Field Report: Times Square/ Global Change Day, 15O

Hello to all,

Thanks so much for checking in. It should be a pretty long post.

Ok, I had the longest of days yesterday, but it was so very worth it. I had to go into the office (in Syracuse mind you) for a few hours in the morning. I packed everything I thought I would need for a demonstration. I wore my contacts to start. My glasses were with me, in an unbreakable case. I had them as a backup, in case I got maced and slammed to the ground. I wore comfortable shoes, figuring I'd be there a while. And, I had loads of vegan-friendly snacks in case I couldn't get to any food joints. I had fruits and bottled water. I even brought gum, figuring I'd be in close quarters with other protesters. I didn't want a fellow protester to think I have bad breath. Now that's being prepared and polite. I wasn't even a Boy Scout as a kid.

I got on the road about 11am and got to into New York about 3:30, arriving at Times Square about 4pm. When I arrived, it was tough to get a sense of how many people where there. You just can't get a sense of it when you're in the middle of it. As you looked around though, you see that you are engulfed by people all on sides, on the edges of Times Square. The police shrewdly put up barricades to continue to allow traffic through and to separate the crowd. But this tactic, I felt, really put a cap on the crowd's enthusiasm, their ability to start chants, get riled up, etc. I'm guessing there is a "Riot Prevention" handbook out there and this maneuver falls under "Crowd Dispersion."

After settling into where I was, I took in the scenes for a while. We were all waiting for the march from Washington Square Park to join us at Times Square. While waiting, I was interviewed by a network from the Far East (pretty sure it was from Japan). I'm really hoping I can track it down and post it. But, it's not looking likely.

After the interview, I continued to take in the scene. The signs, denoting grievances, ran the gamut. Someone created a pretty nice model of a Predator Drone, to protest all our wars (all pics will be in a gallery at the end). Someone held a Che Guevara flag. Signs asked for investments in public works projects, others asked to end corporate personhood, some for investments in education and green technology, and others to raise taxes. The list goes on. But, if you've followed this occupation story closely, you're aware of the main issues.

The day also had an international feel. I saw a sign stating that a particular group was made up of "Belgian, French, and Flemish" people and sided with the protestors. I witnessed two different groups flying the flag of Canada another with Puerto Rico's flag. Later in the evening, I also met two women from Denmark. I know Times Square is called "The Crossroads of the World", so the international feel was expected. Passers-by on double-decker buses also showed support. There were people waving, "thumbs up" signs given, peace signs, etc. Buses honked their horns in supports as they went by as well.

From there, I tried to get to the edges of the protest to get a feel for how far it all stretched. That was probably not the best idea at first. It took the better part of 45 minutes to go 3 blocks. Because we were all barricaded in, it felt like there was a chance of people getting trampled if someone fell over. As you walked, you passed under scaffolding that people literally climbed upon to get a better look at the scene. Photographers climbed atop payphones and stand alone traffic lights to better to get their shots.

After arriving on at 47th and Broadway, the protest really started to heat up. The portion of the crowd, right up against the barricades, wanted to move further into the street the relieve the bottleneck. The cops beat back a few people, as tensions rose. One of the police horses fell over. I heard (from an eyewitness) that one man was cracked pretty good by a police baton and had to go to St. Luke's Hospital. At this point, I was getting nervous for public safety. All of this is going on, right in the middle of the tourism capital of the US. I saw quite a few people with kids in strollers, small children, and a few elderly people. It could have easily gotten out of hand, with pedestrians, unaware of the day's events, getting hurt. My own opinion is that the NYPD would have done anything to keep the protestors from filling the streets, because there would be no way to control them from that point. In the process, they did seem to create a safety hazard. And, did I mention, that across Broadway on the other side of 47th street, was a large Bank of America branch. It's probably not a coincidence.

Check out Lucy Kafanov's report, for RT America, she's been great during these protests. She was right on the barricades with protestors.

From there, the NYPD shuttled us east towards 6th Street to disperse the crowd. I also noticed some cops positioning themselves behind us and I also saw the orange netting make an appearance. As I went down 47th I saw this (video 1), and I really knew it was time for me to go. Before I got out of there, I did have someone write the Lawyer's Guild phone number on my arm, in case I got hemmed in with the large group. So, I did get my first piece of protest swag. Bonus!

- Then I saw this follow the cops in (Video 2):

- After I tried to loop back around, I saw these guys come up 48th street, and I got the hell out of there (Video 3):

All in all, I was about 98% sure we live in a police state. And, now I'm at 100%. These measures from the cops will not quell this movement. You can't kill an idea (see, terrorism). And, so many of these people have nothing to lose. Right now, I do have something to lose. I had to get out of there. But, a few weeks back 700 people were arrested on the Brooklyn Bridge. There were around 70 last night. With each, more vow to come back and fight even harder. I don't know where this all goes. But, it's amazing to have just a little part in it. If you can get to a large protest, I suggest you do. There's a feeling you get, that you can't get in too many other places. It's the feeling that you're a part of something bigger than yourself.

Full disclosure on me: my wife is from Germany and I can get out of the US, to a place with virtually free education. A place where everyone has health care. A place with strong unions and better income equality, a plan on renewable energies, etc. So, me being in New York, or sleeping outside in Syracuse, isn't really about me. I'm lucky enough to be working and have health care now. I don't feel personally aggrieved. But, this is about a better, fairer world, some greater good. May sound corny to some, but you do truly feel it when you're there. And, there are still many out there that think this is a waste of time. But, you won't turn everyone around in a day.

Before I go, just a couple of the major headlines from yesterday's "Global Day of Change":

-500,000 people marched and sat in Madrid's main square, the Puerta Del Sol.

-Reports estimated 350,000 in Barcelona.

-Here is the scene from Paris.

-Cops violently removed campers from outside the Reichstag in Berlin

-200,000 hit the streets in Rome and it got pretty violent, including a burned out riot van and civilian vehicles, looting, etc (story and amazing video, only 1:35).

- 25 people were arrested at Citibank for trying to close their accounts, including one lady who was just standing on the street.

-About 200 people were arrested in Chicago.

Very last thing, before I finish. I know I gave you a lot today. It was a multimedia posting, and about 1400 words. But, this last thing just warmed my heart. It comes from Madrid's Puerta Del Sol square. A symphony plays Beethoven's "Ode to Joy", but at the end all the people raise their hands, with their palms open, saying, "these are our weapons (in Spanish)." It moves me, to no end, each time I watch it.

See you next time,

James