I suspected Mayor Bloomberg and the NYPD's heavy handed tactics toward peaceful protesters would backfire badly, if the goal was to marginalize the movement, and I was right.
Now we have hard data, courtesy of Nate Silver, Police Clashes Spur Coverage of Wall Street Protests:
When the police pepper sprayed those women I said to several people, the forces directing the New York City Police were very badly misjudging the situation if they thought strong-arm bully tactics would make this go away. (Can they really not know New Yorkers?)
Last Saturday, I arrived too late to join the marchers. I tried to catch up with them, but police had shut down the Brooklyn Bridge. I was not aware of what was happening just a few hundred yards away.
But, later, after the 700 arrests became known, I like many, made a special effort to visit Zucotti Park on Sunday to show my solidarity with the Occupy Wall Street crowd. I wanted to demonstrate that the 99% (which does not include billionaire Mayor Mike) will not be intimidated by brute shows of force.
And sure enough, within a week, 20,000 people showed.
The NYPD needs to get right. This shit ain't kosher in a democracy:
But at least the 99% can see the silver lining of living in a police state. I recommend reaching out to the ACLU and expressing your concerns that police brutality we are seeing is infringing on freedom of expression. I also think the eviction of the Occupiers in San Francisco represents an infringement of the right to assemble. I hope the ACLU is standing ready to defend the Occupier's right to assemble in Zuccotti Park in New York City. I am feeling confident that forces in the City are considering what options they have to get those meddling kids out of the Financial District's hair and away from such a high-traffic tourist spot as Ground Zero.
In case you were wondering, Nate also takes a look at the relative coverage of the Tea Party protests, vs. the Occupy Wall Street crowd.
By contrast, the Occupy Wall Street protests have been covered in an average of 144 articles per day in the three weeks of their existence. In the aggregate, this is about two-thirds as much coverage as the Tea Party protests received.
Coverage of the Wall Street protests continues to increase, however, and could surpass that given to the Tea Party rallies in April and May 2009 if it remains at its current levels for several more days.
The relative numbers of attendees is not yet comparable, but it is striking how quickly and fully the traditional media got on board with the Tea Party but remain a little flummoxed on what to do with the Occupiers.
Update
Hey you! Interested in Occupy Wall Street?
Check out angelajean's diary to see how you can help with Team Daily Kos' Occupy Wall Street coverage. They need help. It's a great way to lend a hand via keyboard.
Live from Zucotti Park, the space is at capacity.
Call on the ACLU to protect this assembly space. The Occupation must continue!
3:34 PM PT: BONUS PIC: Still can't get what these people are trying to say.