Sent to the Occupy Atlanta Media Committee. The use of false “safety concerns” was also a feature of the eviction of Occupy Atlanta from Troy Davis/Woodruff Park on Oct. 26.
Democracy for NYC Condemns Eviction at Liberty Square
November 15, 2011. The Board of Directors of Democracy for New York City strongly condemns the actions taken today by the NYPD, under orders from the Mayor’s office, to shut down the Occupy Wall Street protest site at Liberty Square. The claims made by the NYPD that this was necessary because the OWS site was both a health and fire hazard clearly were false. Members of our board have visited the site regularly and can vouch for how well maintained the protest site had been, and for the care the OWS members had taken to protect the park.
The actions taken today are in violation of the First Amendment free speech rights of the Occupy Wall Street protesters. In addition, the NYPD showed little or no concern for the property of OWS and its protesters, destroying its library, various laptop computers, tents, food, clothes and other belongings.
Josh Silverstein, President of Democracy for NYC stated “Mayor Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Kelly should be ashamed of themselves for their violent removal of the Occupiers at Liberty Square. New York City should be a beacon for democracy and the First Amendment but instead the Mayor has trampled the rights of ordinary citizens who have been advocating for a fair deal for the 99%.”
This protest is, in many ways, about persons who are suffering in this current economy trying to maintain their dignity and to express to the corporations on Wall Street the reality of their struggle. Mayor Bloomberg and the NYPD today showed no respect for the protesters or their great message.
Democracy for New York City stands with Occupy Wall Street and pledges to continue support of their cause. The Occupation must continue.
