The tents, communal kitchen and library might be out of Zuccotti park, but it doesn’t seem like the Occupy Wall Street movement will be packing it in anytime soon.
Thousands of protesters hit the streets of New York yesterday for the OWS Day of Action, a series of events scheduled to mark second month anniversary of the protests.
But in the wake of the early morning police raid in Zuccotti park on Tuesday, and subsequent court ruling allowing the NYPD to prevent protesters from bringing tents, sleeping bags or large containers into the park, the day’s events also signaled that the Occupy movement could still mobilize large scale public support and attention, even without its symbolic encampment.
Groups of protesters occupied subway stations through out the five boroughs before convening at Foley Square around 5:30 PM to take part in a rally organized by the Service Employees International Union Local 1199. Some initial reports said that more than 30 000 people were at the Foley Square but police officials have since said the crowd size was probably between 5 000-10 000.
Several thousand protesters later made their way to the Brooklyn Bridge under the watchful eye of a large police contingent, and crossed the bridge along the pedestrian walkway as drivers on the road bellow honked their horns in support.
Some protesters were seemingly able to place a projector that displayed a series giant Occupy slogans like “ We Are the 99%” and “Occupy Earth” on the side of the Verizon building next to the Brooklyn bridge.
The NYPD is reporting that more than 250 people were arrested through out the day. The large majority of arrests came early in the morning, when protesters marched through the streets of the financial district to disrupt traffic and access to the New York Stock Exchange. Several media reports allege NYPD officers used their batons on protesters.
Police have reacted particularly aggressively in their response to acts of civil disobedience in the heart of the financial district and previous early morning attempts by protesters to reach the NYSE have resulted in several dozen arrests and violent confrontations.