NYPD very carefully chronicled the mass arrest of OCCUPYWALLSTREET protesters on the Brooklyn Bridge. And so did the good citizens that were marching.
So, what really happened. I just had to know. Police say protesters were warned, protesters say they were led by police onto the bridge. Somewhere the truth can be found. However, in spending a few hours looking at vids and pics, I saw what look to be leaders of the Take the Bridge crowd. So
Let's dissect that.
And ask for answers to some important questions so the truth can be uncovered.
"Were there provocateurs that led people ONTO the Brooklyn Bridge?"
Was it the original OccupyWallStreet plan to march ONTO the bridge?
Do any of the OccupyWallStreet General Assembly recognize these people?
Will the March to Brooklyn organizers and/or anyone please answer these questions for us? Thanks.
In the beginning all were marching onto the Walkway, which is legal. The streets from Liberty Park to the bridge were lined with police.
There are several people I want you to notice.
There pictures are below. Can we identify those who led the march ONTO the Brooklyn Bridge?
One woman has a green shirt on with an orange scarf. Notice the tatoo on the right arm. Does anyone recognize this tatoo? What does it mean?
One woman has curly long hair and literally gets in front of crowd at entrance to the bridge and yells "Take the Bridge". She has on denim shorts and a black shirt. By leading the chant, I doubt many heard the Police warning. She yells the chant as the Police Officer is warning the crowd.
And the man with no shirt. I've seen his pics at others rallys. He has a huge red star tatooed to his back. There is also a tatoo on his right arm. Only a number 6 shows. What could that be?
Facing the crowd
In the front row these three hook up with other people that, quite frankly look frightened and confused.
In the following video, you can see that the woman in the green shirt/orange scarf and the woman with the curly hair know each other. They each hook arms with the confused looking people and lead the march onto the bridge.
Does anyone know any of these people?
Did anyone see either of these people, or any of the confused looking people get arrested?Watch closely.
Slow down the vid and watch the three mentioned above, hook up with the confused looking people and seemingly lead the march onto the bridge.
It's a fair question "Are these three provocateurs?"
Why wouldn't those in the front use the Human Mic to relay the Police Warning?
Provocateurs? Or well-known leaders? Anyone?
The Front row group facing the crowd and shouting "Take the Bridge"
While Police Officer issuing warning:
Here we are now, in the middle of the bridge facing the arresting officers.
Do you see the curly haired woman with the denim shorts?
Oh, looks like she might have gotten arrested. See minute 7:23
What do you think? Anyone?
After kettling the protesters from front and back, this officer gives them a warning to leave or be arrested. Kind of hard to leave at this point, you think? Besides, what a huge waste of vans ready to cart away the people.
So, why post this tonight? Kossack middleagedhousewife hit the nail on the head for me:
If they were the ones yelling "take the bridge" (9+ / 0-)
1) drowning out the police's clear warning that they'd face arrest on that bridge, and
2) not passing that warning back with the standard "mic check" followed by the people's mic,
it is a valid question.
I completely understand and agree with not wanting to falsely accuse anyone of causing trouble, but something went wrong here, and 700 people, most of whom did not have records, and some of whom were 13, 14, 15, 16 year old children, had to endure hours in cuffs and jail, and now have records. I don't want to see it happen again. At the very least, if these people were just overly enthusiastic, they need to next time, to be asked to pass back the police warning of arrest.