oc·cu·py/ˈäkyəˌpī/
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Upon returning from the New Paltz bureau early Friday afternoon, I hit downtown Albany just in time for the beginning of the local #Occupy action.
Despite what you may believe, the "leaderless" movement has key people who identify themselves as "facilitators" (one of them appears on my radio report). I'm really happy with the story I filed for Friday evening broadcast. It was all a good radio piece should be - fair, balanced and accurate. Some of the TeeVee news coverage zeroed in on what amounted to one or two people, in a reporting style that did not accurately reflect what was really happening at the rally.
It will not be televised.
It will be improvised.
It will be spread via social media...
The Friday afternoon crowd was rather sparse, about 75 to 100 people, and apparently the number remained on the smaller side: according to WXXA, "More than 80 people spent the night in the park Friday night despite its 11 p.m. closing time." TV23 goes on to say "Albany Police say no one was arrested Friday night because the protest was peaceful and there were no violations."
via The Albany Times-Union ::: Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s top secretary urged Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings on Friday to instruct city police to remove Occupy Albany protesters from a downtown park near the state Capitol if they tried to remain there after an 11 p.m curfew.
A person familiar with the matter said Cuomo’s secretary, Larry Schwartz, called Jennings late Friday morning and said that State Police, who control half of the park that is partly owned by the state of New York and city of Albany, would remove any protesters who did not comply with a curfew. The position of the governor’s office was in contrast to an earlier plan by Albany police to leave the protesters alone if they were peaceful, even if they stayed overnight.
Occupy Albany demonstrators began arriving at Lafayette/Academy park around noon. Half of the space is state land, the rest city property.
So, are lines being drawn in the sand between state and city government?Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Protest-rolls-past-curfew-2230449.php#ixzz1bc3tgo2m
Here's a citizen journalist's version of the altercation:
The scuffle from Sat night at Occupy Albany from Kirk Jalbert on Vimeo.
Yoel Ohayon posted this picture on his Facebook:
Perhaps more newsworthy:
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