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Nah. Unfortunately this seems like people are... well, stupid. People do understand that 'Wall St' is just metonymy, right? Wall St, literally the street, is so
by Locke1689 15y ago
Nah. Unfortunately this seems like people are... well, stupid. People do understand that 'Wall St' is just metonymy, right? Wall St, literally the street, is somewhat meaningless. People can occupy the street but that's not actual going to stop financial trade because 'Wall St.' is just a figure of speech.
- ynniv 15y agoIf it were a meaningless place, there wouldn't be such a strong police response. From the linked Huffington Post article, trial run activists were arrested without cause and released without charges. Contrast that with another reported protest where folks camped outside City Hall for three weeks with minimal response.
- Locke1689 15y agoI imagine any mass protest in the Manhattan business district wouldn't be taken to kindly. Remember that the right to organize and petition for a redress of grievances is directed towards the government. You actually have no right to protest and impede traffic in private areas.
- tptacek 15y agoIt's not a meaningless place. It's heavily secured, because it's perceived to be a target for violence. But he's right; staging a protest there won't slow down trading.
- yummyfajitas 15y agoThis has nothing to do with Wall St, and everything to do with NYC cops being out of control. The NYPD uses similar tactics against innocent bikers and anyone else they don't like. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUkiyBVytRQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUkiyBVytRQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IORuR5iRuxs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IORuR5iRuxs I've heard that the NYPD is even going after people practicing parkour now, though I haven't seen it on youtube yet. (Full disclosure: I got picked up during one of these incidents. The judge dismissed all charges after the cop lied and I showed videotape proving it.)
- prodigal_erik 15y agoCritical Mass is a bunch of thugs conspiring to break laws, obstruct traffic, and threaten and enrage the same people every legitimate bicyclist was hoping to coexist with. I'm no fan of violence but "corkers" should be arrested.
- yummyfajitas 15y agoIf that's the case, how come the cops find the need to lie about critical mass activities on a regular basis? Shouldn't the video tapes recorded by critical mass participants be evidence enough of their guilt? It's quite strange how these "thugs" make every attempt to record themselves when they "break laws" and the cops try to stop them from recording. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aT9p36fgHU http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aT9p36fgHU I wonder - would the police also attempt to prevent the mafia from wiretapping their own phones?
- palish 15y agoJust curious, how did you get a videotape? I wish I had an "Oh boy, here comes a police officer" button, which records the entire event. But obviously there is no such device. I'm terrified at the idea of pulling out a cameraphone during any police interaction, due to the possibility of being prosecuted / imprisoned for violating their expectation of privacy. I'm relatively poor, and no one really cares what happens to me, so I wouldn't be able to fight the courts.
- jbooth 15y agoIt's symbolic, like all protests. Whatever the intelligence of the protesters, I seriously doubt any of them actually believe being a PITA in the street is going to inconvenience traders significantly.
- joezydeco 15y agoUnless it's a diversion. Damn, I've been watching too many heist movies...
- notahacker 15y agoYou don't have to go into the buildings to wind the traders up... www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6YB53wp5dA
- Locke1689 15y agoHow? What are they actually protesting? The existence of the banking industry? It seems like poorly informed reactionary tactics to me.