NEW YORK (Reuters) - Police reopened the Brooklyn Bridge Saturday evening after more than 700 anti-Wall Street protesterswere arrested for blocking traffic lanes and attempting an unauthorized march across the span.
The arrests took place when a large group of marchers, participating in a second week of protests by the Occupy Wall Street movement, broke off from others on the bridge's pedestrian walkway and headed across the Brooklyn-bound lanes.
"Over 700 summonses and desk appearance tickets have been issued in connection with a demonstration on the Brooklyn Bridgelate this afternoon after multiple warnings by police were given to protesters to stay on the pedestrian walkway, and that if they took roadway they would be arrested," a police spokesman said.
"Some complied and took the walkway without being arrested. Others proceeded on the Brooklyn-bound vehicular roadway and were. The bridge was re-opened to traffic at 8:05 p.m. (0005 GMT Sunday)."
Most of those who were arrested were taken into custody off the bridge, issued summonses and released.
Witnesses described a chaotic scene on the famous suspension bridge as a sea of police officers surrounded the protesters using orange mesh netting.
Some protesters tried to get away as officers started handcuffing members of the group. Dozens of protesters were seen handcuffed and sitting on the span as three buses were called in to take them away, witnesses and organizers said.
The march started about 3:30 p.m. from the protesters' camp in Zuccotti Park in downtown Manhattan near the former World Trade Center. Members of the group have vowed to stay at the park through the winter.
CELEBRITY SUPPORT
In addition to what they view as excessive force and unfair treatment of minorities, including Muslims, the movement is also protesting against home foreclosures, high unemployment and the 2008 bailouts.
Filmmaker Michael Moore and actress Susan Sarandon have stopped by the protesters' camp, which is plastered with posters with anti-Wall Street slogans and has a kitchen and library, to offer their support.
Friday evening, more than 1,000 demonstrators, including representatives of labor organizations, held a peaceful march to police headquarters a few blocks north of City Hall to protest what they said was a heavy-handed police response the previous week. No arrests were reported.
A week ago, police arrested about 80 members of Occupy Wall Street near the Union Square shopping district as the marchers swarmed onto oncoming traffic.
A police commander doused a handful of women with pepper spray in an incident captured on video and spread via the Internet, galvanizing the loosely organized protest movement.
The group has gained support among some union members. The United Federation of Teachers and the Transport Workers Union Local 100, which has 38,000 members, are among those pledging solidarity.
The unions could provide important organizational and financial support for the largely leaderless movement.
Similar protests are sprouting in other cities, including Boston, Chicago and San Francisco.
(Reporting by Ray Sanchez; editing by Philip Barbara and Bill Trott)
Comment:
Since I heard these protests would last through the weekend, I wanted to wait until today before commenting.
It really does seem that people are starting to wake up - finally. At last people are getting off their asses and actually doing something. It's a good sign.
There were hundreds of arrests made. If these protests continue, so will the arrests. Eventually, an all out riot ala Greece will occur. That will really send a message to ZOG and the Judeo-Capitalists.
The biggest fault I can find with this weekend was that it happened on the weekend. What good does it do to stand in front of Los Angeles City Hall, or march down Wall Street and similar places when all of the politicians and corporate fat cats are on their yachts or home in their mansions? They probably watched all of this on their giant screen HD TV's and were amused.
Why did this take place on the weekends? Obviously, so no one would have to miss work. Face it comrades, if we really want to stage an effective event like this, it must occur when the big boys are in their offices. That means most of us will have to bite the bullet and miss a day or two of work.
I know your job is important, but staging a protest on the weekend is like losing a contact lens in a dark alley, but you look for it under a street lamp because the light is better there.
If we want REAL change, we have to be willing to sacrifice. That means possibly risking your job. Like the Wall Street investors say when they invest, "The greater the risk, the greater the profit."
Most of us have some kind of time off coming. Take a day or two off for one of these protests. Sacrifice part of your vacation to get a better future for your family.
If not a vacation day, call in sick. If your employer tells you you have to bring in a doctor's note, he's a liar. In no state in this country can an employer require a doctor's note for missing one day. It's different in many states, but the average is if you miss four days in a row, they can require a doctor's note, but not for just one lousy day.
If no one is willing to make any sacrifices, then there will be no real change.
Dan 88!
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