The Occupy Wall Street protest in New York City became violent Friday when NYPD police officers attacked protestors several different times. In the video below, a “white shirt” police officer (not only a higher-ranked police officer, but often one whose services may be paid by corporations yet whose actions put the taxpayer at risk,) can easily be seen punching a protestor, apparently without provocation.
The question must be asked: Why are some New York City cops attacking protestors with a level of force that the average person would easily feel is excessive? And why are NYPD cops clearly, dramatically so uncomfortable managing protests that are clearly non-violent? Why do they feel the use of force is necessary in these situations at all.
The video below merely cements questions and concerns we’ve been having over the past few days with the level of violence coming from the NYPD.
Yesterday, we were extremely concerned with these two separate videos of a legal observer marching alongside the Occupy Wall Street protestors who apparently was run over by a police officer on a motor scooter. Watch this video and this video and look at this image tell me that a legal observer decided to take advantage of the police and fake this incident. Hopefully, after the police (apparently) ran over his leg, then beat him, then arrested him and then hospitalized him, we will have access to his medical records in a court of law. If he was in fact, faking, I will be surprised.
Reason TV published the video below, filmed by Michael Tracey, a freelance journalist who has also written for The New Civil Rights Movement.
Reason reports:
Journalist and Reason contributor Michael Tracey is covering New York’s Occupy Wall Street as it’s happening. Above is footage he shot as the protesters marched through the street of Manhattan and had various stand-offs with the New York Police Department. Tracey himself reports being punched in the shoulder while filming.
In the above video, around the 1.40 mark, a white-shirted NYPD officer decks a protester in a green shirt (how the incident started is unclear). Reason.tv’s Meredith Bragg edited the video above from about 20 minutes of footage.
In fact, we suggest watching the entire video, but make sure you look at the events starting at 1:30 and then tell us if you think this is acceptable. In fact, tell us why any use of force against peaceful marchers would be called for?