2011: I just got a new camera and heard about Occupy Wall Street needing donations. I gathered my baked goods, several pies (it's a long story), and headed down to Zuccotti Park. Once I got there I handed over the goods, took out my camera, and started interviewing some of the organizers. This wasn't for a publication or blog. I just felt like doing it. Yes, boys and girls... these were the pre-technocratic surveillance state times of 2011. I just went right over to OWS with my camera and some pies and didn't have any fear of being put on some gov list.
On that Saturday, it was raining and windy. A local union was holding a march for income inequality. Bloomberg said he wanted the protestors gone. The NY Supreme Court ruled that ppl had a right to be there and told the city to respect a peaceful, grassroots mobilization. After visiting the encampment, I met up with my roommate Tatiana at the nearby McDonald's, which became the Bathroom HQ for the protestors. It was surreal. Tati was preparing for an audition while a swirl of rain-soaked protestors and homeless people jockeyed for tables. I showed her my footage and we talked about how centrist Dems like Pelosi, Bloomberg, and Obama were annoyed at having to address 'income inequality.' Everyone knew that the centrists were making plans to have OWS destroyed. We didn't know how thoroughly laid out those plans were laid out for protestors across hundreds of cities. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren were two of the few Dems who actually sided with Occupy Wall Street and its message...FYI.
Anyway, Bloomberg didn't care about a little pesky thing like the judicial branch or freedom of speech or court order. He had the cops raid and destroy the camp in its entirety. He promised to preserve the collected library on site. The NYPD burned and threw away the books. The city also stopped the media from filming anything. Bloomberg said the media blackout was to 'protect them.' The organizers were harassed, fined, thrown in jail...for a peaceful protest that was being protected by the Supreme Court. Didn't matter though. This kicked off hundreds of raids across the nation in Oakland, SF, Los Angeles. The physical space for OWS was wiped out b/c they were 'troublemakers' and 'socialists' and 'up to no good.' Yes, Mayor Bloomberg actually did this in broad daylight in the media capital of the world. He broke the law, violated freedom of speech, banned the media, burned books, beat and jailed citizens...'in order to protect us.' #myBloombergstory
On that Saturday, it was raining and windy. A local union was holding a march for income inequality. Bloomberg said he wanted the protestors gone. The NY Supreme Court ruled that ppl had a right to be there and told the city to respect a peaceful, grassroots mobilization. After visiting the encampment, I met up with my roommate Tatiana at the nearby McDonald's, which became the Bathroom HQ for the protestors. It was surreal. Tati was preparing for an audition while a swirl of rain-soaked protestors and homeless people jockeyed for tables. I showed her my footage and we talked about how centrist Dems like Pelosi, Bloomberg, and Obama were annoyed at having to address 'income inequality.' Everyone knew that the centrists were making plans to have OWS destroyed. We didn't know how thoroughly laid out those plans were laid out for protestors across hundreds of cities. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren were two of the few Dems who actually sided with Occupy Wall Street and its message...FYI.
Anyway, Bloomberg didn't care about a little pesky thing like the judicial branch or freedom of speech or court order. He had the cops raid and destroy the camp in its entirety. He promised to preserve the collected library on site. The NYPD burned and threw away the books. The city also stopped the media from filming anything. Bloomberg said the media blackout was to 'protect them.' The organizers were harassed, fined, thrown in jail...for a peaceful protest that was being protected by the Supreme Court. Didn't matter though. This kicked off hundreds of raids across the nation in Oakland, SF, Los Angeles. The physical space for OWS was wiped out b/c they were 'troublemakers' and 'socialists' and 'up to no good.' Yes, Mayor Bloomberg actually did this in broad daylight in the media capital of the world. He broke the law, violated freedom of speech, banned the media, burned books, beat and jailed citizens...'in order to protect us.' #myBloombergstory
1 comment:
This post speaks volumes, Aurin. The public may have a short memory and need a reminder of just who Bloomberg is and how he reacts when challenged by the people he supposedly represents. Thanks for spreading the word.
Post a Comment