BREAKING VIDEO: #OccupyTulsa protesters arrested at the H. A. Chapman Centennial Green in downtown Tulsa.
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Here's the Clip:
Video streaming by Ustream
This footage was taken this evening and posted to Ustream. The 10 arrests have been CONFIRMED by the Tulsa World.
What I watched just moments ago was incredible. I only posted the "highlight" from the original video stream above. [56 min total, you can watch here]
Video streaming by Ustream
I started the clip after earlier announcements of an impending arrest. The following is a rough transcript from my own keyboard.[there may be minor breaks, I have tried my very best to get exact words, especially with the aid of People's Microphone giving me half a beat to finish each sentence. my emphasis on each]
MIC CHECK:
"Who do you protect? Who do you serve?"
Police bullhorn or amplified microphone begins in part. Am male voice drones in a monotone:
Occupants will be treated "professional and humane", ..as long as [you] "comply" with police orders..
MIC CHECK:
"When it comes time that the arrests begins the signs that the arrestees are holding please hand them off I is. That way they will not be confiscated."
MIC CHECK:
"We'd like to cordially invite the police dept to our occupy movement!"
Then a larger chant breaks out:
"Who's park. Our park!"
MIC CHECK:
"Tulsa police. We repeat.. We understand that you have a job to do. At the same time. We will stand for our rights. We are peaceful. We are non-violent. We will not resist. We appreciate your gentility. We thank you for the job that you do. We understand that you are here to protect and serve. We ask. That you [crosstalk] with dignity and respect in mutual fashion. Thank you."
MIC CHECK:
We are the 99%. We will not give up! We will. Not give in. This is our park.. This is our city.. This is our world. Occupy EVERYWHERE!
MIC CHECK:
Several start a similar chant: "You are part of the 99%! Join us!"
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Then, the assembled crowd of peaceful protesters who have faced off peacefully with police and were hit with pepper spray on Tuesday night. Who have endured 33 arrests for the previous three nights under an overwhelming police presence of officers in heavy gear did something that made a lump in my throat swell..
They sang the Star Spangled Banner in unison.
After this courageous act of civil disobedience, they stood and another protester's voice rang out.
MIC CHECK:
"Tulsa Police Dept. We thank you for being civil."
"Arrestees. We love you. You're heroes.. Thank you for standing for our Constitutional rights to peacefully assemble and to freedom of speech."
Some more scattered voices...
"Join Us!"
MIC CHECK
TULSA police. Welcome to Solidarity Square!
There appeared to be a break and lull in any chant, a few started to shout again and others started to repeat the same:
"This is what a police state looks like. Show me what a police state looks like." x3[?]
This didn't seem to have apparent enthusiasm and died down.
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Near the end of the video I embedded above, there is an even more cogent point to the last 48 days of #OccupyWallStreet, and now #OccupyTulsa. A point that inalienable rights bestowed to citizens cannot be curtailed by a single political executive order. That we are still a nation of laws, not men.
And now? The next time ANYONE asks 'just why are people sleeping outside in the rain and snow?' Why are some leaving their jobs or spending weekends driving to a city hours away? Or why are neighbors supporting a movement all the way across the country? Well, now each of you can answer them with this brave protester's shouts:
"The First Amendment has no curfew!"
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Cross-posted on "The Other 99". We have been providing primary source reporting from Zuccotti Park since Day One.. The Kos Community was our first stream of donations, starting on Day Three. Our team has now evolved into a media start-up company. Our model of journalism is creating credible, informed, compelling reports supported solely by small donors. Please consider a donation of $9.17 to our Ideas Lab and help us fuel the next part of this movement. Thank you for your generous contribution, no matter the amount.
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New Pics from TONIGHT, courtesy of Tulsa World:
The same article goes on to describe the previous few days:
Protesters have camped at Chapman Green at Sixth Street and Boston Avenue since Friday, but Police Chief Chuck Jordan said Wednesday that he decided to begin enforcing the city's park curfew in the early hours of that day after discussing options with the city’s Legal Department.
The park curfew is from 11 p.m. until 5 a.m., and police have said the protesters must move to the sidewalks outside the grassy area of the park to avoid being arrested during that time.
8:13 AM PT: This is our coverage from Wednesday Nov 2.
OllieGarkey:
Last night the Tulsa PD assaulted a group of peaceful protesters who had the gall to sit down on grass.
Tulsa World has these photos:
One of the protesters recorded the whole thing, but he disabled video embedding. We cut down the video here. If you want to see the whole thing, uncut, it's here.
We can confirm ten arrests, including one Iraq veteran. Nine were pepper sprayed. We didn't see anything that justified pepper spray.
8:16 AM PT: Here's the Video from Ollie's story on Wednesday. At about 30 seconds you can see them pepper spray a man for sitting on the ground.
The news station that made this clip implied that the police were forced to pepper spray the protesters.