Naomi Wolf, who was attending a gala celebrating Governor Cuomo, has just been arrested after stepping outside to join #ows activists protesting Cuomo's refusal to reinstate the "millionaires tax."
Naomi Wolf arrested outside Skylight Soho, where Cuomo was being awarded the "Game Changer of the Year" award by The Huffington Post. Photo by @MikeShanePhoto.
According to the Gothamist:
Firedoglake's Kevin Gosztola Tweeted, "Naomi Wolf shows up to inform protesters confronting Cuomo they do not need permit for a megaphone." Police claim that protesters can't be outside Skylight Soho (at 275 Hudson Street) because they need a street activities permit. New Yorkist reported, "A Lieutenant w/Manhattan South Precinct say people marching are obstructing ped. traffic. Naomi wolf talking, he said: "tell it to the judge!'" ANIMAL NEW YORK further explains, "NYPD told Naomi Wolf that they were going to arrest her for marching in front of Skylight Soho in violation of the event space's SAP permit." And so they arrested her.
Wolf, who apparently left the event celebrating Cuomo to aid the protesters, argued in front of police that the activists did not need a permit for a megaphone, hoping their message could reach Cuomo's ears as he received the "Game Changer of the Year" award from The Huffington Post.
The NYPD claimed that she was blocking traffic (along with the group of protesters on the sidewalk) and that she was additionally in violation of the event's activities permit. They then arrested the iconic author. Standing peacefully on the sidewalk. In an evening gown.
Wolf, who is also a Huffington Post contributor, was taken to the 1st precinct, and protesters followed her there with a police presence, where they sang and chanted until her release.
Only a month in, the Occupy Wall Street protests are beginning to accumulate a rather prestigious roster of authors, academics and public personalities who have been arrested.
The true game changer? This movement.
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Author's Note 1: So rich – here is The Huffington Post's report on Wolf's arrest. Mirrors within mirrors:
Feminist author Naomi Wolf has been taken into custody by police at an anti-corporate greed protest outside an award ceremony held to honor New York's governor.
Wolf and a companion were handcuffed outside Skylight Studios in Manhattan where Gov. Andrew Cuomo was to accept the "Game Changer of the Year Award" from The Huffington Post.
She was detained after ignoring police warnings to stay off the street in front of the building where the awards ceremony was being held and where a crowd of about 50 Occupy Wall Street protesters were rallying.
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Author's Note 2: I love this woman. Check out one of her last Tweets before being arrested:
Video of Cornel West at march and his arrest at the U.S. Supreme Court http://1.bs.mp.sl.pt
Author's Note 3: Naomi Wolf has written a piece in the Guardian entitled "How I was arrested at Occupy Wall Street."