By Matthew Russell Lee
TIMES SQUARE, October 15 -- When the Occupy Wall Street protesters came to Times Square on Saturday, the police confined them to pens on both sides of the street then paraded those arrested down the broad "perp-walk" in the middle.
While some of the protesters still insisted that not only "we are the 99 percent" but also "so are you," others booed the police, saying "they'll take your pension too."
Police horses were deployed. Inner City Press witnessed one police horse being hit by a taxi, leading the crowd to blame the police for using horses for no reason. Up on 46th Street the horses remained stationed, along with riot police in helmets with visors.
A chant went up, "Who are you protecting?" There was also invective directed at Ray Kelly, the Police Commissioner who would be mayor.
Similarly, while cheers went up when those atop tourist busses gave a thumbs up, a number of stretch limousines were booed, with called of "there goes the one percent." But maybe it's a wedding, or a prom.
On 47th Street, however, the police were letting tourists through the barricades but not New Yorkers, including the Press. And when questioned why, they threatened to arrest Inner City Press.
Police in front of McDonald's in Times Square, #OWS (c) MRLee
Via Twitter a call went out for a General Assembly in Washington Square Park downtown at 9 pm. As the wind picked up and the weather got colder, some wondered where this was all headed. Others spoke of tents and sleeping bags, even shelters being constructed in Zuccotti Park where the police have yet to enter.
The focus, of course, is and should stay on the banks. They got bailed out, and the rest got sold out. Watch this site.
