Occupy Times Square & Wash. Sq . Park Report and Pictures (a lot)

[cui bono]

So I went out to march and occupy Times Square yesterday. Started taking pics in the subway station since there was a sign about interrupted service that someone had written phone numbers on, numbers for ACLU, internal affairs, the National Lawyers Guild, etc...

I had to work in the morning and it took longer than I had hoped so the march from Washington Square Park had already started. I got on the train and tried to decide if I should get off at 14th or 23rd, not knowing what street they were taking to Times Square and hoping I would find them. I chose 23rd. Good choice! I heard drumming above me when I got off the train. I reached the top of the exit stairs and heard other people saying "oh my" etc... as they got stuck at the top. I heard the noise, said excuse me, got through a few people and was in the march!

While marching up the police were alongside us the whole time. You can see from the pics marching was on sidewalks on both sides of the street. I saw a cop wink at one protester after they showed him a sign. While we were chanting "you are the 99%" I pointed at the line of cops and made eye contact with them and one of them smiled and nodded at me. So keep in mind that a lot of the cops get it. Also, a white shirt was using a megaphone and was asking us, very politely, to cross intersections quickly and to stay on the sidewalk. But they were also prepared, you can see two big buses to take away those who might be arrested in one of the pics.

At one point I was asked by a videographer if he could talk to me. I really was hesitant as I don't feel I would be the most articulate person and I didn't want to get nervous and say something stupid accidentally so I politely declined. I asked where he was from and he told me Democracy Now! so I told him Amy Goodman is great. A couple minutes later he asked me if I would hold the mic while I marched and chanted so I said sure. I was holding my left arm in the air with either a fist or peace sign and it had both my tattoo that says "there's a place where we belong" and underneath that, hand written in black sharpie, the National Lawyer's Guild phone number. I believe he started a shot on my arm then panned down past me and to the protesters marching behind us. I'll have to see if I made the cut tomorrow. ;)

It seemed as if the police were trying to keep us away from Times Square, blocking off the side streets, when all of a sudden after the march had continued north the section where I was yelled out "this way!" and turned left on 44th or 45th I think. So off we went. It got a bit sparse so we kept yelling for everyone to fill the gap and get a good block of marchers together again. We got to the square and turned right and then got stopped at 46th. I was about 20 feet from there. There were barricades and cops all over the place. There were a few times where the crowd told everyone to sit down. Then people would get up again.

Eventually I saw cops in riot gear show up and also mounted cops. They were mostly up at the 46th street end. I heard from another protester that had been up by the mounted police that a cop moved a barrier and then protesters tried to get through. They were hit with batons and the horses were mde to walk into them, resulting in them being kicked. I heard later that we stretched back 8 blocks. After our area started to disperse I walked south to go back to Washington Sq. Park for the "after party" (that's what the organizers called it) and to wait for the 10pm general assembly. I saw a god sized crowd of protesters still hanging around 42st. I think this is where quite a few arrests were made.

(edited to add my Democracy Now! story I forgot)

Below are a selection of my pics, first Times Square then Washington Square Park:

TIMES SQUARE:






































WASHINGTON SQUARE PARK:





















:hi:

[Fire Walk With Me]

1. Thanks for the report and all the great pics! K&R!

[cui bono]

2. You're welcome! It's the least I can do!

I'm so proud and thankful of those who are courageous enough to stay there all night. This is the least I can do seeing as it isn't possible for me to camp out at this time.

[phasma ex machina]

3. k&r Thanks for sharing. I'm there with you in Spirit. nt

[barbtries]

4. great report, great pictures

thank you

[dana_b]

5. "don't worry, you'll still be rich"

Lol - so true!! We just want them to give back a bit - not hoard it all so that others suffer.

Beautiful shots, btw. I love how so many here on DU went and got great photos to share. Thank you!

[cui bono]

6. Yeah, seriously. How many mansions does one person really need?

And you're welcome!

[Hutzpa]

7. According to Mitt Romney seven

n/t

[cui bono]

8. Does that include the one with the basement he lives in that his son owns?

Or would that make it eight?

[BeHereNow]

9. GREAT Post my friend! Veggie tacos on me when you get back!

I'll watch for you on DN to see if you made the "cut" too!
:thumbsup: :hi: :hug:
BHN

[cui bono]

10. HEY!!! I'll definitely take you up on that!

I'm here another month.

:hug: :hi:

[BeHereNow]

11. I will look forward to it! n/t

BHN