59 protesters arrested amid state budget talks

[hrmjustin]

Rick Karlin

Albany

Occupy Albany protesters are long gone from the park where they camped out more than two years ago, but a coalition of progressive protesters, angry about Gov. Andrew Cuomo's proposed tax cuts and posing a number of demands descended on the Capitol Thursday for a demonstration and sit-in outside the governor's office.

Among their issues are campaign finance reform, the Dream Act and more school funding.

After a roughly four-hour, loud-but-orderly demonstration, 59 people were arrested and escorted away.

As the protest proceeded in the Capitol hallways, Cuomo and legislative leaders hunkered down behind closed doors just yards away in an effort to hash out their 2014-15 budget, due for completion April 1.

http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/59-protesters-arrested-amid-state-budget-talks-5335995.php