Numerous witnesses are describing incidents of police brutality and excessive use of force, with youtubes documenting incidents and stories. In the video below, the police drag a woman protester across the street while her skirt is pushed above her buttocks. They then leave her lying there in the middle of the street, exposed. One officer can be seen glancing over and smiling as if it were funny, and you can see officers inappropriately touching her upper thighs as she lies handcuffed in the gutter.
In the next video below, police can also be seen roughly shoving and arresting people, and an officer holding one woman down on the street with his knee in her neck so that she can't breath.
In the following video, witnesses describe (among other accounts) an arrested woman having a seizure and being left on the sidewalk by police in the midst of this seizure with no first aide. A witness who telephones 911 describes a conversation indicating that the police may not have even contacted paramedics at all. Another witness in the video recounts how the woman who had a seizure was first reportedly dragged across the street by police, her skirt lifted; so perhaps it is the same woman in the first video. A witness also states that she was beaten.
In the livestream clip below at 3:40, via OWS, police can be seen smashing a medic's head into a window with so much force that it shatters the window.
In the second video, one protester extensively confronts police off-camera while they film,also stating that they are recording badge numbers. The following is a transcript of some of her statements to police, with some officers appearing sympathetic, and one even nodding in apparent agreement with her about crooks on Wall Street, at the end:
Peaceful protest! Everybody’s been peaceful! Nobody’s been violent except for NYPD – why is that? We know your pensions are up for grabs by Wall Street. You should be on our side. We’re fighting for your kids, your future – you should not be brutalizing and terrorizing protesters!
This is a peaceful protest. No one was here to do any harm. The use of force today was completely unjustified. It is just plain wrong! Just plain wrong. Protect and serve the people not Wall Street – you know that already. What happened to courtesy, professionals, and respect? All these people from out of town – is this what we show them New York City is about? Is this what New York’s finest wants to show America and the world that’s watching what we’re about? When people came here to speak up for justice – for your futures and your kids? Our civil liberties and rights and the constitution? I don’t know who’s giving you your learners – is it Bloomberg, a billionaire, who does not understand the suffering of the working people?
(Another woman protester off camera) They ARE the working people!
(Protester continuing) You ARE the working people! You should be on our side protecting these kids who came to fight for justice! Not terrorizing them and throwing them to the ground and beating them up! Yes, we got it all on videotape and it will be on youtube, of course! What did you think? We did get everyone's badge numbers and there will be accountability, so be careful what you do today and be careful who you hurt! People came here for a very noble cause! Why are you here? Just for a pay check? A pay check?
(Policewoman then approaching camera and protester speaking) Open the street up! Anyone in the street will be arrested!
(Protester continuing) I saw an incredible amount of police brutaility today. a completely unjustified level of use of force. I myself was pushed around for simply standing here, simply video taping, simply exercising a constitutional right
(Another policeman gesturing to move away) Get out of the street, ma’am – get out of the street – get out of the street -
(Protester continuing) This is my home town
(Policeman) All right – but get out of the street – you should be standing on the side walk
(Protester continuing) We survived terrorism here – why should we be terrorized here today – we’re paying for you with our tax dollars – we pay you to protect us – not to beat us up –
(Another protester calling out off camera) These streets are so dangerous, I need a helicopter to watch it!
(Protester continuing) If you want someone to arrest – there’s plenty of crooks on Wall Street!
(Police man nods in agreement)
(Protester continuing) Plenty of crooks!
So .. who are we protecting? Who are we serving?
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