Police Block Protesters From Bringing Food To Zuccotti Park For Christmas

[cal04]

Police Block Protesters From Bringing Food To Zuccotti Park For Christmas Celebration
http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2011/12/26/395269/police-block-protesters-from-bringing-food-to-zuccotti-park-for-christmas-celebration/

Occupy Wall Street protesters convened for a Christmas celebration at their old campsite in Zuccotti Park in Lower Manhattan yesterday, but when volunteers showed up with bags of cookies and food for a planned afternoon potluck, New York Police Dept. officers prevented them from entering the square, Manhattan news site DNAinfo.com reports. An NYPD spokesperson offered no comment on why the volunteers, who instead distributed the food along the sidewalk outside the park, were not allowed in. The protesters, meanwhile, celebrated the holiday by taking communion and singing Christmas carols. Here’s a picture of five-year-old Aidan Ortiz playing his plastic trumpet to celebrate the holidays in Zuccotti, courtesy of DNAinfo.com:


Occupy Wall Street Protesters Spend Christmas in Zuccotti Park
http://www.dnainfo.com/20111225/downtown/occupy-wall-street-protesters-spend-christmas-zuccotti-park

(snip)
It wouldn't be Christmas without a plate heaped high with holiday treats — but it just wouldn't be Occupy without an altercation with police, who caused a brief stir when they stopped volunteers with bags full of cookies and pies for a planned 3 p.m. Christmas potluck meal from entering the fenced-off square.

But the holiday spirit prevailed. Prevented from distributing food in the park, hungry protesters lined up along the sidewalk for hot pasta and cold sandwiches, apple crumb cake, rugalach, and an colorful variety of Christmas cookies.

[LiberalFighter]

1. Is this a city ordinance or restriction imposed by the private owners?

If private owners then why the hell are police involved in deciding what goes in or out?

[malthaussen]

4. They might be hired by the owners

under the NYC "rent-a-cop" program. This allows private corporations to hire NYPD officers as security for their installations.

-- Mal

[sabrina 1]

5. I still think it's illegal for them to block the public from entering the park. The agreement they

made with the city in order to buy the park, including a clause stating that they Park must be open 24/7 to the public. There was nothing in their that said they could block anyone from using it to feed the poor on Christmas.

I hope the Lawyers' Guild take them to court over this.

Not they pay attention to judge's rulings, they simply shop around to find one who will rule in their favor, but still, it is worth doing so the public understands why they cannot keep people out of the park without violating their agreement.

[Kalidurga]

2. No more picnics in the park?

Guess they will be outlawing walks along the beach next.

[Webster Green]

3. Oink!

Assholes!

[99th_Monkey]

6. Just when I think I've heard it all, that the Police couldn't stoop much lower

Then I see something like this ... *face-palm* ... arghh.