Occupy Union Square: The Evolution Of A New Protest Camp

[xchrom]

http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2012/03/occupy_union_sq.php


Occupy's new outpost in Union Square.

When the NYPD again forcefully evicted Occupy Wall Street from Zuccotti Park more than a week ago, many of those who weren't arrested marched north, leading police on a winding course that finally ended at around 2 a.m. in Union Square.

Most of the protesters went home after that, but a handful stayed the night, launching what has become, over the past eight days, a new encampment for the Occupy movement.

For the occupiers, Union Square offers a number of advantages over Zuccotti Park, where they spent last fall. It's much larger, with an open layout in a heavily trafficked location that lends itself to street outreach. Union Square also boasts a proud history as the center of labor, communist and anarchist rallies going back more than a century.

It's a city park subject to city rules, unlike Zuccotti, whose private owners had their own interests to protect. Union Square also has the advantage, theoretically at least, of tolerance for overnight stays. Though the park officially closes at midnight, the city has historically allowed people to sleep in the park in small groups.

[txlibdem]

1. It's time that millions of Americans are out there this time

Politicians don't listen to 10,000 angry citizens. They've killed more than that before breakfast.

We need millions of people marching and rallying. Hey you bunch of worthless politicians; give us back our country. Kick the lobbyists out and stop taking bribes -- remember, YOUR election campaign isn't too far away.

[truedelphi]

2. + 1. n/t

[ellisonz]

4. True that...

"I'm tired of listening to Ralph Reed, and Newt Gingrich, and Rush Limbaugh, and we're not going to do it anymore, because we built this country, and we're going to take it back for ordinary working Americans. We're going to take this country back, and it's going to take election, after election, after election, work after work, after work, and win, after win, after win. Take back America, we want our country back, and it's our country, we built it, and now in November we're going to take it back." - Howard Dean

[FirstLight]

3. time to Crank it UP!

i am ready for more and bigger Occupy this spring... it may take a while for us all to come out of 'hibernation' but the offenses against the citizens of this country and world have not lessened over the past couple months... Let's GO!

[UnrepentantLiberal]

5. It's time I pay a visit to OWS.

I'm going to try to make it to Union Square this weekend.