The cheers grew even louder as it was announced that Zuccotti Park owner Brookfield Properties postponed a planned park clean-up which may have forced protesters to leave.
“I'd like to read a brief statement from Deputy Mayor [Caswell] Halloway.” said an unnamed speaker. “We received notice from the owners of Zuccotti Park, Brookfield Properties that they are postponing their cleaning.”
On Thursday night, demonstrators cleaned the park with mops, brooms, power washers, and other cleaning equipment after Brookfield Properties sent a letter to the New York Police Department (NYPD), requesting assistance to help clear the park so routine cleaning and maintenance could be done.
“The protesters will be able to return to the areas that have been cleaned,” said Halloway in a statement on Wednesday night, “provided they abide by the rules that Brookfield has established for the park.”
However, the protesters expressed concerns that new rules made by the park owners which prohibit certain activities—including camping and the storage of personal property— would spell eviction from their month-long resting ground.
After the announcement, the group marched around the Financial District with increasing fervor and numbers, and clashed with police at times. There were 14 arrests, said NYPD deputy commissioner Paul Brown, according to MSNBC.
“Occupy” Protests have spread across the nation to Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland, Washington D.C., Las Vegas, Seattle, Austin, Texas, and other cities.
Coordinated global protests are planned for Saturday, Oct. 15, including in New York City’s Times Square, which has more than 1,400 confirmed attendees. Demonstrators plan to make stops along the way at a Chase Bank in Manhattan, Washington Square Park, and the New York Public Library before heading to Midtown.
