Peaceful, Nonviolent, Civil Disobedience. That's what we saw at Brooklyn Bridge tonight. The Media Fund team is now bringing you the first video taken of protesters being taken away on a city bus, including a 13 year old girl. More video still to come as it is uploaded. Follow @TheOther99 on twitter.
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Full details of the Brooklyn Bridge story below.
There are plenty of wild rumors swirling around, but we have some hard facts, so I will print what we know.
The plan, it seemed, was to march across the Brooklyn bridge pedestrian route, and march back. Simple, legal. But some had more direct resistance in mind. In a brilliant show of civil disobedience, protesters climbed over the barrier into traffic on the Brooklyn bridge, and sat down, blocking traffic.
The NYPD responded, and about 500 protesters were kettled in on the Brooklyn bound roadway. 100 were let go, but we have reports that 400 people were arrested. We're waiting for confirmation on those numbers from the NYPD.
Ministry of Truth stayed on the Pedestrian Walkway, filming. Those videos are being examined and will be uploaded soon, as will still photographs. Follow us at @TheOther99 for updates.
Brooklyn bound traffic was completely shut down for at least four hours.
As the NYPD began to release people from the bridge at around 5:00, a crowd began gathering at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge next to City Hall. The Crowd cheered protesters as they returned, waving signs and flags.
Several Hundred Protesters appeared, and surprised the NYPD, who retreated across the road, standing three deep on the Brooklyn Bridge Roadway. The Protesters chanted "Whoose Streets? OUR STREETS!" "Who's Police? OUR POLICE!" and "You're With us!" which eventually broke into "It's your pension too!"
A protester who used the people's mic to request that the protesters march on the bridge and attempt to push through found his request answered with two people cheering, and little attention from the rest of the crowd, who ceased echoing him, essentially cutting him off from the people's mic for suggesting the protesters use force.
After several hours, protesters were taken away in at least one city bus, though I could see other buses leaving the bridge from other routes.
Again, there is a lot of rumor swirling around, all of it completely unconfirmed. We urge you all to use your well honed liberal skepticism. More updates are on the way.
7:29 PM PT: WE CAN NOW CONFIRM: They yellow hatted Protester in the second window is the 13 year old arrested by the NYPD. There is more Video which may show the Child's face. We're still waiting on updates.
There are more than 100 police at Zuccotti park, and hundreds of protesters are still on site. MinistryOfTruth and HankNYNY are on the scene. Follow them on twitter @TheOther99!
8:42 PM PT: AP NOW CONFIRMS: 700+ Arrested today.
10:40 PM PT: I'm going to trust my fellow Kossacks.
There are unrelenting twitter claims of police entrapment, that the police encouraged protesters to walk up the road, only to kettle and arrest them later. Kossacks who were on the ground confirm that this was the case, as do photos provided below.
I'm going to look for more evidence of this.
