GFP Note: I've been following the events of Occupy Wall Street's First Anniversary and what I've concluded is that the past weekend was as much about Police as it was about Wall Street and Occupy. Below are some videos and articles that illustrate my point. If you search the internet, you will see that stories of the police presence and arrests dominate the Anniversary coverage.
Journalists Arrested During Occupy Wall Street Anniversary Protests
HuffingtonPost.com - 9/17/12
Excerpts:
Photojournalists appeared to be the most frequently targeted. Two photographers and one journalist were arrested on Saturday night, and several more during Monday's protests. At least one journalist from the local WPIX station was arrested on Monday. In one instance, police arrested a photographer, Julia Reinhart, while she was wearing identification that listed her as a member of the National Press Photographers Association.
The NPPA issued a statement saying that it was "deeply concerned and troubled by the aggressive and indiscriminate manner in which officers and command staff are allegedly treating those exercising their First Amendment rights."
(This article includes 50 pictures and one video.)
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Jumaane Williams, NYC Councilman, Pushed By NYPD Cop During Occupy Wall Street Protest (PHOTO)
HuffingtonPost.com - 9/18/12
Excerpts:
While nearly 200 people were arrested during Monday's Occupy Wall Street protests, New York City Councilman Jumaane Williams was pushed by an NYPD officer while trying to explain his purpose at Zuccotti Park.
Prior to the incident, Williams had tweeted, "A little concerned. Tensions raising on both sides #OWS supporters should come out tonight btwn 6 and 8pm" and then "Have seen #NYPD show restraint. Have also witnessed some very questionable arrests at #OWS."
This article includes a photo and a video.)
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185 Arrested on Occupy Wall St. Anniversary
NYTimes.com – 9/17/12
Excerpts:
At one point, at Broad and Beaver Streets, a commander grabbed a man from a crowd standing on the corner. Protesters tried to pull the man back, but officers surged into the crowd and wrested the man away, placing him in handcuffs.
At one point, as the police arrested a woman inside Zuccotti Park, an officer told a city councilman, Jumaane D. Williams, to get down from a granite bench. Mr. Williams refused, saying he was a Council member and wanted to observe. After Mr. Williams refused a second order to get down, two officers shoved him with batons, knocking him off the bench.
(This article includes a photo and a video.)
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NYPD force Journalists/Press away from Protests, NYC, #S17, #OWS
Source: YouTube.com
Published on Sep 17, 2012 by OccupytheLIRR
Description: Sep. 17, 2012: At about 9:30 AM, the NYPD continued to push all people (including the press; excluding bankers) away from Wall Street. Here a line of credential news photographers and journalists are pushed up Broadway by the NYPD away from Wall Street. One NYPD officer is even overheard telling a journalist: "This is a Protest Zone. You have to move back!" As if the fact that there is a protest happening means that the news media are not allowed to film it!!!
Finally, the press are allowed through only when one feisty journalist raises his voice and gets the NYPD to move aside. (And that's only for credentialed press; all others were kept back.)
OWS supports Freedom of the Press!
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Occupy Wall Street #S15 NYPD Madness
Source: YouTube.com
Published on Sep 16, 2012 by wearechange
Description:This is some of the major events that took place during Luke Rudkowski's live broadcast at the Occupy Wall Street #S15 action. Don't forget to sign up for notifications on http://www.ustream.tv/WeAreChange in order to get email alerts to when Luke is going live. You can also follow him on http://www.twitter.com/LukeWeAreChange to get the live video notifications, photos and updates from the actions in NYC.
footage was shot on 9/15/12 from 5pm to 9pm
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