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| OWS |
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, defended the decision said they had created "an intolerable situation" in Zuccotti Park, occupied since last September 17 by protesters denouncing the greed and corruption on Wall Street. "Unfortunately, the park became a place where people are not going to protest, but to break the law and, in some cases, to do evil to others," said Bloomberg at a press conference in the morning.
Most of the hundreds of protesters gathered at Zuccotti Park, 300 meters from the NYSE, were evacuated by force in less than an hour's start operation around 0100 (0600 GMT), found some journalists AFP. At least a dozen protesters, however, remained for a few hours, surrounded by police, but before 0430 (09H30 GMT), the square was completely clear.
During the eviction, some of the officers, wearing helmets, but not the full riot gear, packed groups of protesters in police vans, while others piled knocked down tents and posters.
About 50 people were arrested during the operation. According to lawyers close to busy Wall Street, a City Council member, Ydanis Rodriguez is among those arrested.
Many of the protesters marched Tuesday morning in small groups in different parts of Lower Manhattan escorted by police and others gathered at Foley Square, not far from Zuccotti Park.
While the intention of the mayor was to reopen the park in the morning, Zuccotti could still closed following a lawsuit by a group of lawyers close to busy Wall Street to ask to respect the right of demonstrators to protest.
Owners of small businesses in Zuccotti Park area had complained about the noise and health conditions prevailing in the camp, accusing the protesters of destroying the bathroom and out of their stores to customers. On Monday, some traders held their own protest against the protesters.
A month ago, a plan to temporarily vacate plaza, private property, arguing that it should be cleaned, was suspended in the last minute, which was celebrated by protesters as a victory.
But launching the raid at dawn on Tuesday came as a surprise to the protesters. "I was fast asleep. Then it took me to realize that, suddenly, there were police walking the tents and people shouting 'This is not a drill!' "He said Mutsukai Iroppoi of 22 years.
Another protester, Alden Bevington, 35, said he also was caught off guard. "I was asleep. Suddenly the lights went on. (The operation) was designed to scare people, an overwhelming show of force, "he said.
The deal came less than a day after the dismantling of a similar protest in California, killing more than 30 detainees, as part of a harder line from the authorities against the demonstrators.
Wall Street we occupy is composed mainly of young people who demonstrate against the greed of capitalism and speculation, taking places in various cities of the country, which for some authorities as a threat to public safety.
