New York City, Chicago, Boston, Denver, San Diego. The story’s the same across the country. The police are over-worked and getting antsy about it. The persistence of the protesters to stay put, is getting a definitive result: thousands of arrests.
Most protesters have been charged with violating ordinances that don’t allow people in city parks after curfew. Similarly, some demonstrators are being arrested for blocking traffic, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest. All of which are legitimate charges, but based on the very nature of a protest, police should be exercising careful discretion when considering whether to make an actual arrest or not.
In some cases, police are just moving on camps and dismantling them. State police in Denver said troopers arrested 21 people for suspicion of unlawful conduct on public land. And that number will just increase when OccupyDenver protesters move their demonstration to another part of the city.
Police and protesters are clashing all over the country. But maybe some municipal officials, at least, are beginning to understand the impact of arresting everyone who refuses to move or listen to police commands. Faced with a threat by Occupy Wall Street lawyers to clog up the courts by demanding trials for arrested protesters, prosecutors Monday offered to dismiss about half of the 750 disorderly conduct charges in New York.
So, what should you do if you’re arrested at an Occupy protest? Disorderly Conduct Laws posted a very helpful article, here.
About David Matson