Bidrohi — Pepper Spray, mass arrests, police brutality in NYC
Topic(s): Dissent? | Comments Off on Bidrohi — Pepper Spray, mass arrests, police brutality in NYCCompliments of Shobak
Bidrohi — Pepper Spray, mass arrests, police brutality in NYC
PHOTO: Police Attack Protesters at Public Library
http://nyc.indymedia.org/newswire/display/109998/index.php
PHOTO: 34th Street, Police Block Off
http://nyc.indymedia.org/newswire/display/110020/index.php
PHOTO: Ground Zero arrests
http://nyc.indymedia.org/newswire/display/110014/index.php
“They’re arresting everybody”
http://nyc.indymedia.org/newswire/display/109978/index.php
PHOTO: FOX News arrests
http://nyc.indymedia.org/newswire/display/109916/index.php
PHOTO: Billionaires For Bush @ Grand Central
http://nyc.indymedia.org/newswire/display/109983/index.php
71% of New Yorkers support protests
For latest updates on NYC Protests, go to
http://nyc.indymedia.org/
This site updates every few minutes. Here are the
updates until 7:20 PM–>
A31: Breaking News
07:14 PM
Pepper spray is being deployed at Harold Square.
There are at least 1000 protesters there. Spray
victims are being handcuffed.
07:08 PM
Police have stormed the crowd at 16th st and Irving.
People are being thrown against cars. It appears they
are targeting perceived “leaders” of the group,
arresting them, removing them from crowd.
07:00 PM
1000 people are leaving from Union Square. Secret
Service reportedly spotted in the area. People were
heading east on 16th st. But are currently stopped by
the police at 16 and Irving.
06:58 PM
There are now 1000 people at Broadway and 28th between
protesters, bystanders, and people dying in. Police
are moving in to arrest. CORRECTION: no arrests yet,
dispersal order has been given.
06:55 PM
WRL die in is occuring at 28th and Broadway. About 40
people have laid down in the middle of the street,
completely shutting down traffic. Police have not
stepped in to arrest.
06:51 PM
At 42nd and 6th people are sitting down in the middle
of the street to protest the mass arrests. They are
being arrested one by one. Police are reportedly
trying to arrest medics to prevent them from providing
care to protesters.
06:41 PM
Protesters leaving Union Sq. are heading north on 8th
avenue approaching 28th. Cops have constructed wire
cages in the street, riot cops approaching behind
them, undercovers following behind them on scooters.
06:38 PM
There are currently 400 people at Herald Square, where
Republicans are speaking – giving interviews to
networks. Riot cops are amassing.
06:30 PM
Marches are converging around Herald Square at 34th
and 6th, heading towards the Garden. There are
reports of police violence there. Multiple busses of
riot police are around 32nd / 34th and 6th. Several
police reportedly are not wearing badge numbers. Mass
arrests are now occuring in Harold Square.
06:26 PM
At the NY Public Library, an older woman was hit in
the face by an undercover cop, shocking those who
witnessed the incident. Cops would not arrest the man
despite the attempts of the woman who was struck.
06:20 PM
Protesters from the library are at 42nd and 6th. 40
cops on scooters ran after protesters with nets. Apx.
50 have been entrapped with nets. Police attacked
protesters within the nets. Reports of a cop using a
bike to hit someone. Several hundred are in the
surrounding area.
06:16 PM
War Resisters League is heading north on 5th Avenue
toward Madison Square Garden. 250 people are in the
march.
06:15 PM
There are already 500 police at the library and
apparently more are on the way. Nets have been pulled
out.
06:11 PM
People from the bike bloc are being arrested at 40th
and Broadway. The crowd which was at the library is
being pushed down 40th. 15-20 arrests reported so far
with an “absolutely obnoxious police presence.”
06:08 PM
At 7PM, protesters will attempt to reconvene at
Madison Square Garden, 34th and 7th.
06:01 PM
Camera phone pix of WTC arrests
On the newswire: World Trade Center arrests
05:53 PM
150-200 demonstrators left from Union Sq. and are at
30th and Broadway, heading to Madison Sq.Garden.
There are about 20 cops in riot gear, getting batons
ready at a park nearby.
05:50 PM
Attempted banner drop at NY Public Library has
resulted in arrests.
05:46 PM
New Calls to Action from UFPJ:
WED., Sept. 1, 10:00AM – Protest Appalling Detention
Conditions for RNC Arrestees At Pier 57, “Guantanamo
on the Hudson” (West Side Highway @ 15th Street)
THURS., Sept. 2, 8:00PM – Candlelight Convergence for
Peace and Justice Union Square (14th Street &
Broadway)
[ more info ]
05:31 PM
A queer kiss-in is scheduled to happen at the LOVE
sculpture at 55th and 6th.
05:30 PM
Cops are checking bags at 30th St. and 7th Ave.
05:28 PM
30 bikes have been detained at 40th and Broadway.
05:28 PM
After several hundred war resisters left ground zero
to march north, 100-200 remained within pens. They
will all be arrested one by one.
05:26 PM
There will be a gathering at the NY Public Library at
6:00 for A31 related actions.
05:23 PM
Legal advises that people leave Union Square or face
arrest.
05:16 PM
Protesters are starting to gather at a Hummer dealer
on 55th St. and 11th Ave.
05:10 PM
WRL march steadily moving up Church. About 200
marchers, walking 2 by 2 on the sidewalk on west side
of Church.
05:08 PM
30 Billionaires for Bush are getting shoes shined at
the concourse of Grand Central Station. Media is
filming them. Maybe 12 cops milling about.
04:58 PM
As many as 1000 people are at Union Square. Police
appear to be encircling Union Square. 100 cops are
marching around perimeter, two dozen mopeds
approaching.
04:55 PM
WRL are marching up Church St., while people are still
being arrested in the pen back at Ground Zero. Police
are letting them move 2×2 on sidewalk.
04:53 PM
Bike Bloc is leaving Union Square in small packs,
trying to avoid arrest.
04:47 PM
300 people with the War Resisters League who aren’t
penned in at Ground Zero are starting to march down
Church St to Madison Square Garden.
04:46 PM
Jello Biafra is at the Johnny Cash protest.
04:43 PM
NYPD is blocking off Broadway from 28th to at least
33rd, perhaps in anticipation of A31 call for
convergence at Madison Square Garden.
04:40 PM
“Chaos at Sotheby’s.” At the Johnny Cash protest
500-1000 people have converged, 100 or so cops, energy
is tense, police have set up pens but don’t look like
they’re preparing to arrest. Crowd is in a pen on York
Avenue, more protesters continue to arrive, delegates
are yelling at protesters.
04:38 PM
70 people are within the netting at Ground Zero. They
have been told that they are going to be arrested. No
dispersal order was given.
04:34 PM
Infernal Noise Brigade is trying to rally crowd at FOX
Shut-Up-Athon. Reports of a steady stream of arrests
at the event.
04:32 PM
Bike Bloc amassing in Union Square. High energy.
50-100 bikers.
04:30 PM
Johnny Cash protest: 100+ in protest pen, singing.
Cops are keeping the sidewalk clear.
04:26 PM
Mass arrests are occuring at Ground Zero including IMC
journalists, elderly people, one of which is a nun.
FOX Shut-Up-Athon is getting tense, 150 people in a
pen. Reports that more police and more protesters are
on their way to the scene.
04:25 PM
“Ridiculous” amounts of police (in hundreds) at Union
Square, 10 more cop vans just showed up, despite not
much going on there.
04:18 PM
Reports that all 300 protesters at Ground Zero may be
arrested.
At Johnny Cash: Rude Mechanical Orchestra making lots
of noise.
At Fox Shut-Up-Athon: chanting “Shut-up FOX”
04:12 PM
Orange nets are being rolled out at Ground Zero. 100
people are being penned in and may be arrested. People
are chanting “Let us disperse this moment!”
Two arrests at FOX Shut-Up-Athon.
04:06 PM
At Johnny Cash protest: boisterous singing of “Ring of
Fire.”
At FOX Shut-Up-Athon: 200-300 people
04:05 PM
Police have given a warning to War Resisters League
march: everyone must walk single file all the way to
MSG or else will be subject to arrest.
03:59 PM
People at Union Sq. are responding to the arrests
there by marching around the Square and chanting
“Who’s Park? Our Park.” Additional arrests are
occurring.
03:56 PM
100 people are at the FOX Shut-Up-Athon. Noisy
protest. Riot cops are also there.
03:46 PM
People are starting to gather for the 4PM “Man in
Black Bloc” protest to “Defend the Honor of Johnny
Cash” at Sotheby’s (71st and York). About 50 people
there already.
03:45 PM
FOX shut-up-a-thon protest has begun 47th and 6th.
03:38 PM
Seven people are being arrested at Union Square,
ostensibly for wearing padding on arms.
03:22 PM
Port Authority police are lining up around subway
entrance by Ground Zero carrying urban assault rifles
and large 3.5′ riot sticks. All of them are NOT
wearing nametags or badge numbers. Legal reports that
these PA officials will not follow the War Resisters
League demonstration.
03:20 PM
A-Noise Radio can now be heard on 88.7 FM. PDX IMC
Radio can be heard over your phone at (800) 939-7973
03:18 PM
Chi Gung is sitting in at Union Square.
03:15 PM
Approximately 200 at War Resisters League die-in.
02:59 PM
Banner Dropped at Port Authority, 41st and 8th, by Bus
Riders Against Bush. There were no arrests.
02:51 PM
Banner Dropped at 41st and 8th reading “Four More
Months”
02:36 PM
report from the newswire: Cops stopping vans, not
trucks at Maiden Lane and Gold Street. Blockade set up
and all vans are being stopped and sometimes searched.
Cops in blue golf shirts with “DRPI” on the back
taking videos of protesters at Foley Square. Cops do
not have name tags. Please, please people take your
cameras wherever you go this week and STAY AWARE.
02:33 PM
Police arriving at St. Marks; 75-100 protestors there.
No details yet.
12:40 PM
Things have cooled off somewhat at Thomas Paine Park.
Half the park is filled with protesters (about 200
people), and police (also about 200) are discussing
whether/when to give the order to clear people out.
Lots of plainclothes officers both inside the crowd
and out.
12:37 PM
Police have arrested at least 1 person at Thomas Paine
Park; tension high now at Worth and Center St. Police
are encircling the park as people are leaving; there
is still an exit.
12:33 PM
Thomas Paine Park: Street theater dramatizing
Guantanomo Bay and Abu Ghraib. There are about 12
people with black hoods over heads kneeling down
silently, while a huge corporate media presence
surrounds them.
12:25 PM
SOCL march has arrived at Thomas Paine Park. There is
going to be street theater dramatization of Abu Ghraib
and other detention camps.
12:16 PM
The Save our Civil Liberties march is moving from
columbus park towards Federal Plaza. There are about
500-600 demonstrators chanting “no one is illegal,”
and “open the borders, close the RNC.”
12:02 PM
More info about today’s Wall St. action. At about 8:20
AM on Beaver St. (off of Broadway and Wall Street), a
small group started weaving yarn across the street.
Plainclothes officers immediately appeared and began
tackling people, and there were 40-45 riot cops on the
scene within a few minutes. About 10 of 12 people
doing the action were arrested. One IMC videographer
was arrested, and a legal observer may have been
arrested as well.
11:43 AM
The latest Columbus Park: 200+ people; Organizers
negotiating with police. About 2-3
counter-demonstrators are there also.
11:26 AM
Protest against the Bureau of Immigrant and Customs
Enforcement leaving Columbus Park at around 11:30.
There’s a little over 100 people there now; lots of
corporate media. Some protesters are helping to clean
up the park.
11:19 AM
The INS march group at Columbus Park is now
negotiating with the police about a march route. Group
of about 100 people or so. Lots of corporate media and
police there. So far, police are chill.
10:17 AM
Tavern on the Green in Central Park has been entirely
blocked off by a heavy police presence. Today’s event
at the Tavern is the “BoA Financial Rountable.” Cant
get into Central Park anywhere near the Tavern.
09:23 AM
Confirmed 6 arrests at 125th and MLK. 5 men, one
woman. A street theater group boarded trains at Union
Sq., wearing black with white face covering. Carried
anti-war signs. Followed by heavy police presence onto
the train. Group exited train at 125 and MLK to go
downtown and was arrested. Possible charges: masks,
loitering, disorderly conduct. UPDATE: This particular
action may have been the 7:30 subway action listed on
the A31 website.
09:22 AM
Unconfirmed reports of a rush hour Wall St. action.
Attempts to block access to Wall St. From an
organizer: “the police were out in heavy force and did
a better job of clogging Wall St. up than we did.”