Occupy Wall Street: More than 700 Arrested After Protesters Block Traffic on Brooklyn Bridge
EmailABC News’ Olivia Katrandjian reports:
The Occupy Wall Street protests enters its third week today, following hundreds of arrests in New York late Saturday night.
More than 700 demonstrators were arrested as the protests spread to the Brooklyn Bridge, closing down a lane of traffic for hours, New York City police said.
Police said they allowed the demonstrators to march on the bridge’s pedestrian walkway, but arrested those who marched on the car lanes, blocking traffic on one of the main routes out of lower Manhattan.
Protesters said they were ordered by police to walk in the road.
“We were peacefully walking on the top, on the wooden part, where we’re supposed to, until directed by the New York City police to go down into the street area,” said protester Gwen Goodwin told New York ABC News affiliate WABC.
“They said you had an option to walk on the street or walk on the roadway,” Aria Smith.
Protesters began blocking the bridge around 5 p.m. Saturday, and the bridge was reopened to traffic at 8:05 p.m., according to police.
“They were on the bridge blocking vehicular traffic,” said an NYPD spokesman. “They were issued multiple warnings by the police to stay on the pedestrian walkway and were told they would be arrested if they went into the vehicular lanes. Some complied but others proceeded on the Brooklyn bound vehicular walkway.”
“If they hadn’t gone into the roadway they wouldn’t have been arrested but they chose to ignore the warnings,” said the spokesman.
Police make an arrest of a protester affiliated with the Occupy Wall Street movement attempt to cross the Brooklyn Bridge, effectively shutting parts of it down, Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011 in New York. (Rose Bookbinder/AP Photo)
Police said those arrested were mainly issued summons, and only a minimal number of people are in custody.
Several members of the protest said police were making random arrests, even of people who were complying with police orders to leave the bridge roadway.
“They were allowing people to disperse if they were willing to, but they were still taking people randomly out of the line that were leaving and were arresting them,” one demonstrator told WABC-TV.
The Occupy Wall Street movement, growing to more than 1,500 people in New York two weeks after it began, had called for a march in lower Manhattan today at 3 p.m. to “show that it is time that the 99% are heard.”
“We are unions, students, teachers, veterans, first responders, families, the unemployed and underemployed. We are all races, sexes and creeds. We are the majority. We are the 99 percent. And we will no longer be silent,” read a post on the Occupy Wall Street website.
During a march through lower Manhattan last weekend, videos showed police using what demonstrators said was unnecessary force.
In some video police were seen using orange netting to contain groups of marchers, in others a man with a camera was thrown to the ground by a police officer without any apparent reason and a police officer sprayed mace on a woman.
On Friday, about 1,500 demonstrators took their protest to the New York Police Department headquarters.
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President Obama is leading the lynch mob! He should be ashamed by his decisive approach which tries to find someone to blame for everything!
Posted by: Common _ Sense | October 2, 2011, 10:43 am 10:43 am
The police forced the protesters onto the bridge, kettled them into the street and then started arresting them. J.P. Morgan just gave over 5 million dollars to the NYPD. Looks like the top 1% owns the government and the police. True Fascism.
Posted by: patriot | October 2, 2011, 10:58 am 10:58 am
Making investments via Wall Street is legalized gambling. You risk your hard earned money by handing it over to a broker that is going to sell you pipe dreams and you expect a high return. It’s a get rich quick scam. As the old saying goes—”A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush”.
Posted by: howdymo1 | October 2, 2011, 10:59 am 10:59 am
Here’s the answer: Move out of the big cities where the standard of living is so high. It’s that simple. Move to a smaller suburbia town, work at the local grocery mart, and then you can afford rent and still enjoy other simple leisures.
If you are CHOOSING to live in such high standard of living areas, then it’s your own d*mn fault for not being able to afford rent and such. There are jobs elsewhere. You have to actually look for them and call around.
Posted by: COMMON_SENSE2 | October 2, 2011, 11:07 am 11:07 am
The police are there for their protection.
These guys are NOT from new york.
They dont release that if you block a bridge, a new york bridge, new yorkers would either run them down or throw them off the bridge.
Posted by: jabberwolf | October 2, 2011, 11:08 am 11:08 am
oh ok i get it now we can only support protests if corporate and political interests are involved in Syria, Libya, Egypt, but if we go after the very people who are raping our country raping the middle class getting rich of the work and sweat of the average American because God forbid that MR broker or CEO can’t buy a Ferrari or a 3r vacation home this year well then we can always use the reliable NYPD to arrest peaceful protesters since we only have freedom of speech when it’s convenient for corporate America. This country is turning into such a joke with its self interest BS We the people have rights guess we the people were wrong swear I saw it somewhere maybe on the back of the funny papers..
Posted by: juius | October 2, 2011, 11:43 am 11:43 am
Bloomberg obviously instructed the police dept to set up the protesters. Go after Bloomberg next. He should be RECALLED. He is the dictator responsible for sabotaging these heros that are occupying wall street!
Posted by: bob | October 2, 2011, 12:06 pm 12:06 pm
@JUIUS, you are RIGHT !!
Posted by: kart | October 2, 2011, 12:17 pm 12:17 pm
I’ve been behind these protests from the beginning, but everyone knows (or should know) that you can’t block traffic. Your rights end where someone elses rights begin. Most people in NY just want to get on with their lives as best they can…just let them do it.
Besides, most of the people they are making themselves a nuisance to are part of this 99% they’re fighting for. They’re beginning to alienate themselves from themselves.
Posted by: AmericaThePitiful | October 2, 2011, 12:30 pm 12:30 pm
Just the tip of the iceberg, am assuming more will come to pass as the economy is not providing these people a decent living, somewhat like Egypt, college educated people working $2.00/day. Eventually systems collapse, can try to sweep it under the rug and call them names, tell them to move to cheaper cost of living places and the ability to find jobs elsewhere, from what I recall the real unemployment rate is 23%, the posters, posting on these site regurgitating something not compelling but typical let them eat cake, take personal responsibility etc. Voices not heard, definitely the crashing of a democracy, they last average of what? And really our democracy is currently in name only, because we know who are pulling the purse strings of our politicians, and it isn’t the average person on the street and it would be ludicrous to attempt lame propaganda cult like, that is for the ignorant and desperate.
Posted by: phantomniter | October 2, 2011, 1:11 pm 1:11 pm
BEST money the govt ever spent was the TARP on Bank of America. It was PAID BACK in LESS than one year with INTEREST!! Report that!
Posted by: Lila | October 2, 2011, 2:52 pm 2:52 pm
Thank you for no blackout on this important story, like many large orgs. Also thank you for writing a fair story that presents both the police and the protesters sides. Th voice of the 99% will be heard despite the MSM blackout / censoring, the fact that you recognize this and did your job puts you head and shoulders above the other dinosaurs in media. My respect for you as a credible news org only grows, as it did when you hired Diane Sawyer
Posted by: LInda | October 2, 2011, 3:10 pm 3:10 pm
howdymo1, not everyone investing in stocks and bonds is looking for a short-term return.
Posted by: grumpopolis | October 2, 2011, 5:10 pm 5:10 pm
Civil disobedience on the rise – even in this most docile and intimidated of all democracies. We are so very much headed in the wrong direction. The big business-perpetual war-Wall Street steamroller has just about flattened the American Dream. People are hopping mad. Dumb ones listen to Rush (the ultimate corporate cheerleader) and show up at Tea Party rallies. Smart ones are beginning to get off their derrieres and tell it like it really is.
Posted by: libertyjustice33 | October 2, 2011, 5:12 pm 5:12 pm
i’m all for protesting whatever you want whenever you want. but when you start disrupting other people’s daily activities, you cross the line. and i’d bet dollars to donuts that a majority of the protestors are under the age of 25 and come from families earning in the top 10% of the country…and half of them probably go to colleges that cost more per year than the average family of 4 grosses.
Posted by: grumpopolis | October 2, 2011, 5:14 pm 5:14 pm
Where do I get the specialized training needed for a lucrative career as a PROFESSIONAL ACTIVIST?
Posted by: Julianna's Uncle | October 2, 2011, 6:10 pm 6:10 pm
the idea of start living in rural area is just “unamerican”. The reason behind all this is greed and Wall Street had crossed the limits of greed.
Posted by: Amar | October 2, 2011, 6:59 pm 6:59 pm
There are many reports surfacing that the NYPD directed the protestors to the road where they had vehicles ready for arrest. Someone is obviously lying.
This doesn’t appear to be an accurate article with the facts and figures. I doubt if the 700 arrested yesterday were almost a half of the reported 1,500 protestors. I think the numbers of participants are being minimized.
It is a significant and mass event. I doubt if the many cities, major and smaller, which have sprung up as demonstration sites within the last 24 hours are the outcome of a demonstration in New York City that grew to 1,500.
The videos clearly show unnecessary and brutal force, with or without the input or interpretation of the demonstrators.
Posted by: jane r. | October 2, 2011, 7:16 pm 7:16 pm
Good for them!! I hope the protesters grow and give them heck! Its about time we started standing up for ourselves. Its not ok to keep taking advantage of us!
Posted by: guin | October 2, 2011, 7:56 pm 7:56 pm
While you protestors are there, why don’t you include the corrupt United Nations and the Federal Reserve? Your professors have taught you lies about your country and capitalism. Foolish people. You’re just making our country look weak. Probably not a conservative or constitutionalist among you. You are certainly making king Obama happy.
Posted by: Greg | October 2, 2011, 8:35 pm 8:35 pm
This is too funny!! Did you hear about the protester last week in front of a bank in NYC screaming that his parents lost their house because of the evil greedy banks. Surprisingly the reporter actually called this protesters parents who own a $500,000.00 house (which isn’t in danger of foreclosure) the parent earns over $100,000.00 and the poor distraught protester is a law student at George Washington University that cost about $70,000.00 per year to attend!!!! It is almost like this is an astroturf protest!!! The real question is are Democrats and Independents really that gullible???
Posted by: whathappened08 | October 2, 2011, 8:47 pm 8:47 pm
This is just the beginning. The people of America are fed up.
Posted by: George Nielsen | October 2, 2011, 9:03 pm 9:03 pm
I’d love to see the protesters pool together their talents and start a business and run it the way they believe it should be run. Go on….show corporate America how to do it right! Or would you rather continue to live off mom, dad, and other tax payers?
Posted by: Lila | October 2, 2011, 9:22 pm 9:22 pm
I do agree with freedom of speech and expression as long as it is nonviolent and doesn’t harm others. If this group does get out of control and causes havoc. Yes that is abusing the power the power the constitution gave us. I am sure there has been some out of control protesters and the police have a right to haul them in. Todays world has too much Thug education which is unacceptable.
Posted by: Steve | October 2, 2011, 9:36 pm 9:36 pm
Those of you who sympathise with the message of this protest should get out of your chairs right now and go to NYC to join them. Show the government how serious this is. Show the elite 1% that you will not be cowed. The consequences of your apathy are greater than your participation.
Posted by: Becca | October 2, 2011, 9:51 pm 9:51 pm
It saddens me when I see fellow American’s attacking those who are brave enough to sacrifice their resources to air a grievance with the current state of our country. To those who blindly defend the corporations and the wealthy, do you really think they have achieved their recent astronomical wealth through 100% hard work and fair business practices. If you believe that you’re living in a fairy tale.
Corporations don’t dump millions of dollars into political campaigns because they want to just help out their candidate. They expect policies to be passed which allow them to maximize profits at the cost of their workers, the environment, and our country in general.
Capitalism is a good thing if it is a truly free and open system. We haven’t had a truly free and competitive capitalistic system in decades. Why do you think a handful of corporations and people control the majority of the nations wealth, income, and markets in general.
Posted by: l3lessed | October 2, 2011, 9:57 pm 9:57 pm
You should not be protesting Wall Street. You should be protesting Congress, the Senate and Obama for waisting our tax dollars, and giving banks free money we paid for. Policies put in place by the left have incentivized the banks to steal from all of us. Why are you not protesting policies that steal from us the citizens? Secret bank loans to Green companies and your taxes being waisted. Protest that!! I need Wall Street to make money. You do too. If they do not, our 401k plans lose more ground, as we have been forced to go there for our retirement savings. Sure
fat cats stealing there also, but the policies and policy makers in Washington are the real thieves.
Posted by: William Taylor | October 2, 2011, 10:05 pm 10:05 pm
Is it a criminal offence to protest or a civil offence. i am not cognizant of US laws.
Posted by: maurice christie | October 3, 2011, 12:09 pm 12:09 pm
I guess this is our american spring.
If it”s true that our society parrells roman society, then it was only a matter of time before all this was was going to happen.
Stupid republicans, don”t they realize this could all have been avoided by giving the people afew simple things
Cheap gas, a stupid meaningless job to go to, affoardable health, so they can go to they”re stupid job, for most of they”re life, then die.
The ability to buy cheap plastic crap oh let”s don”t forget a cell phone.
If people have this, the wont give a rats ass about what goes on.
The rich rep, can do anything they want.
Posted by: Billy bob | October 15, 2011, 9:50 pm 9:50 pm
.How many jobs has Obama created today? Take this protest to Obama’s doorstep!
Posted by: Terry | October 19, 2011, 7:27 pm 7:27 pm