Congress shall make no law... abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press.
This is not a polite suggestion. This is not an idle ordinance. This is not an arcane relic of a bygone era.
These words are the very foundation of our democracy. They are, fundamentally, what guarantees our natural rights, and our liberty itself.
Bloomberg's assault on our constitutionally guaranteed rights must not be allowed to stand.
Here are the facts: Bloomberg's Boys have been arresting journalists regardless of whether they have NYPD issued press passes. I can confirm that seven journalists were arrested, most with press passes. That doesn't include unpaid citizen journalists. People identifying themselves as journalists were told “not tonight, you're not.” Foreign journalists are being threatened. Several have expressed concern to me personally, and one has said he will not continue to cover Occupy Wall St because he fears losing his visa.
Emails have gone out from local universities to film students, telling them to be “careful.” The schools are worried because of the NYPD's tactic of arbitrarily arresting protesters. Arrests for disorderly conduct can certainly harm an international student's capability to stay in the US. When students are studying film in New York, it means they're some of the most skilled camera people on earth. They know how to brace their arms into a tripod and hold a camera steady, and they've scrimped and saved to buy good equipment. I've seen a lot of international students down there with $3,000-5,000 semiprofessional cameras.
They're being told not to be anywhere near today's march.
Meanwhile, several hundred of the core organizers and facilitators were specifically targeted for arrest by the NYPD. They're still in jail, and are being held for 72 hours, despite not being told what they have been charged with. They were able to get the following message out through legal counsel.
While we've been imprisoned here we've held Assemblies and Mic Checked corrections officers to attend to urgent medical conditions, some of which were the result of police brutality during the raids. There is no food except for bread, no cleanliness, no hygene, no waters, no showers. There are non-occupiers who are suffering here as well.
We do not know what we have been charged with.
We want freedom!
This message was consensed upon by a group of occupiers imprisoned by Billionare Michael Bloomberg and his private army, and relayed to members of the Legal Working Group of #ows.
As I walked in at 6:00 AM today, an NYPD Chopper hovered menacingly over Liberty Square.
This is the scene as Occupiers plan for their largest day of action yet.
Their list of targets includes the following:
1. Shutting down lower Manhattan to prevent people from reaching the New York Stock Exchange. Most people think this goal probably wont be achieved, but they're going to try anyway.
2. Intentionally occupying a bridge or tunnel into New York City during commuting hours. Last time was spontaneous, this time will be planned.
3. Occupying the subways, not to shut them down, but to have people riding every train, telling their stories, and arguing for economic justice.
4. Reorganizing at Foley Square outside of the New York Supreme Court for dinner and further action.
It's a historic day.
Tim Pool and Henry Ferry will be broadcasting live from the marches all day long. Stay with us.
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And We're Live:
4:33 AM PT: The March Is Starting. They're attempting to shut down wall st right now.
4:39 AM PT: For those of you who can't see the Ustream Video, protesters are chanting "All Day All Week, Occupy Wall Street," and attempting to cross a street on broadway-
THEY'RE REVERSING DIRECTION! THEY'RE MARCHING THE OTHER WAY!
4:40 AM PT: They're now watching AWAY from Wall Street, trying to find a way around the barricades.
4:43 AM PT: The protesters rounded a corner and are trying to push through from two directions onto wall street!
The police couldn't block the march! Occupiers have broken through! Protesters incoming from several directions as they attempt to break through onto Wall St!
The Riot Police have given up! They're letting people through, but demanding they stay on the sidewalk. Marchers are mixing with everyday New Yorkers at this point.
4:43 AM PT: POLICE: "IF SOMEONE WITH A PRESS PASS DOESN'T GET ON THE SIDEWALK WE WILL TAKE YOUR CREDENTIALS."
4:51 AM PT: They're continuing to outflank the police as thousands march on wall street from several directions. They're taking to the streets. "Whose Streets?! OUR STREETS!"
4:56 AM PT: Protesters are chanting "We ARE THE 99%, SO ARE YOU!" and rounding a corner that will take them to Wall St!
5:00 AM PT: Protesters are pushing on Wall St from MULTIPLE directions. CBS Choppers are watching a line of protesters pushing against riot police with mounted police in the rear.
They've made them fortify Wall Street, which will prevent anyone who works at the NYSE from getting through.
5:03 AM PT: PROTESTERS ARE ON WALL STREET.
5:08 AM PT: They pushed on a police barricade, and couldn't make it through. They refused to be kettled in and are changing directions, trying to find another way to break through!
"MARCH! MARCH! MARCH!" Protesters jogging now.
5:14 AM PT: The march has stopped, and is blocking Wall St and Broadway. The marchers have surrounded several patrol cars. Black Bloc was prevented from doing anything to the cars. Marchers are passing several squad cars with a handful of police peacefully as they change direction once again.
Wall street seems effectively shut down. It's been turned into a fortress.
5:15 AM PT: Chanting: "Banks got bailed out, we got sold out!"
5:18 AM PT: They're trying to push through at a hastily constructed police barricaded. Chanting:
"The occupation is under attack! What do we do? STAND UP, FIGHT BACK!"
"We are the 99 percent-SO ARE YOU!"
5:19 AM PT: Marchers are leaving the barricade, attempting to outflank the police again. Chanting "Broadway! Broadway!"
5:24 AM PT: Protesters chant "LET US THROUGH!" as they come up against a police barricade.
5:25 AM PT: A group of school children on a trip were surrounded by marchers, who made a path, and chanted at the police "LET THE KIDS THROUGH!"
5:25 AM PT: The police relented, letting the children pass.
5:30 AM PT: Protesters are stalled at yet another police barricade, chanting "We Are the 99%, SO ARE YOU!"
5:32 AM PT: Protesters:
Mic Check: We have every intersection blocked! Every intersection but this one! BLOCK THIS INTERSECTION!
5:33 AM PT: Police are checking work IDs at most locations.
5:41 AM PT: Our stream just cut out and back in, when it came back, I see people chanting "Peaceful Protest."
5:43 AM PT: Tim keeps dropping into a dead zone.
5:44 AM PT: Protesters have reached the wall ST Bull. THEY'RE TAKING THE BULL! Protesters have swept the barricades away and are taking the bull!
"TAKE THE BULL! TAKE THE BULL!"
5:47 AM PT: On hanks stream, protesters are pushing hard against a line of riot police. "Anyone on the sidewalk, MOVE THEM OUT!" Says commanding officer.
They played tug of war over the hood of a police car with a woman the police was trying to arrest. They pulled her back into the crowd.
At first, I thought a white shirt had grabbed her hair. He didn't. He cupped his hands under her head to keep it from banging into the police car.
It just proves that most police are decent people who really do want to protect and serve.
5:50 AM PT: THE PROTESTERS ARE BARRICADING THE STREET WITH POLICE BARRICADES!
5:56 AM PT: Protesters are pushing in from multiple directions on Pine and William, trying to break through riot police to make it onto Wall St.
40 or 50 officers are pushing back against the protesters, and played tug of war with some of the protesters, attempting to sieze and arrest them. The protesters pulled their fellows away from the police.
6:00 AM PT: Four Protesters are being pinned down and arrested in front of Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church.
6:02 AM PT: Protesters chant "THIS, IS, A NONVIOLENT PROTEST!"
6:03 AM PT: On a second march, protesters chant "WHOSE STREETS, OUR STREETS!" as they attempt to push onto wall st from broadway.
6:05 AM PT: Protesters are attempting to push onto Wall St at broadway. Tim pool is trapped against a barricade, filming officers with NO identification and NO badges. They have black pieces of tape over their names.
6:05 AM PT: Wall street worker is demanding that the NYPD pepper spray the protesters blocking the street.
6:08 AM PT: Russia Today's Lucy Kafanov reports that she was just hit with a baton by the NYPD. Video: http://qik.com/...
6:09 AM PT: Lucy Kafanov is Senior TV News producer and on-air analyst for RT.
6:12 AM PT: Truthdig is reporting that the opening bell has been delayed. Trying to confirm.
6:16 AM PT: Lucy Kafanov is reporting that the NYPD are beating protesters, meanwhile protesters have SURROUNDED the new york stock exchange. We're looking directly at it.
6:20 AM PT: Philidelphia Police Captain Ray Lewis has been arrested by the NYPD outside of the New York Stock Exchange.
6:29 AM PT: We cannot confirm the bell is delayed, time will tell.
6:33 AM PT: 3 Elderly Ladies link arms as the NYPD moves in: http://twitpic.com/...
6:35 AM PT: While Tim doesn't know spanish, the protesters just chanted: El Pueblo Unido Jamas Sera Vencido
6:37 AM PT: For those who don't speak spanish, that's "The People United will Never Be Defeated." El Pueblo Unido Jamas Sera Vencido.
6:43 AM PT: People are barricading the street on Wall and Pearl with the cops' own barricades.
6:47 AM PT: More people are streaming into lower Manhattan. I have multiple reports from multiple journalists that protesters are still arriving.
6:49 AM PT: It's probably unrelated, but the DOW is dropping like a rock at the moment. Down 44, then 48, now 55.
6:51 AM PT: Someone should write a diary about this MaddowBlog report, Republicans and the National Debt: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/...
6:52 AM PT: Protesters still being beaten by police at Wall and Pearl. They're using their signs as shields to block NYPD Batons.
6:56 AM PT: We can confirm that the NYPD arrested one woman in a wheelchair.
7:03 AM PT: I'm willing to estimate 3,000 in lower Manhattan in multiple locations. There may be more in places that I can't see.
7:08 AM PT: They may be marching again, they chanted "Protect and serve the people, and not the corporations."
Chanting "March! March!"
7:10 AM PT: Protesters are now chanting "All Day All Week Occupy Wall St!" They're marching on Broadway.
7:19 AM PT: The woman in the e-mail was not arrested because the NYPD couldn't figure out HOW to arrest her. They ticketed her instead.
7:20 AM PT: NYTimes: at least 50 arrested so far.
7:24 AM PT: The NYPD is making things difficult for journalists. Their equipment is being searched (as if the police weren't busy enough.) At least two CNN reporters were speaking at length about how they couldn't get to the NYSE.
The marchers are declaring victory for this phase of the occupation. Zuccotti park is being flooded. They've opened the barricades, and are allowing people to enter.
7:27 AM PT: The most violent clashes today happened at Beaver and Williams. Journalists and protesters both were hit with batons, with one Russia Today videographer being hit in the arm. Protesters linked arms, and when broken up, used their signs to shield themselves from NYPD batons.
A police bus just went down Wall Street to West Street with lights blazing.
7:29 AM PT: A blogger I trust is tweeting that LRAD is on site, and may be deployed against protesters.
7:32 AM PT: CNBC reports that journalists are being kicked out. At least one journalist arrested. NYPD Kettling occupiers on pine between broadway and nassau.
7:35 AM PT: Kettled protesters at Nassau and Pine are singing the national anthem.
7:36 AM PT: Protesters sing the national anthem at Nassau and Pine. The police respond with LRAD.
7:38 AM PT: Handheld LRAD used on protesters: http://twitpic.com/...
7:54 AM PT: Russia Today is confirming that LRAD was used.
8:09 AM PT: We're getting unconfirmed reports that the NYPD are blocking subway access, at multiple checkpoints to anyone who does not work or live in lower Manhattan.
8:15 AM PT: The NYPD just attacked members of the press. They slammed a barricade into a photographer, knocking him over.
8:16 AM PT: We're getting reports that a few savvy protesters in suits have infiltrated the NYSE. Can't confirm. They say that everyone inside is talking about Occupy Wall Street.
8:23 AM PT: More police are en route to Zuccotti. Several members of the press were grabbed and pushed by the NYPD. They've beaten at least two journalists, and arrested at least one.
8:47 AM PT: The LRAD 100X is a hand held device with a "behavior shaping" warning tone, that provides a "nonlethal deterrent" its use has been confirmed.
8:49 AM PT: They're on the march again. Protesters are chanting "The cops are marching with us!"
8:52 AM PT: CNN Reports that the NYPD is prepared to arrest 10,000 people today.
9:12 AM PT: RT Confirms Sound Cannons Used on Protesters Singing National Anthem:
9:17 AM PT: We're getting reports that the city is blaming subway slowdowns - caused by NYPD Checkpoints - on labor unions and protesters.
Delightful.
9:26 AM PT: We can confirm that Occupy LA is squaring off with riot police, as the nation marches in solidarity.
9:36 AM PT: Josh Harkinson hopped in a budget rental truck being driven by protesters. It was full of NYPD barricades.
The police stopped them and arrested the driver.
9:45 AM PT: Guardian confirms more than 100 arrests today.
10:40 AM PT: We're looking through multiple uploaded videos while Tim Pool is live in lower manhattan. We're going to get him some more equipment soon.
Protesters tell us that Liberatos is handing out Pizza in the park.
BREAKING
Police have closed off the entrances to Zuccotti. Police are in the park with batons drawn. The protesters are pulling open the barricades to get out.
10:48 AM PT: Police are IN the park with batons drawn. They are not letting anyone in or out of the park. Protesters are reporting that they're being hit with batons.
10:49 AM PT: Police wagons are moving in. We may be watching a mass arrest.
10:50 AM PT: Tons of police, unmarked vehicles moving in!
10:53 AM PT: There is a large police action inside the park. Police are inside, batons drawn. Protesters are reporting injuries.
Large NYPD Wagons have parked near the square.
"I would like to leave, am I stuck in here?" Asked one protester.
The Officer responded "Yep."
10:55 AM PT: Everyone in the park is being detained. We don't know if they'll be arrested.
10:58 AM PT: They're chanting "WE ARE THE 99 PERCENT, SO ARE YOU!"
11:00 AM PT: I'm estimating more than 100 officers in the park.
11:07 AM PT: At least one person arrested. They ripped something that looked like a camera out of his hands.
One protester was hit in the head, and is bleeding. We've seen photographs over our video on others' cameras.
Tim Pool is now in the park.
11:10 AM PT: Protesters have told us that the man who kicked a barricade was beaten by the NYPD and stripped. His pants, scarf, and boots are lying on the ground.
They stripped him in the park.
There is blood on the ground.
11:15 AM PT: They're telling us that the man was tackled from behind by the NYPD.
They say his face hit a curb.
11:17 AM PT: The stripping may have been "accidental."
11:25 AM PT: We're getting another unconfirmed report that a young woman was hit with a baton, and had blood dripping down her face.
11:36 AM PT: Kossack Tool is uploading some video right now of the arrested man.
11:37 AM PT: Danger Durden is with him.
11:47 AM PT: Captain Lewis (retired) of philly PD arrested:
11:54 AM PT: Trigger Warning.
12:17 PM PT: Protesters are marching on Union Square. More than a thousand, though it's hard to estimate.
12:24 PM PT: I would like to remind those talking on twitter about how the constitution isn't REALLY being violated that Bradley Manning is still in solitary confinement.
12:31 PM PT: Marchers have arrived at Union Square.
12:38 PM PT: Sign: "Student Debt is a National Threat."
12:54 PM PT: "We stood up against economic injustice, and for that, they took our tents, they took our medicine, they took the people's library."
"They have taken our homes, they have taken our health..."
1:08 PM PT: We can confirm that there are other marches in other places around the city. People are occupying the subways, telling their stories. In addition to this, a march is beginning, heading to Foley Sqare.
1:13 PM PT: Several thousand people have taken the street and are marching down 5th avenue!
1:20 PM PT: Huge confrontation between protesters and police!
Protester kicks over police barricade and is tackled, papers are being thrown out of a window! THIS IS AN OCCUPIED BUILDING, JOIN US TAKE IT BACK!"
Thousands marching down 5th ave, facing off with a few dozen officers. We now have two streams up.
2:07 PM PT: They're at Houston and Broadway right now, marching on foley square
2:17 PM PT: Okay, after handling some technical issues, I'm back.
Tim Pool is marching with about 3,000 people to foley square, which is ALREADY packed. Henry Ferry is in route.
Occupy Houston is supposed to be taking a bridge right now. Their livestream is down.
2:38 PM PT: UAW And other unions in Foley Square! Over 9000 people are gathered in Foley square!
2:40 PM PT: I'm going to estimate 10-13,000 in Foley Square now that the students have joined.
2:54 PM PT: ALL NEWS CHOPPERS CALLED AWAY. Airspace over lower manhattan CLOSED.
3:05 PM PT: Oops. Tim Pool was blocked from entering Foley Square's press area. After he asked people to go to UnitedNY.org to ask them to let him in the press area, their website crashed.
3:10 PM PT: People have already reached the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge.
3:13 PM PT: MSNBC Chopper "misunderstood directions." Airspace is open. Interesting.
3:21 PM PT: "Who did the work? WE DID THE WORK! Who took the money? WALL STREET! Who's gonna pay? WALL STREET!"
3:31 PM PT: They're marching on the brooklyn bridge right now.
3:37 PM PT: Journalist told Tim Pool that arrested journalists are in danger of loosing their press passes. Considering the arbitrary arrests of Journalists on tuesday morning, that's intimidation.
5:17 PM PT: Dealing with some technical difficulties right now, our ustream is down.
Protesters are marching on the pedestrian walkway of the brooklyn bridge. There's NO WAY to get around the police keeping the road clear. Looks like there won't be any civil disobedience tonight.