msnbc...'Let us go!': About 700 arrested in Wall Street protest

[spanone]

NEW YORK — New York City police say about 700 protesters have been arrested after they swarmed the Brooklyn Bridge and blocked traffic lanes for several hours.

On the second week of protests by the Occupy Wall Street movement, a large group of marchers broke off from others on the bridge's pedestrian walkway and headed across the Brooklyn-bound lanes.

Police arrest demonstrators affiliated with the Occupy Wall Street movement after they attempted to cross the Brooklyn Bridge on the motorway on Saturday.
Follow latest developments on Breakingnews.com

Police say demonstrators spilled onto the roadway Saturday night after being told to stay on the pedestrian pathway. They face charges of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.
A majority of the people arrested were given citations and released, The Associated Press reported.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44742659/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/#

[Lint Head]

1. The NYPD plans to arrest the people that are heading the protests so the will to protest

will be destroyed. We must not let this happen. I hope there are people on DU willing to join if necessary. I will. This is too important.

[Fire Walk With Me]

2. I'm not sure there is anyone in particular heading this protest. This would be highly

beneficial to the movement in terms of avoiding easily dis-integration.

[bahrbearian]

3. Right on

[starroute]

4. The MSNBC story itself is slanted

First, although there appears to be some confusion on the matter, the marchers who headed onto the traffic lanes appear to have believed the police were directing them to go that way. Or else a few people started along the traffic lanes and the police didn't stop them, so the rest figured it was okay. In either case, there was no intention of shutting down traffic. They were just trying to get to Brooklyn.

Second, the only reason traffic was blocked for several hours was that the police cordoned the bridge off and kept it closed for long enough to arrest 700 people. If they had just directed the marchers to stay to one side and move as quickly as possible, traffic would never have been obstructed entirely and even that degree of obstruction would have moved through fairly quickly.

And third, the police had definitely come prepared to make arrests, with their nets and their paddy wagons. Some of the protesters believe they were set up -- and though that isn't necessarily true, there are definitely unresolved questions.

So while it's nice to have any MSM coverage at all, it can't be taken at face value.

[Wolf Frankula]

5. Hey, Wall street sharks

We came unarmed, this time.

Wolf Frankula

[aquart]

6. I was taught to beware narcs and agents provocateurs.

I was told they are the ones who counsel violence and acts of vandalism.