Excerpt: "Around 2,000 protesters gathered in Duarte Square to mark the one-year anniversary of the Occupy movement, which was inspired by Mohamed Bouazizi, a Tunisian merchant who lit himself on fire one year ago today. It was also the three-month anniversary of Occupy Wall Street."
Occupy Wall Street protesters lift the fence to enter the space they want to occupy at 6th and Canal, 12/17/11. (photo: Scott Galindez/Reader Supported News)
A NY Occupy Anniversary, Many Are Arrested
17 December 11
Reader Supported News | Report
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round 2,000 protesters gathered in Duarte Square to mark the one-year anniversary of the Occupy movement, which was inspired by Mohamed Bouazizi, a Tunisian merchant who lit himself on fire one year ago today. It was also the three-month anniversary of Occupy Wall Street.
Most of the day was festive and peaceful, with artists and Occupiers celebrating the three-month anniversary. However, the celebration was not the only event planned by the protesters. Adjacent to the park is a fenced-off lot owned by Trinity Real Estate, the corporate arm of Trinity Episcopal Church. For the last month - since the Occupation was forcibly removed from Zuccotti Park just blocks from Wall Street - the Occupiers, backed by religious leaders, have called on Trinity to allow them to Occupy the lot adjacent to Duarte Square.
Most of the day was a festive celebration, with puppets and balloons. (photo: Scott Galindez/Reader Supported News)
Despite pressure from Bishop George Packard, retired Episcopal Bishop to the Armed Forces and Chaplaincies, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and 1,400 other religious leaders, the church has refused to allow the Occupiers access.
At around 3 pm, the roughly 2,000 protesters marched north out of Duarte Square for two blocks before turning and heading back towards the Trinity property. Upon arriving at the space they want to occupy, protesters lined the north section of the fence. Moments later many climbed the fence, including Bishop Packard who was among the first to enter the property.
A large wooden structure was then placed near the fence that allowed others to cross over the fence. Bolt cutters were then used on the fence, and hundreds broke through and raised a banner declaring the space liberated.
The liberation, however, was short-lived. Riot police began to restore the fence, which caused a mass exodus from the park. Police attempted to stop protesters from leaving the area, which was reminiscent of the Brooklyn Bridge arrests where demonstrators were trapped.
Many reporters, including myself, had to struggle to leave the area where arrests were made. In the end, an estimated thirty people were arrested, including Bishop George Packard.
As things quieted down, a General Assembly was held in Duarte Square where the Occupiers vowed they would re-occupy somewhere in the City.
Scott Galindez attended Syracuse University, where he first became politically active. The writings of El Salvador's slain archbishop Oscar Romero and the on-campus South Africa divestment movement converted him from a Reagan supporter to an activist for Peace and Justice. Over the years he has been influenced by the likes of Philip Berrigan, William Thomas, Mitch Snyder, Don White, Lisa Fithian, and Paul Wellstone. Scott met Marc Ash while organizing counterinaugural events after George W. Bush's first stolen election. Scott will be spending a year covering the presidential election from Iowa.
Reader Supported News is the Publication of Origin for this work. Permission to republish is freely granted with credit and a link back to Reader Supported News.
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No kidding. And the same goes for all the corporate Democrats in positions even approaching leadership positions.
- in 2016 bernie published his brilliant plan to rebuild infrastructure and how to fully fund the rebuild!
in 2017, without one, single, dem vote, repukes cut corporate taxes from 35% to 21% WITHOUT ENDING ANY SPECIAL-INTERES T, CORPORATE, LOBBYIST-WRITTE N LOOPHOLES THAT RESULTED IN THE MORE-OR-LESS THEORETICAL 35% RATE COLLECTING AN AVERAGE OF ONLY 12.5% EFFECTIVE TAX RATE - NOW THAT THE MAX RATE IS 21%, THE EFFECTIVE TAX RATE IS PRESUMABLY, SINCE REPUKES ADDED STILL MORE 2017 LOOPHOLES!, 7% OR SO!
to undo tax cuts and welfare* (* many pay much lower tax rates than their executive secretaries) for millionaires and welfare for corporations, bernie! please prepare and publish an infrastructure bill that works for america! - not just billionaires! thanks!
please fully fund infrastructure rebuild by a) your 2016 funding plan, plus b) undo tax cuts for millionaires and welfare for corporations and millionaires! thanks!
please simplify all taxes! please end all millionaire welfare and corporate loopholes! thanks!
and invite all americans to be "citizen co-sponsors!" thanks!
then invite dickhead to discuss it!
then talk to america!
please invite all americans to sign up as "citizen co-sponsors!" thanks!
and invite all congress to sign up as "bill co-sponsors!" thanks!
then invite dickhead to discuss it! with bill co-sponsors! thanks!
then talk to america! thanks!