Today we will see a remarkable response by the people of New York to Bloomberg's eviction of Zuccotti Park last Tuesday. Their response is a peaceful one, though I imagine very annoying for Mayor Bloomberg. What is it? A 24-hour "drum circle" in front of his residence. And according to The Yes Men, you don't even have to know how to drum! They'll teach you, right then and there.
Word on the street is that Bloomberg loves hippies. So now, finally, a drum circle you don't have to be high to enjoy: this Sunday at 2pm, for 24 hours, bring the love to Mayor Bloomberg's personal townhouse: 17 East 79th Street.
Tie-dye, didgeridoo, hackeysack welcome! No shirt, no shoes, no problem! And if you don't have talent, don't worry: FREE DRUM LESSONS offered! Also on offer: collaborative drumming with the police!
Even though this is a 24-hour drum circle, don't be late! The mayor loves evictions. Who knows what'll happen? But no matter how long it lasts, there'll be an afterparty and love-in in world-famous Central Park just next door.
Please spread this announcement (www.yeslab.org/drumcircle) as far and fast as you can!
This comes on the heels of not only the eviction, but a widespread "trend" in police brutality against the Occupy Movement - namely in Occupy Oakland, UC Berkeley, and most recently UC Davis. Everyone from the upper 1% to the lowest denominator in the 99% are beyond themselves with outrage at the recent scandals. That upper 1%-er that is linked to is the Forbes magazine, expressing their distaste and disgust at what happened in UC Davis. The video of UC Davis is undoubtedly heartbreaking, with a lieutenant using pepper spray against seated, passive protesters. Still, it is a marker of how terrible the situation is when the Forbes magazine (critics of OWS) sides with the "99%". Perhaps it is a sign that OWS is succeeding. At the very least, they are succeeding in exposing corruption.
One of OWS' main messages has always been that it demands accountability for those who caused the 2008 crash, and more. Now the accountability message extends to the police. But now the looming question is: What will they do next? We've seen pepper spray and tear gas, we've seen rubber bullets and batons. Now as OWS marches on Mayor Bloomberg's home, what will the police do next?
And will they be held accountable for their actions?
Original article posted here.
12:49 PM PT: Live Blog
3:47pm Small congregation outside Bloomberg's home. It is cordoned off by police. Drum circle in full swing in central park in front of 79th.
1:03 PM PT: Police have barricaded the protesters into a small portion of the sidewalk. Protesters are chanting "Hey hey, ho ho, Mayor Bloomberg has to go."
1:23 PM PT: The white shirts are showing up. Cops watching calmly so far.
2:05 PM PT: Many more white shirts now but so far no police response. Trumpets and saxophones, drums, frying pans - everything is making noise. And I now have two blisters from drumming for 2 hours.
2:45 PM PT: Two vans of cops showed up with batons and stacks of zip ties. Something is going to happen.
3:11 PM PT: Third and fourth NYPD vans arrive. Cops are being given orders to spread out.
3:34 PM PT: Cops relaxing, moving away, no longer at attention. Hmmm...
3:52 PM PT: First shift leaves. New van of cops arrive. And my phone is running low on battery so if anyone would like to take this over please PM me. A link to the livestream is in the comments.
4:30 PM PT: Something interested one of the white shirts. Remaining cops are back at attention.
My battery's dead so here's where I end the live feed. Watch the livestream for more. Thanks all.