NYPD Violates 1st Amendment Rights At Occupy Wall Street [Video]

On November 5th, Occupy Wall Street protesters marched to a desolate part of Foley Square and assembled peacefully on the sidewalk in front of the Federal Court House in New York City. But police with bullhorns and that infamous orange netting rushed in, forcing the protesters off of the public sidewalk and blocking access to the Court House steps.

A lieutenant, using a bullhorn, said the crowd was not permitted on the steps. At another point, an officer ordered the protesters to leave the sidewalk, saying, “You are blocking pedestrian traffic.”

But many in the crowd of demonstrators shouted back, “We are pedestrian traffic.” The lieutenant later announced again that the sidewalk was closed, and the crowd mocked the idea that a public sidewalk could be closed.

“The police warned these people to move because of pedestrian traffic, but this is an empty place,” said Robert Rosen, 66. “Who are they talking about?”

About 20 people were arrested as a result of this attempt to protect an empty square from the peaceful protesters who were exercising their First Amendment rights.

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Image Credit: Flickr - david_shankbone

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
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Silvia G.

12:47PM PST on Dec 8, 2011

Of course their rights were violated!! I don't think that is the point, you don't need to be a lawyer to see that, the point is if something is going to happen to the police for doing that.

December 8
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Margo V.

9:07AM PST on Nov 16, 2011

This has been most disheartening. The police need to wake up and realize the line in the sand has been drawn.. and they're being made to eradicate our 1st Amendment rights as well as, their own. They should decide if they're going to stand in accordance to our Constitution or remain as evil drone-puppets.

Because, my guess is.. being that "peaceful" protest has not seemed to have done nearly as much as firstly hoped for.. perhaps, things may escalate? God knows we have lots of ex-military whom are probably better trained than these jelly-roll sucking oinkers.

November 16
send a green star

Robert H.

12:54PM PST on Nov 11, 2011

Every time the Police get violent with people who are NOT violent, the movement will get bigger and the more sympathetic wil be the view of the general public.

November 11
send a green star

Ken B.

12:48AM PST on Nov 11, 2011

How STUPID can the cops be? Along with the Firefighters, the Teachers and the First Resonders it's THEIR jobs that are at risk! The 99%'ers are fighting for THEM. Acrtually the ones who participated in this debacle should be fired - along with the chief of police. As for Mayor Bloomberg - he's the RICHEST POLITICIAN IN AMERICA - most have hundreds of thousands -he has BILLIONS. 1% anyone????????

sally r.

5:31AM PST on Nov 10, 2011

power to the people, police might have a very loose interpretation of a law,
we have the numbers...............99 percent of us have had enough.
ows folks are the hero's of this decade.

November 10
send a green star

Frank M.

3:59AM PST on Nov 10, 2011

I tend to agree with Patrick; there could well be another out swelling of sentiment such as happened in Germany before WW2. Think what the frustrated abilities of a disenchanted Middle Class could do. here and now; this is what Hitler tapped into.
Trouble is, the 'controlling' class would very soon adopt and adapt it, and themselves, to suit there own ends, again, and again; they always have; these types are quite amorphous and totally opportunistic. Their actions and reactions are usually if not always based on self and hardly ever if not never on altruism.
We may expect to see 'Status Quo' around the World continue with its attempts to quell the OWS type demonstration. They are ill advised to do so; if they succeed this time the next outburst will be much worse.
When will the 'Powers that be' realise that the Will of the People cannot be suborned, overly subvented, suppressed, corrupted and lied to anymore. That's why it is so important to prevent the likes of murdoch having so much media influence.