13-04-2012, 06:24 AM
Occupy Wall Street Sidewalk Sleepovers Are Catching On
By Joe Coscarelli
Last week, Occupy Wall Street protesters launched a new tactic that brought back the actual occupation part of the movement: In line with a court decision from 2000 that said political demonstrators can sleep on sidewalks if they didn't take up too much space, some devoted, rugged people started doing just that. It began outside of banks around Union Square, and this week, it's moved back down to the symbolic battlefield: Wall Street.
The New York Times reports that protesters slept around the financial district for a third straight night yesterday, and again, police left them alone, sleeping bags and all. "Finally, here we are, in the belly of the beast," said one overnighter.
There were about 75 people last night around Wall Street, but as the weather continues to warm, and the plan spreads, this could very well generate substantial momentum for the movement, which has been far less visible since being evicted from Zuccotti Park in the fall. Already, similar sleepovers have been staged in Washington, Philadelphia, and Boston. "It takes a tremendous amount of resources to maintain a camp," one demonstrator explained. "But sidewalks are everywhere."
Mayor Bloomberg and Ray Kelly should start preparing.
By Joe Coscarelli
Last week, Occupy Wall Street protesters launched a new tactic that brought back the actual occupation part of the movement: In line with a court decision from 2000 that said political demonstrators can sleep on sidewalks if they didn't take up too much space, some devoted, rugged people started doing just that. It began outside of banks around Union Square, and this week, it's moved back down to the symbolic battlefield: Wall Street.
The New York Times reports that protesters slept around the financial district for a third straight night yesterday, and again, police left them alone, sleeping bags and all. "Finally, here we are, in the belly of the beast," said one overnighter.
There were about 75 people last night around Wall Street, but as the weather continues to warm, and the plan spreads, this could very well generate substantial momentum for the movement, which has been far less visible since being evicted from Zuccotti Park in the fall. Already, similar sleepovers have been staged in Washington, Philadelphia, and Boston. "It takes a tremendous amount of resources to maintain a camp," one demonstrator explained. "But sidewalks are everywhere."
Mayor Bloomberg and Ray Kelly should start preparing.
"Let me issue and control a nation's money and I care not who writes the laws. - Mayer Rothschild
"Civil disobedience is not our problem. Our problem is civil obedience! People are obedient in the face of poverty, starvation, stupidity, war, and cruelty. Our problem is that grand thieves are running the country. That's our problem!" - Howard Zinn
"If there is no struggle there is no progress. Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and never will" - Frederick Douglass
"Civil disobedience is not our problem. Our problem is civil obedience! People are obedient in the face of poverty, starvation, stupidity, war, and cruelty. Our problem is that grand thieves are running the country. That's our problem!" - Howard Zinn
"If there is no struggle there is no progress. Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and never will" - Frederick Douglass