REMOVAL OF PROTESTERS FROM ZUCCOTTI PARK

   At 1:00 AM about 1,00 NYC police officers in full riot gear cleared the Occupy Wall Street demonstrators from Zuccotti Park in lower Manhattan where they were camped out for many weeks. Hundreds of protesters were arrested, and some were injured in the police sweep. Mayor Michael Bloomberg has said that he ordered the police to clean out of the park, because he said that there were unsanitary and dangerous conditions that existed in the park. 

   During the sweep or raid it is reported that Upper Manhattan Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez was arrested and seen bleeding as he was taken away by police. the full story on Councilman Rodriguez can be found here.

   The New York Post which is on the side of Mayor Bloomberg (whose owner Ruppert Murdoch hired the mayors former schools chancellor), and you can check that out here. By the way the Post had a reporter go to the scene of the OWS protest a few days ago to do an article for the Post. The reporter was then interviewed on local television station FOX5 here (which just happens to be also owned also by Ruppert Murdoch). Do you see any connection?

   City Comptroller John C. Liu today stated the following in response to questions about the removal of protestors from Zuccotti Park:
   "Going in and forcibly removing the protestors in the dead of night  sends the wrong message.  City Hall should have continued to talk with the protestors in the light of day if it wanted them removed, instead of evicting them in the middle of the night.  There seems to be no compelling reason for this action at this time. The protestors have a right to be heard".

   Congressman Jerrold Nadler and State Senator Dan Squardron who represent the area Zuccotti Park is in, have said that the ouster raises a number of serious questions about civil liberty and 1st amendment rights.

  We will await any other comments from city officials, but won't hold our breath for one from City Council Speaker Quinn who we feel will just back up the actions of the mayor.

Additional Comments-

  Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal  of Manhattan said,

 “I am appalled that on orders by the Mayor, the NYPD swooped down under cover of night to oust Occupy Wall Street demonstrators from Zuccotti Park and arrest nearly 150 people. The demonstrators were roused from their sleep, had their personal belongings, including tents, computers and other equipment trashed, and were kicked out of the park. The media were deliberately kept at arm’s length and prohibited from being on scene or filming the eviction from helicopters above, a chilling violation of freedom of the press. These moves are reminiscent of the actions of petty dictatorships, and contrary to America’s proud tradition of unfettered First Amendment rights, free of interference and censorship. This Administration has shown that it cares more about exercising power than protecting citizens and the freedoms we cherish.