Arena

Linus Gelber

At the Eastern edge of Zucotti Park, a few Occupy Wall Street protesters keep their stations and hold signs up for the consideration of passing pedestrians. The greater scene is chilling; they stand amid the new Zucotti Park private security guards, who at this point have refused to tell people who they work for; beyond that they are surrounded by metal police barricades tethered together with zip cuffs; then they are ringed again by scores of NYPD troops in battle helmets.

Free speech in America, 2011. Shameful days.

I'm in the Park between events on November 17th, the Day of Action. The main body of protesters, at this point, is probably up at Union Square. This police presence is pure theatrical threat; they are stationed at a mostly-empty park. Most of the people hanging around are homeless, not political.

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