You can see how the protests are spread out around Wall Street in this map curated by the protest organisers.
The opening bell of the New York Stock Exchange was rung on time at 9.30am.
Occupy protesters appear to have succeeded in blocking all access points to Wall Street now, with no-one being allowed in. The Stock Exchange is due to open at 9.30am, and Salon reporter Justin Elliott says there's speculation that protesters may make a symbolic move at that time. Our reporter Adam Gabbatt says he thinks enough workers will have made it in to the NYSE for the opening bell to be rung and the exchange to open as planned.
Here and there, localised scuffles are breaking out. Freelance journalist Andrew Katz says he counted 22 arrests at the intersection of Broadway and Pine. Multiple reports on Twitter say batons have been drawn and pepper spray deployed at the intersection of Broadway and Beaver.
Here's a report from Adam Gabbatt of the first 90 minutes of the protest today.
The first event in Occupy Wall Street's "day of action" is an attempt to "shut down Wall Street"- kicking off a series of protests on the movement's two month anniversary. At 6.30am around 100 people were gathered at Zuccotti Park, but with a steady stream of protesters beginning to arrive.
Some 300m south, a police barricade, flanked by TV news crews, was blocking access to Wall Street. Workers were allowed to enter the street, but only after showing company ID. I tried to enter, but was told "no press today, for security reasons", by a police officer.
By 7.30am the crowd had left Zuccotti Park, but only to gather in the square opposite their former camp. Some 500 people massed there, listening to briefings about what to do if arrested, before setting off on the march to Wall Street.
Heading east, the streets leading south onto Wall Street were blocks by police officers and metal barricades. Protesters finally accessed Wall street after finding a route along Pearl Street, gathering outside Deutsche Bank for around five minutes before setting off
again.The march is quite spread out, with regular shouts of "slow down" to those at the front appearing to go unheeded.
Police are taking preventative action by blocking key streets before protesters arrive, but are generally allowing the march to progress.
Here's a recap of the first hour or so of the protest, as told by Adam Gabbatt on Twitter.
You can follow his tweets here.
The marchers appear to be playing a cat-and-mouse game with police, according to Ryan Devereaux.
Occupy Wall Street protesters are within blocks of the New York Stock Exchange. Hundreds, if not thousands, accessed Wall Street to the east but were blocked by a police line. The march is now snaking its way through the streets of the financial district but running into police blockades at every turn and becoming increasingly divided. One young man carries what appears to the sign that lists the rules of Zuccotti Park; the space that had become the protesters base of operations until they were evicted earlier this week.
In the past hour, hundreds of protesters have marched the few blocks south from Zuccotti Park towards their target of Wall Street and the New York Stock exchange. Earlier, Adam Gabbatt followed preparations at the protesters' base:
Around 200 people were gathered at Zuccotti Park at 7am, with a steady stream of protesters arriving.
Access was permitted through one gap in the police barricades, with security staff in fluorescent jackets looking on as people filtered through.
Inside last minute briefings were taking place, telephone numbers for lawyers and right to remain silent being refreshed.
Police are out in force in Lower Manhattan this morning in preparation for a day of action by Occupy Wall Street protesters.
A crowd gathered at Zuccotti Park at 7am today to prepare for a march on Wall Street, and an attempt to "occupy" the New York Stock Exchange.
Later, there are plans to protest on the New York city subway system, at at least 16 locations simultaneously. Our reporters are out in the city. You can follow @AdamGabbatt on Twitter, as well as comprehensive live updates here.
Democracy Now reporter Ryan Devereaux, filing today for the Guardian, sends this preview:
As expected, the police presence in Lower Manhattan is extremely heavy this morning as the city awaits a massive day of action led by Occupy Wall Street protesters. NYPD vehicles and barricades are visible along every street. At least four helicopters can be seen circling overhead. Meanwhile the area near Wall Street itself is guarded by scores of officers wearing riot helmets. The police are asking individuals to present their work IDs to access streets in the area. A team of mounted police stands guard in front of the New York Stock Exchange.
The protesters have planned a multi-stage blitz on the global financial center with the goal of shutting down the area. The plan, which included several weeks of preparation, involves multiple autonomously-functioning groups carrying out individual actions amid a mass number of marchers. Organizers of the protest say online RSVPs for the demonstration trippled after the city evicted the protesters for their encampment at Zuccotti Park earlier this week. City officials say they have prepared for tens of thousands of demonstrators in the streets.
http://www.guardiannews.com/world/blog/2011/nov/17/occupy-wall-street-day-of-action-live
