New York Police Raid Occupy Wall Street
Last night, New York City police raided Zuccotti Park, the public square in Manhattan's financial district that became the home base of the Occupy Wall Street movement.
Over 150 people were arrested as the police cleared out all protesters. City workers eliminated the tents and other properties of the people who had camped out there for nearly two months. Sanitation crews then sprayed down the square in the early morning hours. The city does not want anyone to return and attempt to camp out in the park.
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg presented the decision as his own, claiming “health and safety conditions became intolerable” in the park.
Legal teams on both sides are arguing in court today over whether protesters can return to the park and stay the night there.
Here is the chain of events through the night, according to the protesters:
6:05 a.m. Liberty Square has been cleared. General assembly under way at Foley Square.
3:36 a.m. Kitchen tent reported teargassed. Police moving in with zip cuffs.
3:33 a.m. Bulldozers moving in
3:16 a.m. Occupiers linking arms around riot police
3:15 a.m. NYPD destroying personal items. Occupiers prevented from leaving with their possessions.
3:13 a.m. NYPD deploying sound cannon
3:08 a.m. heard on livestream: "they're bringing in the hoses."
3:05 a.m. NYPD cutting down trees in Liberty Square
2:55 a.m. NYC council-member Ydanis Rodríguez arrested and bleeding from head.
2:44 a.m. Defiant occupiers barricaded Liberty Square kitchen
2:44 a.m. NYPD destroys OWS Library. 5,000 donated books in dumpster.
2:42 a.m. Brooklyn Bridge confirmed closed
2:38 a.m. 400-500 marching north to Foley Square
2:32 a.m. All subways but R shut down
2:29 a.m. Press helicopters evicted from airspace. NYTimes reporter arrested.
2:22 a.m. Frontpage coverage from New York Times
2:15 a.m. Occupiers who have been dispersed are regrouping at Foley Square
2:10 a.m. Press barred from entering Liberty Square
2:07 a.m. Pepper spray deployed -- reports of at least one reporter sprayed
2:03 a.m. Massive Police Presence at Canal and Broadway
1:43 a.m. Helicopters overhead.
1:38 a.m. Unconfirmed reports of snipers on rooftops.
1:34 a.m. CBS News Helicopter Livestream
1:27 a.m. Unconfirmed reports that police are planning to sweep everyone.
1:20 a.m. Subway stops are closed.
1:20 a.m. Brooklyn bridge is closed.
1:20 a.m. Occupiers chanting "This is what a police state looks like."
1:20 a.m. Police are in riot gear.
1:20 a.m. Police are bringing in bulldozers.
Photo of the park from the Monday night before the raid via the Exception.
ShareThis










