Occupy Wall Street Park Cleanup Postponed in NYC
- Posted on October 14, 2011 at 6:59am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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Demonstrators affiliated with the Occupy Wall Street protests sweep Zucotti park to preempt a scheduled cleanup by owners Friday morning that protestors say is a move to shut them down, Friday, Oct. 14, 2011, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
NEW YORK (The Blaze/AP) — The cleanup of a plaza in lower Manhattan where protesters have been camped out for a month was postponed early Friday, sending cheers up from a crowd that had feared the effort was merely a pretext to evict them.*
Deputy Mayor Cas Holloway said the owners of the private park, Brookfield Office Properties, had put off the cleaning, scheduled for 7 a.m. More than hour beforehand, supporters of the protesters had started streaming into the park, creating a crowd of several hundred chanting people.
A confrontation between police and protesters, who had vowed to stay put through civil disobedience, had been feared. Boisterous cheers floated up from the crowds as the announcement of the postponement circulated, and protesters began polling each other on whether to make an immediate march to Wall Street, a few blocks away.
“Late last night, we received notice from the owners of Zuccotti Park – Brookfield Properties – that they are postponing their scheduled cleaning of the park, and for the time being withdrawing their request from earlier in the week for police assistance during their cleaning operation,” the deputy mayor’s statement said.
Brookfield believes it can work out an arrangement with the protesters that “will ensure the park remains clean, safe, available for public use,” it said.
Brookfield, a publicly traded real estate firm, had planned to power-wash the plaza section by section over 12 hours and allow the protesters back – but without much of the equipment they needed to sleep and camp there. The company called the conditions at the park unsanitary and unsafe.
In a last-ditch bid to stay, protesters had mopped and picked up garbage. While moving out mattresses and camping supplies, organizers were mixed on how they would respond when police arrived.
Some protesters said they would resist; others planned to cooperate but engage in nonviolent civil disobedience if they are not allowed back in the park. WCBS-TV in New York reports a scuffle broke out between police and protesters after a faction of of the mob tried to march on Wall St., emboldened by the decision not to evict the protesters.
A video posted on YouTube appears to show the physical exchange:
Han Shan, 39, of New York, a spokesman for Occupy Wall Street, said it was clear to everyone that the plan is to shut down the protest.
“There is a strong commitment to nonviolence, but I know people are going to vigorously resist eviction,” he said. “I think we’re going to see a huge number of supporters throughout New York and the surrounding area defend this thing … I’m hoping that cooler heads will prevail, but I’m not holding my breath.”
Some 600 to 700 protesters gathered in early morning darkness. Many had not slept and were busy cleaning while a light rain fell. The group’s sanitation team had hired a private garbage truck to pick up discarded curbside garbage.
Dozens of people, including a man in a Santa Claus suit, tossed out trash and used thick brooms and water from buckets to sweep the concrete: (Content warning for language)
A few people hunkered down under tarps but few slept. Police kept a low profile – a couple of officers walked through the encampment while other police sat in vans Thursday evening but did not remain through the night.
The company’s rules, which haven’t been enforced, have been this all along: No tarps, no sleeping bags, no storing personal property on the ground. The park is privately owned but is required to be open to the public 24 hours per day.
The demand that protesters clear out sets up a turning point in a movement that began Sept. 17 with a small group of activists and has swelled to include several thousand people at times, from many walks of life. Occupy Wall Street has inspired similar demonstrations across the country and become an issue in the Republican presidential primary race.
The protesters’ demands are wide-ranging, but they are united in blaming Wall Street and corporate interests for the economic pain they say all but the wealthiest Americans have endured since the financial meltdown.
A spokesman for Mayor Michael Bloomberg, whose girlfriend is a member of Brookfield’s board of directors, said Brookfield had requested the city’s assistance in maintaining the park.
“We will continue to defend and guarantee their free speech rights, but those rights do not include the ability to infringe on the rights of others,” Bloomberg spokesman Marc La Vorgna said, “which is why the rules governing the park will be enforced.”
Many protesters said the only way they would leave is by force. Organizers sent out a mass email Thursday asking supporters to “defend the occupation from eviction.”
Nicole Carty, a 23-year-old from Atlanta, hoped the group’s cleaning effort would stave off any confrontation.
“We tell them, `Hey the park is clean, there’s no need for you to be here,’” she said. “If they insist on coming in, we will continue to occupy the space.”
Brown said he lost his job at McDonald’s a month ago. He spent the past week and a half sleeping at the park and protesting, but he didn’t want the end to be ugly.
“You’ve got a lot of amateurs here …,” he said. “I tell people don’t block the pedestrian traffic, keep a Bill of Rights handy and be respectful of police. I’m for the rule of law, not chaos.”
Protesters have had some run-ins with police, but mass arrests on the Brooklyn Bridge and an incident in which some protesters were pepper-sprayed seemed to energize their movement.
The New York Police Department said it will make arrests if Brookfield requests it and laws are broken. Brookfield would not comment on how it will ensure that protesters do not try to set up camp again, only saying that the cleaning was necessary.
Bill de Blasio, the city’s public advocate, expressed concern over the city‘s actions as he inspected the park Thursday afternoon and listened to protesters’ complaints.
“This has been a very peaceful movement by the people,” he said. “I’m concerned about this new set of policies. At the very least, the city should slow down.”
Attorneys from the New York City chapter of the National Lawyers Guild – who are representing an Occupy Wall Street sanitation working group – have written a letter to Brookfield saying the company’s request to get police to help implement its cleanup plan threatens “fundamental constitutional rights.”
“There is no basis in the law for your request for police intervention, nor have you cited any,” the attorneys wrote in a letter Thursday to Brookfield CEO Richard B. Clark.
The protest has led sympathetic groups in other cities to stage their own local rallies and demonstrations: Occupy Boston, Occupy Cincinnati, Occupy Houston, Occupy Los Angeles, Occupy Philadelphia, Occupy Providence, Occupy Salt Lake and Occupy Seattle, among them.
Occupy Seattle protesters running a live video feed from their corporate power protest at Seattle’s Westlake Park said police started making arrests Thursday. Police confirmed that 10 people were arrested. City law bans camping in parks.
The situation was tense near Colorado’s state Capitol early Friday, where hundreds of Occupy Denver protesters had been told to clear out or risk arrest.
Police warned around 3 a.m. that they would start clearing the park, but no arrests had been made yet.
Several protests are planned this weekend across the U.S. and Canada, and European activists are also organizing.
—
Associated Press writers Larry Neumeister, Tom McElroy, Cara Anna, Deepti Hajela, Colleen Long, Cristian Salazar, Verena Dobnik, and Meghan Barr contributed to this report.
*The Blaze’s reporter on scene said early this morning that despite reports of the cleanup being canceled, police had still encased the park in metal barricades and were not letting anyone near the area or on the surrounding streets. However, he has just gotten official word from the police that the cleanup has, in fact, been cancelled.
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Comments (87)
tobywil2
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 9:16amAn economic crisis, ending in violent chaos is the prescription for replacing a Republic with a Dictatorship. Since taking office, Mr. Obama’s agenda has been a blueprint for establishing that economic crisis.
That agenda is approaching completion. The economic crisis is almost upon us and the civil unrest to justify a declaration of martial law and suspension of the Constitution has started with the “OCCUPY WALL STREET” campaign. The Tyrant has slightly one year to bring his plan to fruition. The economic conditions resulting from Mr. Obama’s agenda to create the economic crises will certainly prevent reelection.
On February 24, 2011 President Obama informed Congress that he would not enforce the laws that he disagreed with. Thus, Mr. Obama declared himself a Dictator? Is this our new form of government? A Dictator does not require the approval of Congress! Dictators don’t resign and dictators don’t allow free elections! The “OCCUPY WALL STREET” is the beginning of the final step to consolidate tyrant’s power!
http://commonsense21c.com/
Report Post »gmoneytx
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 9:32amTOBYWIL2, that is what we’ve been talking about ever since Obama has been elected. Next June I’m moving to a rural area, unplugging from the “Matrix” and watching the fireworks from afar!
Report Post »teamarcheson
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 9:51amThey are not going to leave, they marched in unopposed without a permit and will never leave. The Union Thug NY COPS are on their side and will not move them out. New York City is no longer part of the USA.
Report Post »ltb
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 9:53amThis reminds me of the Tea Party rally I went to in DC a couple of years ago. I’m kidding, it doesn’t remind me anything of that, because even though there were 5 times as many people at the 9/12 Tea Party rally, we left the DC Mall cleaner than we found it and didn’t expect someone to clean up our mess.
Report Post »Detroit paperboy
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 9:58amTwo words : community organizer……..
Report Post »starman70
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 10:28amThe answer to cleaning the park is very simple. Take 4 of FDNY’s pumpers, hook up the 5 inch supply lines to hydrants and open up the 1250 GPM deck guns on the square. That way, they could move out the “Protesters” and flush the commode they created at the same time.
AWWWWWW! I forgot, FDNY is unionized and the corrupt union leadership sides with this gang of trashy clowns. NOTHING IS GOING TO BE DONE.
However, nature may help clear out this sty. Dysentary, colds, flu and other diseases will run rampant because of unsanitary conditions. A good freezing rain or even a sleet storm may aid in the evacuation.
Report Post »We all need to pray for another early blizzard with at least 3 feet of snow.
CottonMPG
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 11:31amI was in DC to protest Obamacare being pushed through, well, actually we were trying to influence the so called representatives so they wouldn’t pass it. Not only were we all polite and obedient, liberals came and got next to us causing trouble and littered.
The cops were informed and they were moved but not fined or anything. I was on the corner when the group of black representatives crossed the street, they later accused people of spitting on them and calling them the N-word. No one did anything to them except tell them to kill the bill and represent the people. One of the men in that group was holding an I-phone or some similar device in front of them and panning the crowd as he/they passed the crowds apparently taking video. Notice we never saw video proving the accusations. I know that they were taking video so if it had happened we’d of seen it. We weren’t even allowed to stand on the public sidewalks at one point. They told us we had to get up onto the grass which was at least 2.5 ft up and it wasn’t easy for some of us to scramble up there. Even though we knew they were wrong for treating us in that way we complied. Huge difference between the people in the tea party and these leaches on society. Not all of us were tea party members of course. They were generally same type of people though, for the most part.
Report Post »Shelbystreet
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 7:19pmMayor Bloomberg has shown his hand, he is no leader. The boost the protesters received today will boost the strength of the so called illiterate movement.Crime is but minutes away it‘s inevitable it’s the way these things go.
Report Post »Bloomberg has an agenda and a behind the scene reason for what he did today.I guess anyone can be bought.
SamIamTwo
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 9:14amI betcha that their dorm rooms are just a trashed and they never picked up after themselves at home. It’s no doubt a first. sigh
So let’s see the clean up check list to determine if these sheep cleaned it in accordance with the company policies and standards, eh? Wanna bet that one of them will sue the company for doing their work for them…after it is all said and done…You see I use to be a liberal. LOL
Report Post »shotzie52
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 9:03amThis is beyond ridiculous, let the Tea Party break even one rule and all hell would break loose, problem is that wouldn’t happen, they don’t break rules. I followed tweets on #ows for a while last night, many stated that they were ‘taking back the democracy”. I posted we are a republic and received a tweet back that the goal was to “change it to a democracy”…..this isn’t an innocent protest, they have a goal to create chaos and overthrow the government and they are being assisted by the government….what happened to the rights of the people who live around that park?
Report Post »The AFL-CIO and MoveOn.org put out marching orders last night to show up and stand with the protesters, this isn’t going to get any better….someone needs to stop it now
demint.disciple
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 9:11amYes we won this is our victory, we get to live in our filth..
Report Post »encinom
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 10:27amTHe tea party are paid corporate spokes men for the Koch Brothers and other similar entities.
Report Post »shotzie52
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 10:54amI didn’t get paid by anybody, unions didn’t rush to the aide of the Tea Party when summoned like they did last night for the occupiers in NY City….MoveOn.org put out an alert to get all hands on deck to resist the eviction. Who is providing the money and the food and the lawyers for all the occupiers?
I brought my own lunch to tea party events, we had food and clothing drives at our events and left the place clean, we obtained required permits, stayed in hotels, put money into the economy and didn’t close down businesses like the occupiers are…..if you believe the occupy movement is totally unfunded and organic you are a fool
Report Post »KenInIL
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 1:23pmThese folks and their “democracy” want to allow for a vote of NYers to “dispose” of these protesters that are creating tumult in their city. “Dispose” as in putting in jail for a long time. So let the majority rule; let NYers vote – and let these protestors realize the value of a republic.
Report Post »MHP
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 7:25pmencinom
the cops should shoot the protestors.
violence the protestors cause begats return violence.
Report Post »Iowa_man
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 9:02amI say if they want to protest, great! let them protest. That is their right. But they must obey the rules of the park or loose the privilege since that violates others rights. They setup tents, tarps, sleeping bags or other items not allowed, out they go. If they resist or do not comply, then they risk arrest. I’d bring em back in orange and make them clean as community service.
Report Post »Cape_Lookout_RW_Extremist
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 9:01amI think we should do our part to assist these fine citizens and supply them with fresh sandwiches. I know just the the farm in California that can supply the lettuce.
Report Post »Geminitis
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 9:51amActually a nice cantaloupe salad would be better
Report Post »Leader1776
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 9:00amI’m all for the OWS. NOT because I agree with it, but because the liberals of NYC deserve it. It just isn’t near large enough yet. I love watching Bloomberg et al squirm. They are all for this group of miscreants, while scheming how to get rid of this embarrassment. Great theater.
Report Post »amerbur
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 9:00amSend the equipment down there and tell these people to clean up after them selves. Then send the bill for the equipment to Soros along with the bill for the police.
Report Post »lgccac
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 8:58amWhy not have the protestors that have been arrested, as their punishment, clean up their own filth?
Report Post »Secessionista
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 8:44amDid the park authorities speak in 3 syllable utterances so that the mob could understand them and repeat after them?
Report Post »demint.disciple
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 9:16amVictory or death…. from Impetigo.
Report Post »smokie
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 12:42pmAnd did the cops use Twinkle Fingers to further aid in communication?
Report Post »tajloc
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 8:42amJust pray for a good winter storm with some cleansing sleet.
Report Post »ezeewhiz
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 8:35amBloomberg is tied in with these folks that own the park. He aint doin nothin but frontin the rest of NYC!!!!
Report Post »Locked
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 9:41am… which is why the protesters heard he was at an expensive dinner the other night and showed up to boo him? Yeah, totally with him (rolls eyes).
Report Post »themanchildmustgo
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 8:20amNot to promote violence but, seems to me this would be a great time to scoop up all the unAmericans, put them all on a leaking ship with only enough fuel to get about 300 miles offshore to rid this country of total shyteheads!
Report Post »JohnnyBrillcream
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 8:08amAmazing, they’re like my kids. Won’t clean their room unless there is the threat of punishment then want praise for doing so…….
Report Post »willbedone
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 8:04amCleaning up this mess is like cleaning up after spoiled rotten ungrateful selfish children. Let them stew in their own crap. Perhaps we can assist them by dumping more garbage and sewer sludge in their shanty town.
This is what the hoped for change that Obama promised, If it hasn’t already, coming to a city near you.
Report Post »danr2960
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 7:45amMark My Words….It’s going to take a few days(and maybe not) but we will find out who had the authority to cacell the cleanup at OWS….And His Name will be obama and his Cronies….. And if you don’t believe this than you live in LA LA Land!!
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 7:55amIndeed, and if I remember correctly, the ones who would do the clean up in NYC would be folks who work for the local unions, so behind them are union leaders, Mr Obama and cronies, and old Soros himself giving the orders via Van Jones.
Report Post »let us prey
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 8:22amCould the fact that the parent company of Brookfield Properties received a “green energy” loan guarantee from the Obama administration for a New Hampshire wind farm have anything to do with it? Joe Biden’s son is a partner in the lobbying firm Brookfield employed. Mayor Bloomberg said it would be up to the property owners to evict the filth from the park. His girlfriend is on the company’s board of directors, so perhaps he could have a word with her.
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 7:39amMy post missed it first time around. Will try again.
What about the NEW YORKERS who live and work there, mr. non-mayor? What about their health, their safety, their rights as citizens of this great country?
you are about as worthless as your black self, sharpless.
Report Post »DMSNC
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 7:36amBow to the useful idiots. These people are simply insane – spend some time living under socialist rule: no iPod, no MacBooks, no Smoked Salmon. Assigned a job you cannot stand, assigned where to live, waiting in line for hours to get toliet paper.
Report Post »NHwinter
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 8:00amThats the really sad part, they have no idea what it will be like under Socialism/Communism. I went to East Berlin when it was still under Communism, the Wall was up. The contrast between East and West Berlin was stark. These fools have been indoctrinated and have no concept of reality. I pray to God that we don’t end up with a dictator. The rich will be fine, those elite government officals will be fine. Its those poor fools on Wall Street that will pay the price. They want something for nothing and will end up slaves for the government working for pennies and scraps of food and living in run down, tiny apartments just like in East Berlin.
Report Post »tweet
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 7:24amSomething tells me money was involved… now WHO has enough money to convince the Park owners to not clean? hmmmmmmm
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 7:57amIt could have been more than just money involved, the current admin is not above the use of any and all forms of intimidation via the DOJ and IRS to make their point well known. Something indeed is going on behind the scenes here.
Report Post »let us prey
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 8:37amCould the fact that the parent company of Brookfield Properties received a “green energy” loan guarantee from the Obama administration for a New Hampshire wind farm have anything to do with it? Joe Biden’s son is a partner in the lobbying firm Brookfield employed. Mayor Bloomberg said it would be up to the property owners to evict the filth from the park. His girlfriend is on the company’s board of directors, so perhaps he could have a word with her.
Report Post »quicker
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 7:19amPigs in stys.When they finilly leave the place will be trashed.Not like the tea party,who cleans up after them selves.But hey winter is coming and these childern will run back home to mama.If they don`t there will be a lot of human popcycles.
Report Post »paulusmaximus
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 7:18amIf they were really ready to be responsible they would clean it up their-selves. This shows what a new world order will look like.
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 7:18am.
Report Post »A fire hose should help wash away the stink, and clear out the park………….
stefooch
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 7:17amBloomberg’s girlfriend is on the Board of Directors…that’s all you need to know.
Report Post »Darla_K
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 8:12amIs it the girlfriend of Bloomberg or the spokemans girlfriend to Bloomberg?
Report Post »heavyduty
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 7:13amWhat New Yuck needs is a good 10″ inch rain. That would clear them out. There is no comparison between these idiots and the Tea Party.
The Tea Party is about restoring AMERICA to its former GREATNESS. These idiots are all about themselves.
If it doesn’t rain soon, then New Yuck should turn the fire hoses on them and leave the police out of it except to protect the firetrucks.
If these people want change so bad, then why don’t they change their address to another country, (not zip code). Because they evidently don’t like it here, I would urge them to find a good socialist country to move to and live there for awhile. Then if they like it they can stay there. If they don’t like it then come back and become useful citizens paying their own way.
Report Post »quicker
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 7:21amWinter`s coming then they can roll the frozen ones up in a trap.
Report Post »Annie Fields
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 7:12amPlease PLEASE embrace these people, democrats! DO IT LOUDLY! I am ENCOURAGING your free speech rights; I do not want them vanquished.
It can only help our side.
http://www.anniefields.com/blog
PLEASE SUPPORT HERMAN CAIN 2012! Set up a recurring donation via a link at my blog, even if it’s only $10 a month! PLEASE HELP HIM!
Report Post »SamIamTwo
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 9:19amI’d not encourage it too much…they have enough momentum to do harm right now. Just hope el presidente doesn’t declare martial law and take over the country. WE are behind in this game and we were too SOFT!
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 7:11amLet them rot in their own filth.
Report Post »MARCH4HIM
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 7:27amI was just thinking the same thing,maybe the city can skip trash pick-for a month too.
Report Post »They want to pretend to be down and out….I say give them the full effect..
smudgercat17
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 4:25pmI agree. Make the Police rope them in and not let them out until they clean up their mess. Then send the bill for the police presence to the President and the other DC idiots that endorse this nonsense.
Report Post »