Police in Riot Gear Arrest 20 Occupy Atlanta Protesters
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(David Goldman/AP Photo)
Nineteen Occupy Atlanta protesters were released from police custody today after a raucous night of protesting, in which protesters skirmished with cops in riot gear, on horseback and on motorcycles who were called in to clear them out of Woodruff Park at its 11 p.m. closing time.
“There have been acts of violence throughout the night, all committed by police, all committed towards nonviolent protesters who have come out here simply to show a light on economic injustice in the city. It’s an outrage and the city should be ashamed,” protester Tim Franzen told ABC News Radio.
Protester Brandon Wojcik-Tremblay, 20, who was the 20th person arrested, is still behind bars and is being charged with felony aggravated assault relating to an incident with a motorcycle officer.
A video posted online shows a man standing in front of a motorcycle cop. He appears to be pushing on the motorcycle as the officer tries to drive forward. It is unclear if the man in the video is Wojcik-Tremblay.
Organizers said the officer is at fault.
“Peace was maintained until a policeman on a motorcycle accelerated into a demonstrator,” Occupy Atlanta said in a statement posted online.
Wojcik-Tremblay is scheduled to appear in court Monday for a bail hearing.
Meanwhile, Occupy Atlanta is back in full force today, and plans to stay the course in Woodruff Park again tonight, demonstrators said.
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Why was the protester standing in front of the motorcycle officer, blocking his path? To force a confrontation? Blocking the street is a crime and so is pushing a police officer. The protesters act like the First Amendment exempts them from the law.
Posted by: SamJ | November 6, 2011, 4:16 pm 4:16 pm
Mr. SamJ, did you say the same things about the gentleman at Tiennamen Square?
Posted by: Donny | November 6, 2011, 4:23 pm 4:23 pm
“Why was the protester standing in front of the motorcycle officer, blocking his path? To force a confrontation?” You just answered your own question. The OWS complainers have learned that their speeches and non-violent marches are subject to the law of diminishing returns. Both this and their frustration at being able to accomplish anything have escalatiing their actions to force physical confrontation so that they can claim that they are the victims.
Posted by: Publius | November 6, 2011, 4:38 pm 4:38 pm
@Donny… have you ever even been to China? LOL.. I have.. if you comparing this Country to China, you need to do some traveling.. Maybe you should join the Corps like I did.. do some touring. People in this country have no clue.. yea.. it is bad here, but trust me we have it great compared to China.
Posted by: anotherday | November 6, 2011, 5:40 pm 5:40 pm
Let the commie protesters continue. They are “Useful Idiots”. After the overthrow we’ll give them a proper sendoff.
Posted by: Mickey | November 6, 2011, 5:59 pm 5:59 pm
I’m waiting for COPS to air this stuff. Hippies getting taken down felony style with the knee on the neck and their cheeks ground in the very ground he defecated on.
I’d like to see a couple of episodes of the cops firing rubber bullets at these anarchists that destroy business windows, light fires, and spray paint graffiti. Heck, I’d like to see them getting tear gassed, but with that foam spray cops have. LOL!!!
Posted by: bad boyz | November 6, 2011, 6:10 pm 6:10 pm
According to the article, the video shows the protester “pushing” on the motorcycle, and the motorcycle accelerates. Unless the protester is invisible, the cop saw him and accelerated into the American Citizen.
Posted by: arryandan | November 6, 2011, 10:22 pm 10:22 pm
What a fool. Attempting to intimidate police invites unwanted consequences that you should be prepared for. You get what you deserve.
Posted by: a h keester | November 7, 2011, 12:19 am 12:19 am
Until the media portrays these hoodlums for what they are and stops going after the authorities trying to make them look bad where instead, it’s these THUGS that are provoking, taunting, and vandalizing our parks and city streets, this will go on until someone really gets hurt or killed.
Posted by: Gunner_1959 | November 7, 2011, 7:25 am 7:25 am
The bias in this article is revolting. ABC, you should be ashamed.
Posted by: ABC Bias | November 7, 2011, 9:40 am 9:40 am
Police officers who are injured by the so-called peaceful demonstrator should sue each and everyone.
Posted by: Lizzie | November 7, 2011, 2:25 pm 2:25 pm
POSTED BY: ARRYANDAN | NOVEMBER 6, 2011, 10:22 PM 10:22 PM but its alright to injure and maim public servants. Who will you call next time when you need police, ambulance or fire department, the protestors??????
Posted by: Lizzie | November 7, 2011, 2:29 pm 2:29 pm
are these same “peaceful” protestors who pushed an old lady down a flight of stairs in DC ? Used their children as shields, have committed rapes, broken glass in stores, thrown a debit reader in a McDonalds, hurled rocks and bottles at police etc..etc…Until the media ( inc. you ABC starts reporting the true nature of these “poor misunderstood peaceful protestors” no one is going to care what you have to say. Especially since you cast the Tea Party in such a wonderful light right Yeah right!
Posted by: Jean | November 7, 2011, 9:19 pm 9:19 pm