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Bishop arrested as #OWS protesters tear down fence to get to Duarte Square | Photos

Michelle

On Saturday, a retired bishop was among more than 50 people arrested after the Occupy Wall Street movement stormed another New York City park in an attempt to find a new home.

Former Episcopal bishop George E. Packard was led away in cuffs after climbing a ladder to illegally enter Juan Pablo Duarte Square in the west SoHo neighbourhood of the city during the demo.

Retired Episcopal bishop George E. Packard is pictured climbing a ladder to illegally enter Duarte Square during an Occupy Wall Street march in New York City. He was promptly arrested for his actions

He was one of hundreds of demonstrators, members of the clergy and elected officials who descended on the park and scaled a chain-link fence by a lot they’re eyeing as a new campsite.

Packard, who is affiliated with the movement, writes a blog under the title ‘Occupied Bishop‘.

He wrote a post just minutes before leaving for the demonstration, writing: ‘What awaits us I do not know.’

Following his arrest, his wife updated the blog with details of the day’s events, claiming she was repeated ‘kneed’ by a police officer.

She wrote: ‘On the other side of the chain link fence, the push came from the police. And it was intended to hurt… It was mayhem.’

Of her husband’s arrest, she wrote: ‘I am heartened to know he looks pretty happy in the paddy wagon!’


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The protest came on the three month anniversary of the movement, police said. The park is owned by Trinity Wall Street Church.

According to NBC New York, church officials said that while they support the protestors, the space is not theirs to occupy.

Packard was among more than 50 arrested when protesters broke a fence to access a vacant lot

 

Packard was taken to a bus waiting by the demo in Duarte Park, near the city's SoHo neighbourhood

 

Occupy 2.0: Protesters descend a wooden ladder into a private area of Duarte Park in West SoHo to what they hope is their new encampment

 

OWS protesters staked a claim at a vacant lot in Duarte Park in SoHo after being booted from Zuccotti Park

 

Three against a thousand: NYPD officers tried to hold back the crowd as they pushed through the fence

 

Re-occupy now: Protesters storm the park as they tear down the chain-link fence

 

A man holds up the fence so that others can enter the park

 

In cuffs: At least 50 people were arrested after today's demonstration, police said

 

Source:  Mail Online

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8 responses to “Bishop arrested as #OWS protesters tear down fence to get to Duarte Square | Photos”

  1. barkinginthedark Avatar
    barkinginthedark

    yes, the robot cops are keeping us all safe from ideas. continue…

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  2. The Hook Avatar
    The Hook

    What a great set of photos to share! These shots seem to undermine the Occupy movement. Then again, the way the media distorts things who knows what the truth is anymore?

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    1. She speaks.... Avatar
      She speaks….

      Well, I have to say (and I’m a supporter of this movement)… I really don’t agree with these tactics. The park they wanted to occupy is private property, and the owner (the church) has a right to say “no.” I think this was a poor decision they made. And the photos are showing what happened, and pretty much follow the stories I read from protesters as well as the media.

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    2. She speaks.... Avatar
      She speaks….

      At least the police refrained from pepper spray this time. I don’t think any of them want to be the next meme like Lt John Pike…. 🙂

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  3. Trinity Church Statement on #OWS Protests « Motley News Avatar
    Trinity Church Statement on #OWS Protests « Motley News

    […] posted yesterday about Occupy 2.0 and how Bishop George E Packard was arrested after climbing over a fence to get to Duarte Square. I have to give credit to the Bishop for […]

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  4. PiedType Avatar
    PiedType

    I am so done with OWS. I agreed with some of their main ideas and their peaceful sit-ins/occupations to begin with. But they have degenerated into lawlessness, defiance of lawful police orders, trespassing, destruction of both public and private property, etc. In Denver alone they have cost us hundreds of thousands of dollars for police protection and enforcement and the clean-up and repair of damaged property. They are no longer accomplishing anything positive and if they had any sense of responsibility at all they would disperse and come up with new tactics. Their only real voice is in Washington and at the ballot box. Anything else is just hooliganism.

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    1. She speaks.... Avatar
      She speaks….

      I am not “done,” but definitely getting frustrated. I don’t know if you saw my follow up post, but I disagree with these tactics. Yes, I’m fairly sure that the Trinity Church is corrupt, but it is still private property. The Occupiers are not exempt from the laws about private property. Anyone can still protest, but may need to be creative with it rather than getting out of control.

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  5. stan chaz Avatar
    stan chaz

    You don’t need to be religious to understand -and embrace- the idea that “Whatsoever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” But many of the 1%, in blind greed and endless schemes, have forgotten this. They have closed their eyes to what the word “society” should really means, what it can mean. But due to Occupy Wall Street, we are finally talking less about CUTS and more about BLEEDING. Instead of demanding m-o-r-e budget cuts -to be borne by the middle class and poor- we are FINALLY focusing on the shameful bleeding that the poor and middle class has endured, for all too long. Instead of talking about even m-o-r-e cuts in the taxes of millionaires….we are now talking about fairness and justice – about an economy and a political system that is increasingly run for the rich, and by the rich. Instead of talking about LESS government, we are talking about a government that WORKS FOR ALL OF US, not just a favored few. Thank you OWS, for reminding us that people -ordinary working people- really DO matter, and for helping open our eyes to what’s really going on in this country. Occupy’s attempt to occupy Duarte Square (the empty lot owned by Trinity Church), is much more than a plea for sanctuary. For like Zuccotti Park, it’s an attempt to carve out a protected space, a living conscience for the city, amid the repression. A refuge …in a city where control-freaks would sweep us under the rug, and out of the way….in a city where they would pen us in, and permit us to death….in a city that tells us to “move on, move on”….. you don’t belong, you don’t count, you don’t have a right to be here…don’t assemble, don’t block the street, don’t trespass, don’t EXIST! They would deny us, deny our lives, and deny our very futures. IF WE LET THEM. But OWS responds, both in word and in DEED, and says: we’ve had ENOUGH – we BELONG, we STAND our ground, and we DO matter! This IS our land, and we want it BACK! The word OCCUPY…says it all! That’s why OWS has captured our imagination. That’s why a living breathing OCCUPIED public space is important for OWS. Like Lady Liberty’s never extinguished torch that burns in our harbor, OWS needs to have a concrete, continuing, persistent presence.. to remind us of what we’ve lost, of what we are, and what we can be ..to affirm, illuminate, and inspire. Trinity Church, with its oft-proclaimed ideals (and its huge land holdings), should look deep into its collective soul, do the right thing, and help OWS secure a space of refuge and hope. For if Christ were physically among us today, as He was 2000 years ago, He would be among the FIRST to climb those fences, and occupy Trinity’s Duarte Square. Of this I am certain… 

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