New York City’s Zuccotti Park has been home to Occupy Wall Street protestors for two months now, and Mayor Bloomberg has decided that’s sufficient. The Mayor said the park had become unsafe, a haven for those who would “harm others.” The occupation began on Sept. 17, and 1,108 protesters had been arrested before the forced eviction began.
Some violence occurred during the process of this morning’s eviction. There were reports of police beating some resisters and one policeman with lacerations on his face was removed on a stretcher.
Among the arrested were a Democratic District leader and a Manhattan Democratic City Councilman.
By 7 this morning the park was cleared, sanitized, and open to the public. Some protesters returned without tents and other gear.
The National Lawyers Guild has obtained a restraining order against the city, which specifies that protestors are to be allowed back into the park, even with tents and other gear. As a result, the city has closed the park while it reviews the court’s order.
Occupy El Paso has been cleared by police, Occupy Portland camps were dismantled Monday, and it appears that the two-month duration of the Occupy movement is beginning to wear down the patience of civil authorities.