Time-sensitive! Petition to Mayor Bloomberg re #ows

[usernamenumber]

I haven't had time to research this thoroughly, but according to MoveOn (admittedly not the most unbiased of sources), at 7am tomorrow, there are plans afoot to kick everyone out of Zucotti (aka Liberty) Park. It's supposedly for cleaning, but the protesters are understandably dubious.

I don't usually act on this sort of thing without taking the time to research more thoroughly, but I'm too busy and there isn't much time, so I'm spreading the word about this petition (yes, I'm not sure a petition will help, but there we are) for which MoveOn is gathering signatures.

Here's what I wrote when I signed the petition:

I have a motto (one of many): "Sometimes the greatest price of freedom is the freedom of other people".

I have my issues with Occupy Wall Street, but I do think they are doing something exceptional, and something that is going to take time. I respect the city's right to arrest people who interfere with day to day operations, like those who walked onto the Brooklyn Bridge, but as long as the base camp remains peaceful, I think it is very important to let them stay.

Like them or not, what's happening in the park is democracy in action, and it needs be supported. Please let this thing run its course. By leaving them alone you lose nothing, but by forceably evicting them everyone, including you, loses.

Comments

[real-green-tea.livejournal.com]

OK, stupid question time! Why can't they relocate to Central Park, which is big and a public park? A particular reason/agenda served by occupying liberty park in particular?

Additionally why can't they protest like every other protest and just hold up signs (but not pitch tents/ camp out)

I am not following this movement particularly closely but am interested in right to assemble in various perceived 'public' locations, what rules have been constructed that would prevent people from protesting etc.

[usernamenumber.livejournal.com]

I don't fully understand the situation, but liberty park is actually an optimal place for them because it is in some sort of legal gray area that means it's neither quite public nor quite private, plus the owner is sympathetic. Using public land raises questions about to what extent and for how long they can monopolize said land for their own purposes, which is less of an issue where they are, because technically no one has the right to kick them out (an occupier friend explained exactly how that works, but I don't remember the details. I think that's the gist of it though).