Acerca de 80 people were arrested today in lower Manhattan as they participated in the “Occupy Wall Street” demonstration, which has now lasted about a week, the Associated Press reports.
Police say most arrests were for blocking traffic, though one person was charged with assaulting an officer, the AP says. A protest spokesman called the police response “exceedingly violent.”
This video appears to show a man who identifies himself as Adam Dirks being arrested, with blood on his face.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=cGriO1feMU0]
Postings on Occupy Wall Street’s Web site address a variety of issues that they’re protesting, including big banks and their approach to mortgages , Sotheby’s and the execution of Troy Davis.
This video shows a group of people marching down Church Street in lower Manhattan chanting, with police officers walking alongside and appearing to try to keep them on one side of the street.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrKEMJ546os&feature=player_embedded]
In this video, a crowd shouts “The whole world’s watching” while a man is taken away by police officers.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=iGwr-xRncHM]
This site has live video of the demonstrators in New York.