By the time this diary is published I'll have started marching across the Williamsberg bridge in Brooklyn with Occupy Wallstreet. We'll end up in Bryant park where we with be joined by Tom Morello, Immortal Tec and other activists/musicians and then the march will continue down to Union Square. From there I believe we will be marching on the Federal steps and then anything goes. Hopefully this will be a day of peaceful resistance but I have prepared for the worst.
I'll be covering the events of the day from the morning till the evening or till I collapse or get arrested. Hopefully the day will go off without a hitch in spite of the rain.
I'll be updating every 20 minutes or so and will provide links to some photos/videos/livestreams as the day goes on.
I could actually use help embedding some of the Ustream links because I'll be on my mobile devices most of the day.
An interactive map of the days events is here
You can get direct update coverage from Occupy.com
A directory of events going on nationally here
If you still know little about the history of MayDay - Please check out the show from my OWS affility group RadiOWS - Our last show was just aired on WBAI and on other affiliates of the pacifica network. Take a listen - it is well worth hearing Jesse speak and we keep it lighthearted.
If you want to follow people on twitter (besides me) locally on the ground in NYC please follow this team. They will be providing pictures, tweets, locations, and info about the events throughout the day:
#M1NYC
AustinWeslyHill
ShuShugah
BlogDiva
occupiedstories
Okewl
Smcke0wn
_Klio_
AngelaMartenez
Stanisoccupying
From Maydaynyc.org:
No work, No School, No Shopping, No Banking. Take to the streets!
People are celebrating May Day all over the world and in over 150 cities in the US. We are in the streets supporting immigrants, workers, and a society based on radical participatory democracy. Today expressions of our resistance and joy are filling public space! The bosses - the 1% - have taken over our economic and political systems. They have busted our unions, divided us by race through the scapegoating of immigrants and crashed our economy - we have had ENOUGH. Today we focus much of our efforts around disrupting the flow of finance capital in Midtown.
May Day grew out of the struggle for the 8 hour work day in Chicago. May 1st celebrates the struggle for dignity, equality, and fairness. Its most powerful expression is the general strike, the mass withdrawal of labor by working people. From its inception the general strike has been a vehicle through which the boldest revolutionary dreams can be realized.
The occupy movement is calling on the 99% to refrain from working, to walk out of school, and to refuse to purchase any goods. By withdrawing out labor and our money from this corrupt system, we demonstrate that wealth of the 1% depends on us. We do not need them to survive. We only need each other. We are organizing a new world.
Another world is possible - Good luck and good day!
7:34 AM PT: Good morning! Had a rough start with rain but it seems to be clearing up. Got to Maria Herandez pk @ 9:30 but no one is there. On my way to continental army plaza to march across the Williamsberg bridge.
7:49 AM PT: Just reached continental army plaza in Brooklyn. About 200 occupies here with people singing solidarity forever. There are both nypd and parks department police at the entrance to the bridge.
8:09 AM PT: Another 100 or so marchers have arrived. The march Is leaving in 5 minutes from now. We are pledging in front of nypd that we will stay in the walkways and bike lanes. My twitter is Austinweslyhill to see some of the pictures I am posting.
8:24 AM PT: On the middle of the bridge. March is peaceful and beautiful. Heavy police on motorcycles escorting us. No arrests so far - just music, chants and solidarity. Oops I just hung up on Jesse. Brb.
8:39 AM PT: Spotted around 8 vans along side of the bridge. A bit overkill for peaceful protesters. The weather is a bit hazy but no rain. It feels wonderful to be surrounded by such positive energy.
9:02 AM PT: My friend Mary was just arrested on the bridge with two others. I have known her for three years and can't imagine what she could have done. March was halted for 10 minutes but we are almost to the other side. Next we are turning north and heading to Bryant park where I am meeting up with Jesse.
9:25 AM PT: Just finished leading the banner over the bridge. People running in the streets chantin and singing. At least. 400 people heading north. A bit crazy but police have been restrained so far - one cop said to me "be careful - you're not in Brooklyn no more.
9:42 AM PT: One we are the people -2 we are united 3 this occupation is not leaving. Under heavy police escort - heading north with the banner men and ladies. High spirits abound and I can't wait to get to Bryant park. Traffic has been stopped several times for us.
9:54 AM PT: We have just reached Sara Roosevelt park and all the occupiers are having a party on the steps. Several hundred here holding signs, talking , dancing and celebrating a day of no work. Happy MayDay so far! Made it off the bridge safely - that was my big fear but gotta go uptown soon.
9:57 AM PT: We have just reached Sara Roosevelt park and all the occupiers are having a party on the steps. Several hundred here holding signs, talking , dancing and celebrating a day of no work. Happy MayDay so far! Made it off the bridge safely - that was my big fear but gotta go uptown soon.
10:20 AM PT: Left the downtown occupation and headed up to Bryant park. Several hundred people doing teach ins, handing out materials, registering voters and waiting for Tom Morello.
10:42 AM PT: At Bryant park with Jesse - the energy is amazing. Watching the guitarists practice for the march. Over 500 people here by conservative estimates. March is supposed to leave downtown in 20 minutes. Been updating with photos on my twitter feed. I'll be going all day and most likely all night.
11:14 AM PT: Over 1000 people have left Bryant park. We are currently heading downtown. Lost Jesse in the crowd. Chants going up all around. March keeps getting slowed down.
11:32 AM PT: Marching downtown with several thousand people. Pockets of guitar players singing "this land is your land" with an Ows twist. Going down 5th ave. cops have been restrained so far from what I have seen. They will not let any one actually step into the streets. Heading past 34th st with the march right now. I'll upload some pics when I get to union.
11:52 AM PT: Massive energy - we took to the streets around 30th st. Nypd tried to force us back on the sidewalk. Just got my foot ran over and dodged a cop who tried to take me. We ran fucking fast. We have shut down traffic on 5th ave. gonna post some pictures when we get there
1:06 PM PT: Took a small break. There are at least over 3 thousand people at union square. Slightly charged up but I think I will keep sending photos to twitter right now to twitter and post another diary tonight with photos and video. The park is packed beyond belief. A little hard to move. Met up with some other people from federal steps. Happy Maydays going on all around.
1:21 PM PT: Just watched Tom morello deliver a speech at union square and honor woody gunthry by singing - this land is my land - he spoke in solidarity with immigrants, union workers and everyone who will take to the streets. Immigrant students and union activists have taken the stage now.
1:44 PM PT: Speakers from unions and students alternating giving speeches in English and Spanish. Wouldn't mind if this diary got rescued cause I'll still be updating for the next 5 hours or.
2:26 PM PT: Immortal tech is on stage after a union band sang solidarity forever - fantastic performances. I'll have some video up tonight when I get home. This is intense. Thousands here - no we are chanting no justice - no peace.
2:41 PM PT: Thousands preparing to march from union. Chants of Let us march - going up all around.
3:23 PM PT: In the march heading to our freedom cage or federal hall. Thousands in the street marching down broadway now