A NYPD cop punched a legal observer from the National Lawyer's Guild while he was being arrested this morning.
The NLG observer was already subdued. There was already another NYPD officer holding him down with a night stick pushing his neck and face into the ground.
Did I mention that he was a legal observer, not taking place in the protest? Observers don neon green hats to differentiate themselves from protesters or bystanders.
NLG observers have been on the scenes of protests in New York since 1968. Police in the past have said they appreciate their presence because they have been used to vindicate false charges of police brutality.
The incident is clearly visible at the 4:00 mark in this video:
Who is training the New York Police?
Why have there been so many incidents of the NYPD acting well outside the bounds of reasonable force, while subduing and arresting peaceful protesters? Of note is that the aggressiveness is not limited by rank. Officers wearing white shirts are commanders in the NYPD. The are supposed to manage a scene. However, "white shirts" are seemingly as likely to engage in aggressive behavior as rank and file officers, if recent transgressions are instructive.
Equally, or possibly more distressing, are the arrests of legal observers.
The National Lawyer's Guild provides legal observers at many protests and actions. They are often asked by groups to observe actions. They seek to "serve as a deterrent to unconstitutional behavior by law enforcement during a demonstration."
This is the second time this week that a NLG observer has been arrested.
From their website:
The Legal Observer program is part of a comprehensive system of legal support designed to enable people to express their political views as fully as possible without unconstitutional disruption or interference by the police and with the fewest possible consequences from the criminal justice system. In addition to Legal Observers, Guild attorneys often provide legal defense for protesters who are arrested and bring civil litigation if needed.
UPDATE:
1. I haven't found information on the medical disposition of the legal observer arrested yesterday.
2. More video has come in of NYPD using motorized scooters to ram protesters. See footage below. h/t Rizzo
This footage also shows:
- a National Lawyer's Guild legal observer being obstructed from conversing with her client.
- The videographer who taped this footage knocked to the ground
- Other press being threatened and blocked from recording the incident
3. Rev. Jesse Jackson was at the Occupy DC camp this afternoon. I got some footage of him and am working to up it right now.
To support the work of the National Lawyer's Guild:
NYC Chapter: Donate to NLGNY
National: Donate to the National Organization