Snippets from protesters' accounts of their experience on the bridge during the mass arrests

[tblue37]

These are some interesting snippets from a number of different protesters’ stories about their experience on the Brooklyn Bridge roadway. Each separate paragraph comes from a different protester’s account. None of the passages is the complete account given by that protester. I just pulled out a few striking passages. The one part I bolded and underlined shocked me, though I suppose it didn't actually surprise me.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/blog/2011/oct/03/occupy-wall-street-brooklyn-bridge-arrests

(1) Once at the precinct, we were taken in and it appeared (which was later confirmed by an officer) that they were in no way prepared and had not been expecting us. I was questioned very briefly by a rough and abrasive officer about my name, my age, etc. He then looked me up and down and started to write something next to my ethnicity and then very harshly demanded "Are you even white?"

(2) I was bussed with about 40 women, a 64-year old male member of the press, and a trans-woman to the 75th precinct in Brooklyn. We arrived after 8pm to a small overcrowded facility, were lined up against a wall for over an hour, and photographed incessantly by plainclothes detectives. Nobody was read their rights or formally charged. Despite pleas from some of the women, we were denied water and bathroom access for over four hours, resulting in some accidents.

(3) Our arresting officers were interchangeably supportive, annoyed, mocking and nonchalant. Some of them offered jokes like "Whoever doesn't eat meat, raise your hands" and mic checks that confused detainees attempting to set up a buddy system for returning to Liberty Plaza upon release. Some of them seemed to stretch the hours to rack up overtime. Others passed out toilet paper and sanitary items in the holding cells. Some kept locally arrested men from harassing us. Many asked if it was all worth it. Most of the police remained respectful.

This next one is from this site: http://carlygsdrafts.wordpress.com/

(4) At this point, Rebecca and I walked up to the same ranking officer and politely requested to leave. We were told no and to get back in the crowd. We overheard two officers holding the netting asking each other what they were going to do with all these people. They obviously had no idea what the leadership’s strategy was, if any. . . . we, as women, were allowed to leave on the whim of an officer who thought someone standing near us was pretty. . . . I just wanted to get this all down so one more account would be available. It was a needless, stupid (and apparently sexist) reaction by the police.

[tblue37]

1. What? No comments? nt

[Javaman]

3. I think your post speaks for itself. nt

[bengalherder]

2. K&R n/t