New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg released a statement on Tuesday justifying the removal of protestors, engaged in the Occupy Wall Street movement, from Zucotti Park in lower Manhattan.
Protestors have been gathered in Zuccotti Park protesting income equality over the past two months, but at 1 a.m. on Tuesday, police officers went to the park to remove the Occupy Wall Street protestors.
“At one o’clock this morning, the New York City Police Department and the owners of Zuccotti Park notified protestors in the park that they had to immediately remove tents, sleeping bags and other belongings, and must follow the park rules if they wished to continue to use it to protest,” said Bloomberg in a press release.
According to The New York Times, between 180 and 190 people were arrested for resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.
“The law that created Zuccotti Park required that it be open for the public to enjoy for passive recreation 24 hours a day,” the mayor said in the statement. “Every since the occupation began, that law has not been complied with,” Bloomberg said. “Making it unavailable to anyone else,” Bloomberg added.
New York City Democrat Ydanis Rodriguez, who represents northern Manhattan, was among the protestors arrested, reports The New York Times. On Monday, law enforcement in Oakland took similar action against the Occupy Oakland movement, arresting 33 people.
“The park had become covered in tents and tarps, making it next to impossible to safely navigate for the public, and for first responders who are responsible for guaranteeing public safety,” Bloomberg said in the press release. “The dangers posed were evident last week when an EMT was injured as protestors attempted to prevent him and several police officers from helping a mentally ill man who was menacing others,” Bloomberg added.
