Dozens of arrests were reported on Monday, the first anniversary of the Occupy Wall Street movement, as protesters converged near the New York Stock Exchange and tried to block access to the exchange.Police officers and protesters squared off at various points on the blocks near the Stock Exchange. At various points protesters tried to block sidewalks leading to the Stock Exchange, but were dispersed by the police. Officers had set up barricades on several streets leading to the exchange and were asking identification from workers seeking to gain access.In one confrontation, several hundred people marched slowly along Broadway and as part of the group passed Wall Street, a line of officers separated the march into two parts. A few moments later, officers approached a man who had been loudly yelling objections to the metal police barricades that cordoned off Wall Street. The officers grabbed the man, who began shouting “I did nothing wrong,” then removed him. As they were leading him away, a line of officers pushed a large crowd of people, including news photographers, away from the arrest.Police vans were parked on side streets throughout the financial district and helicopters buzzed overhead. Men in suits walking to work passed contingents of officers posted on corners.One early gathering spot on Monday was the Vietnam Veterans memorial on Water Street where about 400 protesters assembled. About 200 people had gathered at Zuccotti Park, which protesters took over last year and used as an encampment.Protesters had planned to converge from several directions and form a “human wall” around the stock exchange to protest what they said was an unfair economic system that benefited the rich and corporations at the expense of ordinary citizens.At the veterans memorial plaza Oren Goldberg, 32, from Bushwick, Brooklyn, said, “It’s exciting to see any group of people attempting any sort of change,” adding that Occupy participants were interested in “working toward a greater good than profiteering.”Next to him, Grace de la Aguilera, 27, a graduate student in Spanish who is also from Bushwick, said she had decided to join the protest out of “dissatisfaction with the economy.”Soon lines of police officers wearing helmets arrived at the plaza. They stood in ranks near Water Street as the protesters gathered in a circle and held a meeting.One organizer, Austin Guest, urged people to travel in groups for their own safety.“Hey, everyone, we’re going to shut down Wall Street today,” he shouted as the protesters clapped and cheered. Mr. Guest explained that various groups of protesters had mapped out a plan to travel to different intersections and streets near the stock exchange to try to block those areas. He warned that arrests were possible.“Our target is William and Wall Street,” he said. “We are going to split up and assemble back there.”Near Water Street police commanders wearing white shirts consulted and officers on horseback lined up in a row. The protesters continued to discuss their plans and announced in unison a telephone number for legal help, which many of them wrote with markers on their arms.
Dozens of Arrests Near Stock Exchange on Occupy Wall St. Anniversary
Dozens of arrests were reported on Monday, the first anniversary of the Occupy Wall Street movement, as protesters converged near the New York Stock Exchange and tried to block access to the exchange.Police officers and protesters squared off at various points on the blocks near the Stock Exchange. At various points protesters tried to block sidewalks leading to the Stock Exchange, but were dispersed by the police. Officers had set up barricades on several streets leading to the exchange and were asking identification from workers seeking to gain access.In one confrontation, several hundred people marched slowly along Broadway and as part of the group passed Wall Street, a line of officers separated the march into two parts. A few moments later, officers approached a man who had been loudly yelling objections to the metal police barricades that cordoned off Wall Street. The officers grabbed the man, who began shouting “I did nothing wrong,” then removed him. As they were leading him away, a line of officers pushed a large crowd of people, including news photographers, away from the arrest.Police vans were parked on side streets throughout the financial district and helicopters buzzed overhead. Men in suits walking to work passed contingents of officers posted on corners.One early gathering spot on Monday was the Vietnam Veterans memorial on Water Street where about 400 protesters assembled. About 200 people had gathered at Zuccotti Park, which protesters took over last year and used as an encampment.Protesters had planned to converge from several directions and form a “human wall” around the stock exchange to protest what they said was an unfair economic system that benefited the rich and corporations at the expense of ordinary citizens.At the veterans memorial plaza Oren Goldberg, 32, from Bushwick, Brooklyn, said, “It’s exciting to see any group of people attempting any sort of change,” adding that Occupy participants were interested in “working toward a greater good than profiteering.”Next to him, Grace de la Aguilera, 27, a graduate student in Spanish who is also from Bushwick, said she had decided to join the protest out of “dissatisfaction with the economy.”Soon lines of police officers wearing helmets arrived at the plaza. They stood in ranks near Water Street as the protesters gathered in a circle and held a meeting.One organizer, Austin Guest, urged people to travel in groups for their own safety.“Hey, everyone, we’re going to shut down Wall Street today,” he shouted as the protesters clapped and cheered. Mr. Guest explained that various groups of protesters had mapped out a plan to travel to different intersections and streets near the stock exchange to try to block those areas. He warned that arrests were possible.“Our target is William and Wall Street,” he said. “We are going to split up and assemble back there.”Near Water Street police commanders wearing white shirts consulted and officers on horseback lined up in a row. The protesters continued to discuss their plans and announced in unison a telephone number for legal help, which many of them wrote with markers on their arms.