Retired Episcopal Bishop George Packard was the first one over the fence into Duarte Square. Video of the OWS breaching of the wall around the park, owned by Trinity Church. I interview two clergymen, Father Paul Mayer and Rev. Max Surjadinata. Views of the march and of a meditating hunger striker.
Marching from La Plaza Cultural Community Garden in the East Village to Liberty Plaza the home of Occupation Wall Street. No GMO. No Fracking, Go Organic.
Update: they were arrested again. The excuse for the arrest this morning was that they were blocking the sidewalk. What tonight’s excuse is, I don’t know.
Three of the strikers were arrested this morning. They are back tonight joined by others.
Meditating underneath the statue of Juan Pablo Duarte.
Paramount Plaza is another one of those bonus-plazas like Liberty Plaza, a public/private space required to be open to the public 24/7. Occupy Broadway is a 24 hour occupation from 6PM Dec. 2 to 6PM Dec. 3. Enjoy the show with Ben Shepard of Time’s Up, Reverend Billy, the Rude Mechanical Orchestra and a cast of thousands. No one can tell the difference between spectators and participants.
Greg Palast is one of the few true investigative journalists left on this sweet planet. I asked him to talk about his new book, “Vulture’s Picnic.” We were at OWS Environmental Justice Day in Washington Square Park. gregpalast.com/ vulturespicnic.org
A fenced off and sanitized Liberty Plaza decorated for Christmas, and Environmental Justice Day in Washington Square Park with Greg Palast.
The authorities have succeeded in sanitizing Liberty Plaza by turning it into a giant free speech kettling zone. Making it unpleasant for humans. The entire plaza is surrounded by barricades zip tied together, ready made for easy round ups.
There are only two entrances to the park now, and both are manned by at least 4 private guards. Benches along the walls are forbidden for sitting.
It is all lit up and decorated for Christmas and embarrassingly void of joy and humanity. When I was there this past Sunday, there were a few folks with signs and one group of about 50 having a quiet discussion. Some of the occupier are now sleeping in churches, and other organization is going on in schools and other indoor spots. Stay tuned, these brave clever kids aren’t done yet.
Early OWS general assemblies were held in Tompkins Square Park underneath the American Elm Tree held sacred by Hare Krishna devotees. Underneath this tree is where their movement started. I took photos in July and September there prior to the occupation of Liberty Plaza. OWS Day 40
