But while officers may be in a no-win situation, at the mercy of orders carried on shifting political winds and locked into conflict with a so-far almost entirely non-violent protest movement eager to frame the force as a symbol of the oppressive system they’re fighting, the NYPD seems to have crossed a line in recent days, as the park has taken on a darker tone with unsteady and unstable types suddenly seeming to emerge from the woodwork. Two different drunks I spoke with last week told me they’d been encouraged to “take it to Zuccotti” by officers who’d found them drinking in other parks, and members of the community affairs working group related several similar stories they’d heard while talking with intoxicated or aggressive new arrivals.
The NYPD’s press office declined to comment on the record about any such policy, but it seems like a logical tactic from a Bloomberg administration that has done its best to make things difficult for the occupation — a way of using its openness against it.
“He’s got a right to express himself, you’ve got a right to express yourself,” I heard three cops repeat in recent days, using nearly identical language, when asked to intervene with troublemakers inside the park, including a clearly disturbed man screaming and singing wildly at 3 a.m. for the second straight night.
“The first time I’ve heard cops mention our First Amendment rights,” cracked one occupier after hearing a lieutenant read off of that apparent script.
“A lot of you people smell,” a waggish cop shot back later after an occupier asked if he might be able to help find more appropriate accommodations for a particularly pungent and out-of-sorts homeless man.
Who says cops have no sense of humor?
The Crawdad Hole 
There. That reads better.
The cop’s got a point, when he tells the OWSer that the other guy has a right to express his opinion, too.
I woulda loved to have seen the look on the OWSwer’s face, though.
Ya made me laugh out loud. Thanks!
ROFL
The ocuppiers only want the “right” kind of people there.
Some of the 99 are more equal others. Aren’t the OWSpigs supposed to post those ever changing rules on the barn?
Too funny! Hey, I thought the whole point was that anyone has a “right” to occupy the park, and make as much noise and mess and camp out as long as they want, regardless of the inconvenience or cost to anyone else?
What, that only applies to people YOU approve of? But whether or not anyone approves of YOU, or finds you inconvenient, dirty, and loud is irrelevant? So are “rights” dependent on the message? Or whether the person has one? Or whether they meet certain standards of cleanliness and sobriety? Sure you wanna go there?
See, when you start demanding “rights” (that really aren’t rights at all), then other people get to demand the same “rights”. Capiche?
They just cancelled Halloween in our town. While I agree that under the current conditions (power lines down, tree branches hanging precariously over sidewalks) it would be reckless to send your 4 year old out, is Halloween something that can be “cancelled”? Do I need permission from the town authorities to give little kids treats at my door? I agree with the sentiment that it’s too dangerous, but is “Halloween” an event that requires legal sanction? If the recorded message on my phone had said, “We strongly suggest that parents not send their children out and that residents not encourage trick or treating by giving out treats, I’d be fine with it, but the message said, “There will be no Halloween in town this year.” Who gets to decide that a holiday is cancelled? Can the same person say, “Due to snow, there will be no Thanksgiving” or “The economy will not support Christmas this year so it’s cancelled”? It was the town clerk’s office who left the message. She’s a very nice woman and I would hate to upset her, but would like to ask her who died and made her the Sheriff of Nottingham.
😯
We’ve decided due to unforeseen circumstances, the town government has been cancelled.
Fun hashtag at twitter….
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-1030-lopez-occupy-20111030,0,4348313.column
Occupy L.A.’s 99%: all talk, no action
If the demonstrators are truly serious, maybe they should ditch the slumber party and get moving. Here are a few suggestions.
those suggestions actually have a purpose and are not fun. Do something useful where is the fun in that?
Snowstorm, Cold Makes Life In Zuccotti Park Difficult For OWS Protesters
Cold, Drenched OWS Members Ask Homeless For Winter Weather Survival Tips
http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2011/10/30/snowstorm-cold-makes-living-in-zuccotti-park-hard-for-ows-protesters/
KARMA anyone??????
“Get arrested and spend winter in jail where it’s warm.“
“Who says cops have no sense of humor?”
I hope they’re able to hang onto it. Sometimes a sense of humor is the best thing to have.
This is from Rev Amy’s place.
It is perfect to describe the owies
Today on the tv news, it was announced that the head of St Paul’s in London is stepping down due to the owies.
There are many things that have annoyed me about these lay abouts, but the fact that they disrupted something that has withstood so much just sickened me.
They can not say what they are for only what they are against. They have no solutions only noise. They do not even know what they are protesting against.
typical 2 year old behavior 😆
Howard Stearn interviews the owies
http://www.owsexposed.com/2011/10/31/howard-stern-interviews-ows-protesters/
next, they will be selling stock, get a seat on the stock exchange and have an office on Wall St.
http://weaselzippers.us/2011/10/31/%e2%80%98occupy-wall-street%e2%80%99-files-trademark-application-plans-to-sell-t-shirts-clothing-and-tote-bags/
knew this one was coming
owies blame tea party for flyers
http://weaselzippers.us/2011/10/31/occupiers-claim-tea-party-behind-when-should-you-shoot-a-cop-fliers-being-passed-out-at-their-protests/
the part that the msm never seems to show on the owies.
These cops have much more patience then I do
http://www.verumserum.com/
Freedom of the press does not include the right to go anywhere they want. It’s the right to say anything they want.
what can you do but laugh
There’s also this quote from someone working at the site:
“We can’t afford to keep buying new tents. It’s ridiculous the sense of entitlement people feel,” Hommen said.
again the owies hurt small business.
weekly farmers market at city hall in LA told to move because of owies
occupation.
In the article it says a vote was taken by the owies and most would move but a handful would not and because it was not 100% to move , they stayed and the vendors were hurt.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-occupy-farmers-20111031,0,3865505.story?track=icymi
off topic
a must see
this year’s PUK awards
http://iowntheworld.com/blog/?p=49054