NYPress.com - New York's essential guide to culture, arts, politics, news and more » zuccotti

INVESTIGATION INTO NYPD CONDUCT WITH OCCUPY WALL STREET

Marissa Maier — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 18:45:05 +0000

NADLER CALLS FOR FULL INVESTIGATION OF NYPD CONDUCT ON OWS

Jerrold Nadler, congressman and Occupy Wall Street supporter, is asking for a full investigation of law enforcements conduct toward peaceful protestors and media persons at Zuccotti Park and the Brooklyn Bridge march. In a letter to the Attorney General, Nadler insists that on several occasions “recordings and videos were made at the scene that raise sufficient concern warranting a federal investigation of whether there was in fact police misconduct in violation of federal law, and whether these actions were taken to prevent OWS protestors from exercising their First Amendment rights.”

Nadler also claims that aggressive actions were taken to “block journalists from reporting on the incident.” Nadler writes, “The NYPD forced journalists to leave Zuccotti Park, prevented members of the credentialed press from being present during the eviction, and used intimidation and physical force to prevent reporters and photographers from carrying out their journalistic functions. Many of those arrested were not charged with any offenses,” begging the question of why they were arrested in the first place. “Additionally, the City reportedly closed the airspace above the area in order to prevent news helicopters from recording the actions.”

Congressman, Nadler, has asked for a timely investigation given the severity of the possibility of infringement on protestor’s constitutional rights. The Attorney General is specifically being asked to “determine whether these actions constituted a deprivation of rights under color of law” and if so, to take prompt action.

Protesters successfully avert clearing of Zuccotti Park

NY Press — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 12:25:46 +0000

The Occupy Wall Street encampment was in serious jeopardy last night; Mayor Bloomberg, at Brookfield Office Properties’ request, announced that the city would attempt to clean Zuccotti Park at 7am this morning and that once the cleaning was completed protesters would no longer be allowed to have sleeping bags in the park, or even lie down in the park. Understanding that the cleaning was a pretext for ending the encampment, protesters were cleaning all day and night, in an attempt to both call Brookfield’s bluff and to prove to officials that they are capable of keeping the park clean themselves. Over 200,000 people signed a petition started by Moveon.org last night asking Bloomberg not to kick the protesters out.

This morning, thousands of people gathered at Zuccotti Park to attempt to hold the park against the cleaning. The mood was tense but jubilant. The park was barricaded off on all sides, and there were only two places to enter or exit the park. As such, the Lawyers Guild, who were walking around the park arming protesters (literally handing out sharpies to write on their arms) with the number for the Lawyers Guild; they were preparing for everyone to be arrested. However, at approximately 6am, an announcement was made at Zuccotti that the cleaning had been postponed. Cheers began and the protest became a celebration.

According to a statement that Cas Holloway, NYC deputy mayor, released early this morning, Brookfield Office Properties informed the city that they are not only postponing the cleaning for the time being, but they are also withdrawing their request for police assistance in clearing the park. It could not be more clear that the Occupy Wall Street protest has won a decisive victory this morning.