"The “model” civilization that’s sprung up at Zuccotti is itself increasingly divided between the stakeholders in the nascent movement who feel invested in the emerging economic, social and cultural causes of “the 99%,” and hangers-on, including a fast-growing contingent of lawbreakers and lowlifes, many of whom seem to have come to Zuccotti in the last week with the cynical encouragement of the NYPD.
The NYPD seems to have crossed a line in recent days, as the park has taken on a darker tone with unsteady and unstable types suddenly seeming to emerge from the woodwork. Two different drunks I spoke with last week told me they’d been encouraged to “take it to Zuccotti” by officers who’d found them drinking in other parks, and members of the community affairs working group related several similar stories they’d heard while talking with intoxicated or aggressive new arrivals.
The NYPD’s press office declined to comment on the record about any such policy, but it seems like a logical tactic from a Bloomberg administration that has done its best to make things difficult for the occupation — a way of using its openness against it.
“He’s got a right to express himself, you’ve got a right to express yourself,” I heard three cops repeat in recent days, using nearly identical language, when asked to intervene with troublemakers inside the park, including a clearly disturbed man screaming and singing wildly at 3 a.m. for the second straight night. “The first time I’ve heard cops mention our First Amendment rights,” cracked one occupier after hearing a lieutenant read off of that apparent script."
--Reported by the New York Daily News, which has been so sympathetic to the occupation that their headline today was "AND STAY OUT."
Salon headline laughs at the Daily News: "Daily News Cheers Occupy Wall Street Raid, Until Daily News Reporter is Arrested."
The NYPD illegally shuts out the media from the raid, arresting some reporters and roughing up others, then calls them back like good little doggies to publicize a pile of needles. Oh, that liberal press!
"Commit fraud, steal my tax money, demolish the economy, embezzle my retirement, put my children into debt, and get indignant when anyone so much as objects... what are you gonna do. But those OWS jerks better not make me late for work on Thursday!"
6 comments:
Shocking! Why, it discredits the entire movement!
"The “model” civilization that’s sprung up at Zuccotti is itself increasingly divided between the stakeholders in the nascent movement who feel invested in the emerging economic, social and cultural causes of “the 99%,” and hangers-on, including a fast-growing contingent of lawbreakers and lowlifes, many of whom seem to have come to Zuccotti in the last week with the cynical encouragement of the NYPD.
The NYPD seems to have crossed a line in recent days, as the park has taken on a darker tone with unsteady and unstable types suddenly seeming to emerge from the woodwork. Two different drunks I spoke with last week told me they’d been encouraged to “take it to Zuccotti” by officers who’d found them drinking in other parks, and members of the community affairs working group related several similar stories they’d heard while talking with intoxicated or aggressive new arrivals.
The NYPD’s press office declined to comment on the record about any such policy, but it seems like a logical tactic from a Bloomberg administration that has done its best to make things difficult for the occupation — a way of using its openness against it.
“He’s got a right to express himself, you’ve got a right to express yourself,” I heard three cops repeat in recent days, using nearly identical language, when asked to intervene with troublemakers inside the park, including a clearly disturbed man screaming and singing wildly at 3 a.m. for the second straight night. “The first time I’ve heard cops mention our First Amendment rights,” cracked one occupier after hearing a lieutenant read off of that apparent script."
--Reported by the New York Daily News, which has been so sympathetic to the occupation that their headline today was "AND STAY OUT."
Salon headline laughs at the Daily News:
"Daily News Cheers Occupy Wall Street Raid, Until Daily News Reporter is Arrested."
The NYPD illegally shuts out the media from the raid, arresting some reporters and roughing up others, then calls them back like good little doggies to publicize a pile of needles. Oh, that liberal press!
I'm watching the NY News right now. the cops will be protecting the protestors from commuters - not vice vesra.
Snarky, but funny.
I guess that OWS can't truly claim to support the goals of the 99% of the population if they also won't support the actions of the lumpenproletariat.
And we'll see how much mileage the OWS gets from the "blame the cops" excuse.
"Commit fraud, steal my tax money, demolish the economy, embezzle my retirement, put my children into debt, and get indignant when anyone so much as objects... what are you gonna do. But those OWS jerks better not make me late for work on Thursday!"
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