would be burning now. The City and especially the Police Commissioner precipitated this ugly mess. The Commissioner should stop talking and let his PR people talk instead. A macho attitude and hard statements are not needed at this time and will only make it worse.
Posted by: Michael Iger | October 14, 2011, 11:51 am 11:51 am
Keith Olbermann Covered and read the OWS collective statement on MSNBC+++++Thats all I need to know
Posted by: allen | October 14, 2011, 12:00 pm 12:00 pm
JC said “They are sick of our “we the people” democracy RUN BY (and bailing out), the banks and corporations”
So why are they not protesting at the houses (white house) of the people that GAVE them the bail out and want to give them more??? Or the houses of the politicians, left and right, that take the money from the big corps?
Posted by: david | October 14, 2011, 12:02 pm 12:02 pm
Americans are quietly terrified as the fabric of our “Main Street” society crumbles. Lack of jobs, unaffordable health care, terminated pension plans,sky rocketing education costs.While more than fifty percent of the biggest economies in the world are not countries, but corporations with well known household names, like Lehman Brothers and Bank of America, and these corporations seem to be able to seduce our politicians with donations, and then ask for our tax money to bail them out .Is it any wonder our desperation, especially that of young people,with horrendous education loans to pay back,and no liklihood of a job in their field, should be demanding that the rules be changed to accommodate a more equitable distribution of our wealth.
Posted by: Ron Duncan | October 14, 2011, 12:03 pm 12:03 pm
david | October 14, 2011, 12:02 pm 12:02 pm…because at some point, the customer has to complain to the real boss – he’s on Wall Street, K Street and at the Chamber of Commerce.
Posted by: libertyjustice33 | October 14, 2011, 12:23 pm 12:23 pm
the protestors all report that everything is fine, everyone’s happy, and they’re basically living a wonderful, communal lifestyle of mutual respect and support. if they’re so content with their current situation, what are they complaining about? couldn’t they all just move their operation to some rural area and live in communal bliss?
Posted by: grumpopolis | October 14, 2011, 12:28 pm 12:28 pm
No cause, no voice…but you think dreads are gonna change the world? Time for another toke folks!
Posted by: thatwasobvious | October 14, 2011, 12:29 pm 12:29 pm
Good..keep these scum bags locked up in that park to live in their own waste. This is what they deserve. They are greedy snotty spoiled kids who are typical members of the Democrat Party. This is your Democrat Party America..this is what Obama supports. Remember this in November 2012 as we vote Obama and his overbearing wife out of the White House.
Posted by: Restore America in 2012 | October 14, 2011, 12:34 pm 12:34 pm
seriously, they claim to have health care centers, food kitchens, sanitation details…it looks like they’ve created what they want. if they’re all so devoted to this communal lifestyle, they can do it on their own, can’t they?
Posted by: grumpopolis | October 14, 2011, 12:34 pm 12:34 pm
The protesters claim that the high jobless rate in this country is one of the things they are protesting against, yet they physically stand in the way and preventing others from doing their jobs of cleaning the park. Their ongoing presence at the park has impacted the neighborhood’s businesses and those employees. These protesters are not standing in solidarity with the working class people, they are standing against them.
Posted by: Lil Miss Me | October 14, 2011, 12:35 pm 12:35 pm
These people ARE taking care of the park and they ARE organized and taking care of all issues that come up. The mayor and the rich owner of the park are simply looking for any excuse they can find to “legally” abridge the protestors FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS to assemble and protest !
Posted by: bubbleburster >>>>>> But Bubbleburster, in doing so they are taking away a job from someone else who is paid to clean the park. Furthermore, the park does not belong to the protesters. It is not theirs to take over. It belongs to a private company who cleans and maintains it and provides it for public use. Squatters rarely take care of property as well as the person who owns the land. And, yes, they have the right to assemble, but they are also required to follow the law and regulations of this privately owned public park – those rules clearly state no sleeping, no tents, no camping out, etc. If they don’t like the law, they should lobby to change it, not simply go out and break the law because they want to. Exactly what are they proving by violating the park rules and preventing people from doing their jobs to clean the park? They would get a lot more sympathy from me if they obeyed the rules, left in the evening to let the park get cleaned and come back day after day.
Posted by: twice upon a time | October 14, 2011, 12:42 pm 12:42 pm
This entire article is once again, corporation paid off, propaganda. Who do you think pays the journalist that wrote this? This is the kind of thing that the protesters are fighting against Believing any of the articles written by journalists who are paid by big corporations is naive to say the least.
I am not registered as a dem or repub because both are a joke. Both are just as lame as this article. I vote for whom I choose, based on what they stand for not what party they belong to. Unfortunately usually what they say they stand for changes to what they can be paid to stand for after they are elected.
I am 36 years old, college educated, white, and middle class. I live in a comfortable, modest home, in a beautiful small town. I have two children that I can support. I am extremely lucky. I made smart choices to not spend more money than I have. I came from nothing so I didn’t ever expect to have more than I have.
I stand by the protestors because despite my current comfort, I do not have a 401k or a retirement plan or even health care. I pay for all of those things out of my own pocket. If I don’t save each month into my own IRA I will not have anything to retire on.
I fear that my children will not have a future, that I will not be able to send them to college because the cost is too high. I still pay each month on my own student loans!
I fear my children will not be able to find jobs. My son is a sophomore in high school and I am very hard on him because I am afraid the competition for jobs will be so fierce that even though he gets well above average grades and is involved in extra curriculars he still will be unable to compete for a descent job.
Most of the 20 something’s that I know are college educated and still have to join the military in order have a job. That is ridiculous.
Just because you don’t agree with the protestor’s life style does not mean that you should bash them. Have you even been to a occupy site? Have you even talked to one of these people? Bashing them is like saying you don’t like a food when you haven’t even tried it.
Posted by: MelTee | October 14, 2011, 12:45 pm 12:45 pm
Todd said “Take their iphone or gameboy away and they would go home.”
Another cheap shot. At least they have the balls to be out there in the rain trying to make a difference. You sitting all warm and comfy taking cheap shots does nothing to improve the state things are in.
JC: “These people are out in the cold and rain standing for “we the taxpayers,” and yes that’s me. I am a registered Republican and i stand with the Protesters”
Good stuff
Posted by: Tim | October 14, 2011, 12:51 pm 12:51 pm
“I would love, truly and honest, to know the demographics of the folks staging these protest.”
That’s “these protests.” Perhaps you should go check it out and see what your fellow citizens are doing. If you are looking at the situation through a screen, you are not getting anything close to an accurate picture.
“Without that and from what I have seen”
That is your problem. What *have* you seen? Have you seen it through your own eyes, or the eyes of others?
“I would venture to say many of the protesters do not hold real jobs”
Many folks don’t have “real jobs” and are both qualified for them and really want them. That is one of the reasons for the protests.
“(how could you protest for a month and keep a full time job?).”
I have met a lot of folks who used their vacation time (at Occupy Sacramento), and there are a lot of folks who come whenever they are not working. I am going to school full time for an advanced degree, work part time, and run a business part time. I spend all my other time helping the Occupy movement. I am doing so because I want a world where my kids have a fighting chance at a decent life.
“Do not have mortgages, 401k’s, insurance payments, car payments, children, property taxes.”
Even renters pay mortgages and property taxes. They are just paying someone else’s. Most of us have plenty of financial obligations.
“If it were not for Wall street I would not have a house.”
I am sorry you believe that.
Posted by: Sean C. Laney | October 14, 2011, 1:01 pm 1:01 pm
Lets see how many are left when the first noreaster of the season rolls up the coast and dumps a foot of snow on them.
Posted by: Todd | October 14, 2011, 1:50 pm 1:50 pm
I am losing respect for this group of clowns as time passes. They spent all that time protesting with absolutely no goal in mind, only to come up with a list of wants that is so entirely unrealistic that it reads like Charles Manson manifesto.
Some of the highlights include demanding that CEO’s and board members make themselves unemployed with no benefits (it’s not good enough for the 99%, but such a fate is perfectly acceptable for a member of the 1%), demanding that senators vote for a bill that is believed will magically and mysteriously create jobs out of thin air (showing a clear belief in Obama’s divinity and his ability to perform miracles such as turning water into wine) or resign (again, insisting that someone voluntarily make themselves unemployed…something they’re allegedly fighting against), and threatening lawsuits and funding opposing campaigns, despite the fact that they can’t provide for their own sanitary needs and don’t have the foresight to plan for such an inevitability in the first place. They go on to insist that the federal government reinstate the housing scam that, in part, caused this whole mess in the first place, put an end to free trade altogether, and to further increase our dependence on fossil fuels by demanding a more fuel efficient vehicle instead of mentioning that perhaps it’s time to find a better way of doing things.
Lolwut?
The one statement that lost them my support was this:
“The OWS is insisting that there be an immediate pull out of all troops and equipment from Iraq and Afghanistan.”
So…after destroying these countries’ ruling bodies, we just drop them like a hot rock and leave them to whatever fate befalls them? Regardless of what you think of why we went over there, what is done is done. It’s far too late for a quick “lol j/k” and pretending that nothing happened. We’re at the point now to where we have the moral responsibility to ensure that when we do leave, the citizens who live there are safe and secure. To do otherwise will make us personally responsible for any of the atrocities committed after we leave.
No longer do they speak for the 99%. They managed to shave off another 1% that consists entirely of nut-bags that have no concept of reality or responsibility. Yes, this country absolutely needs a change…but these clowns are not the ones who are going to enact it. And God help us if they do.
Posted by: AmericaThePitiful | October 14, 2011, 2:13 pm 2:13 pm
These protesters claim to be the 99% I’m sorry but most all the folks I talk to do not support that claim! It really looks like they are just paid or unpaid union and left wing street thugs and dirty hippies looking for a reason to party!
Posted by: RadioMan77 | October 14, 2011, 2:54 pm 2:54 pm
Why does media repeat the notion that there are no goals? We all know what the goals are. Transparency and ethics in business and finance markets. An end to the influence of corporate money in politics. A return to the trend of affluence and growth for all productive Americans, not just the top 1 percent claiming entitlement to all the growth.
Posted by: Rubico | October 14, 2011, 3:47 pm 3:47 pm
Oh no! They’re trashing a Park (except they’re really not)! Meanwhile, the 1% is trashing your future. Wake up.
Posted by: Red | October 14, 2011, 4:35 pm 4:35 pm
They’re trashing the park, wallowing in self pity, and generally useless…
Obama and Pelosi think they represent the best in America and what is stands for…
yea…about that…go figure…
Well said by those trashing our country…etc.
Posted by: shawdog | October 15, 2011, 2:55 am 2:55 am
Please stop giving these sniveling, entitlement, spoiled, lazy people press. They are nothing but a bunch of losers looking for free handouts. Nothing is free peeps. If you don’t put anything into it, then you’ll get nothing out of it and you have not right to be pissed. Sucess does not come free nor does anyone owe anything to anyone who is a lazy, unmotivated person. Your all a bunch of cry babies and brats and need to go home to your momma’s basement and keep bitchin about how the world has done you wrong. These “protestors” are a joke and we need to stop giving them press because THEY don’t even know what they are standing for and they are dirty little weasels who need to stand up and get a life and DO something other hang out with their hands out for freebees….I went back to school at the age of 32 and before that? I always worked hard for what I had and was grateful for it. When I wanted more? I went to school and furthered my education and achieved my “goals”. It will be a cold day in hell before I give a handout to a smelly little weasel who is looking for free handouts of any kind. If you aren’t willing to put in the work? You can sift through the garbage and I won’t be sad for you. Stop giving these people a platform.
Posted by: Nancym411 | October 15, 2011, 3:21 am 3:21 am
These people do not represent 99% of the country. They are just another 1%. The tea party represents a lot more mainstream Americans that actually exercise their right to vote, as we will see in the next election. If Al Gore supports the protesters I’d like to see him in the park, sitting on the ground with them! Obama, Clinton, Gore, Pelosi and Reid are actually part of the 1% millionaires these people are protesting against! Even so, America is a wonderful place, the greatest country on earth, where everyone has the right to march and and protest in public places without fear of getting shot or beaten half to death, as we are seeing in other countries all over the world. God bless America!
Posted by: BostonBorn41 | October 15, 2011, 4:14 pm 4:14 pm
Ignorance…. anyone who is against the wall street protesters is against AMERICA!!!! You people want to judge them and say this or that about them when you really have no idea what they’re doing. they’re doing this for you, for your children, for your grandchildren. Do you people really even have any idea whats going on in the world outside of your own little closed off worlds???? The politicians that we elect dont really represent us and our best interests, they represent the big corperations and what will make them the most money in thier own greedy pockets. do you know WHY our country is 3 TRILLION dollars in debt??? educate yourselves before opening your ignorant mouths. and if your getting your information from Fox or any other big wig news corperation then your more foolish then the ever. You have the internet, it has google, USE IT!! get the real facts people because otherwise it is YOU, not the protesters that are the problem. I see whats going on in the real world, the corruption of our government by greedy corperations…. At least the protesters are doing something to try and bring about change, while you in your pathetic ignorance just sit there at home on your computer trash talking………
Posted by: RYAN | October 15, 2011, 4:26 pm 4:26 pm
Please Tel Aviv people – beneficiaries of Mr. Madoff $50 billion: You, I am sure, don’t like protests anywhere in the world. When people like Madoff are off to where they belong, no more $50 billion handouts will come your way.
Your anti-protest stand is understandable! Try to swallow your anger because protests will not cease, lilke it or not.
Posted by: Mowat | October 16, 2011, 5:16 am 5:16 am
99 percent of Americans believe OWS is full of cry babies who would rather blame someone else for their problems then getting off there butts and fixing their own lives. If you lost your job, find a new one. If you lost your house, rent one. If you can’t figure out how to do either. Please move to another country, you are too ignorant to live her. Your demands are stupid and would harm America far more then you can even comprehend. This country was built on the backs of people who came here with NOTHING and made SOMETHING of themselves without the help of social programs. It’s called hard work, try it sometime.
Posted by: AmericanIdiocracy | October 16, 2011, 9:26 pm 9:26 pm
Thanks to these nincompoops the rest of the country are defending Wall Street. Obama goes along with these guys and the attending Communist Party USA and the Nationalist Socilaist Party. They all join hands together and sing &%#$ the USA.
Posted by: Kala | October 17, 2011, 7:33 am 7:33 am
What a stuff of un-ambiguity and preserveness of precious experience regarding unexpected feelings.
Posted by: Dwayne Gessner | January 12, 2012, 5:17 pm 5:17 pm