New York police on Monday arrested dozens of Occupy Wall Street activists who gathered in the city’s financial district, where they sought to disrupt traffic and surround the New York Stock Exchange as part of a day of protests to mark the movement’s first anniversary.
The protests attracted about a thousand activists, far fewer than last fall’s numbers, highlighting the challenge the movement has faced in trying to sustain momentum after sparking a national conversation about economic inequality last fall.
READ ON: Occupy Wall Street marks anniversary, dozens arrested
Occupy Wall Street filed a federal lawsuit Thursday against New York City, claiming authorities destroyed $47,000 worth of books, computers and other equipment confiscated from the protesters’ encampment in lower Manhattan last fall.
Police conducted a surprise overnight raid at Zuccotti Park in November, clearing scores of protesters who had set up tents at the plaza near Wall Street and dealing a significant blow to the movement’s potency.
As part of the sweep, Occupy claims, police officers seized more than 3,000 books from the “People’s Library.” While some of the books were eventually returned, many were in unusable condition, while the rest were apparently destroyed, according to Occupy’s lawyer, Norman Siegel.
The lawsuit also questions whether the raid itself was constitutional, Siegel said.
The Occupy movement gets sophisticated
In an answer to critics who say the Occupy movement is unorganized and directionless, Occupy the SEC has formed.
In a 325 page letter it outlines changes needed to the Volcker Rule. But, as Felix Salmon points out, even if those demands are met, they mean nothing if regulators fail to enforce changes.
If you were to stop independent journalist Tim Pool on the street, you may think he’s just a bike messenger, with his skull cap, hoodie and shoulder strap bag.
What you may miss is that Pool has transformed himself into a mobile journalist. He broadcast live videos in the midst of the Occupy movement using just an iPhone, a solar powered backpack and even a drone to an audience of thousands. [Report: Anthony De Rosa]
![The statue of Civil War Major General James McPherson, adorned with a Guy Fawkes mask, is seen in McPherson Square in Washington January 31, 2012. [REUTERS/Gary Cameron]
Read more: Bid to halt no-camping rule for DC protesters denied](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lyoho5I8mr1qmaoalo1_1280.jpg)
The statue of Civil War Major General James McPherson, adorned with a Guy Fawkes mask, is seen in McPherson Square in Washington January 31, 2012. [REUTERS/Gary Cameron]
Read more: Bid to halt no-camping rule for DC protesters denied
![An Occupy Washington protester flies a U.S. flag upside down, usually flown as a sign of distress, at Freedom Plaza in Washington January 30, 2012. [REUTERS/Jason Reed]
Read more: Protesters in Washington defiant as eviction deadline passes](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lymmddLqbQ1qmaoalo1_1280.jpg)
An Occupy Washington protester flies a U.S. flag upside down, usually flown as a sign of distress, at Freedom Plaza in Washington January 30, 2012. [REUTERS/Jason Reed]
Read more: Protesters in Washington defiant as eviction deadline passes
![More than 400 anti-Wall Street protesters were arrested in Oakland during a night of skirmishes in which police fired tear gas and bean bag projectiles, the city said on Sunday, marking one of the biggest mass arrests since nationwide economic protests began last year.
Violence erupted again in Oakland on Saturday when protesters attempted to take over the apparently empty downtown convention center to establish a new headquarters and draw attention to the problem of homelessness. [REUTERS/Photo: Stephen Lam/Article: Emmett Berg]
Read more: Arrests in Oakland protest rise to more than 400](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lykycadVJj1qmaoalo1_1280.jpg)
More than 400 anti-Wall Street protesters were arrested in Oakland during a night of skirmishes in which police fired tear gas and bean bag projectiles, the city said on Sunday, marking one of the biggest mass arrests since nationwide economic protests began last year.
Violence erupted again in Oakland on Saturday when protesters attempted to take over the apparently empty downtown convention center to establish a new headquarters and draw attention to the problem of homelessness. [REUTERS/Photo: Stephen Lam/Article: Emmett Berg]
![A group of police officers from various law enforcement agencies arrest an Occupy Oakland demonstrator near Frank H. Ogawa Plaza during a day-long protest in Oakland, California January 28, 2012.
Riot police fought running skirmishes with anti-Wall street protesters in Oakland on Saturday, firing tear gas and bean bag projectiles and arresting more than 200 people in clashes that injured three officers and at least one demonstrator. [REUTERS/Stephen Lam]
Read more: Police, Oakland protesters clash; 200 arrested](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lyjx0mQgtz1qmaoalo1_1280.jpg)
A group of police officers from various law enforcement agencies arrest an Occupy Oakland demonstrator near Frank H. Ogawa Plaza during a day-long protest in Oakland, California January 28, 2012.
Riot police fought running skirmishes with anti-Wall street protesters in Oakland on Saturday, firing tear gas and bean bag projectiles and arresting more than 200 people in clashes that injured three officers and at least one demonstrator. [REUTERS/Stephen Lam]
![Members of the Oakland Police Department arrest an Occupy Oakland demonstrator during a confrontation in Downtown Oakland, California January 28, 2012. [REUTERS/Stephen Lam]
Read: Police fire tear gas at Oakland protesters, 19 arrested](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lyjh0jMaSa1qmaoalo1_1280.jpg)
Members of the Oakland Police Department arrest an Occupy Oakland demonstrator during a confrontation in Downtown Oakland, California January 28, 2012. [REUTERS/Stephen Lam]
Read: Police fire tear gas at Oakland protesters, 19 arrested
![Demonstrators stage a protest near the U.S. Supreme Court building, on the anniversary of the Citizens United decision, in Washington, January 20, 2012. Under the banner ‘Occupy the Courts,’ organizers expect thousands of people to rally on Friday at 150 courthouses to mark the second anniversary of the Supreme Court ruling that protesters say allows unlimited corporate campaign donations. [REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst]
Read more: “Occupy” targets banks, corporate campaign spending](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ly4apbv4UW1qmaoalo1_1280.jpg)
Demonstrators stage a protest near the U.S. Supreme Court building, on the anniversary of the Citizens United decision, in Washington, January 20, 2012. Under the banner ‘Occupy the Courts,’ organizers expect thousands of people to rally on Friday at 150 courthouses to mark the second anniversary of the Supreme Court ruling that protesters say allows unlimited corporate campaign donations. [REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst]
Read more: “Occupy” targets banks, corporate campaign spending
