Sleeping On Sidewalks

Courtesy of Metro

Photographer:  Cassandra Garrison/Metro

April 13th 2012 OWS Protesters Sleep On Financial District

Sidewalks To Express Their Political Views

Courtesy of Gothamist

Photographer:  Mark Lyon

April 13th 2012 OWS Protesters Sleep On

Financial District Sidewalks To Express Political Views

 

N.Y.P.D. confuses the branches of our government yet again, as Occupy protesters were arrested this morning for sleeping on the sidewalks down at the Manhattan Stock Exchange.  As blogged earlier, a 2000 court decision allows sleeping on sidewalks to express political views.

The New York Times reports an officer stating to 100 demonstrators a little after 6 A.M.:   “Sitting or lying down on the sidewalk is not permitted.  Anyone who is sitting or lying down must now get up or be subject to arrest.  Also, it is unlawful to leave moveable property on the sidewalk.”

The Times reports that one officer punched a man in the face and then arrested him after the man swung his bag at a video camera the policeman had stuck in his face.  Another man was arrested (presumably, and also, for resisting an implied arrest of a potential protest sign?) when the officer grabbed a piece of cardboard from the man:

“That’s my cardboard,” the man said, trying to grab it back.

“You’re going to resist?” the officer said before arresting him [the man]. A few feet away, officers arrested a woman sitting on a curb.

A total of 4 persons are reported arrested.  A civil rights attorney for the group, Norman Siegel, said the clearing of the sidewalks “raises serious and substantial constitutional and First Amendment issues.”

Below, Tim Pool livestreams events unfolding at Federal Hall where protesters have been gathering during daytime and countering the closing of the New York Stock Exchange with a "People's Gong."  At the time of this blog posting, the National Park Service reportedly asked protesters to fill out an application to rally on the steps.  Livestream reporters hear that a filing is going through the courts to allow them to stay;  the Parks Department states that they are "all right with it until 5:00."  Federal Hall is part of the National Parks - why (if you watched the youtube at the earlier blog post) you see an employee in a green Parks Department uniform in addition to N.Y.P.D.  George Washington was inaugurated at this site, and the Bill of Rights introduced in the 1st United States Congress by James Madison:





Update:

As of 5:00 P.M. Eastern Time, the Parks Department announced that protesters could not sleep on the steps of Federal Hall.  They did not, however, tell them that they had to leave.