Union Square Park has become the site of the new Occupy Wall Street “occupation.” If you have not been following, here is the OWS primer on it.
After an NYPD crack down at Zuccotti Park this past weekend, Mayor Michael Bloomberg came out with some characteristically bullying, over the top statements – to show he’s in a charge – illustrating both his lack of understanding of what protest means, why people are protesting, and further confirming the fact that this is threatening to him and his corporate cronies if it is actually allowed to happen.
People began moving in to Union Square over the weekend. Last night, the NYPD became violent when more people attempted to sleep overnight. This timeline from OWS is an alarming recounting of the police disruption, violence and ultimate departure as the sun began rising over Union Square. The park was even shut down for a time by Mayor Bloomberg’s “army.”
Gothamist posted this tweet from Twitter:
“I have lived in #NYC for 15 years & I have never seen #UnionSq shut down, not even after 9/11. Who is the terrorist now #Bloomberg? #OWS“
Bloomberg just shows his true colors more and more. Meanwhile, Forbes is salivating over the possibility that Mike might go on to take over Goldman Sachs post the end of his third term as NYC Mayor (will it ever end?) after showing up there recently to give the workers a pep talk.
On to true heroes — People LOVE Vandana Shiva and she will be speaking at Union Square this Thursday, March 22nd! It is the OWS Sustainability and the Environmental Solidarity Working Group which is presenting this talk with the “Renowned Physicist and Environmental Activist” on the “Necessity of Taking Back our Food System and the Possibilities for Occupying Global Agriculture.” She will speak at 12 noon at Union Square’s Southern End (14th Street); it’s free.
You might recall there was an attempt to Occupy Washington Square which didn’t quite work out but really Union Square is much better suited.
p.s. This video is quite moving and shows what happened on March 17th beginning with the sweet vibe going on at Zuccotti Park and the total contrast once the NYPD moved in:
Would you prefer that OWS set up a permanent tent city in Washington Square Park? It seems like you’d be powerless to object if they did.
Hey Steven,
Personally, that would be fine with me. I don’t have a preference – I just want to see real democracy ruled by people and not by corporations and mega-billionaires.
Cathryn.