Before OWS protestors moved to the steps of Federal Hall National Memorial on Monday last, they had been sleeping on the streets in the vicinity of Wall and Nassau Streets, they say. The New York Police Department hadn't intervened over the past few weeks protestors say, citing a 2000 New york State Supreme Court ruling, a successful action taken by a low-income housing organization on behalf of New York's homeless population. NYPD arrests and citations however over the past two weeks forced the Occupiers to find a new home at the "birthplace of American democracy" on Monday, April 14.
However, at 5 p.m. the National Park Service, which has jurisdiction over the steps of the Federal Hall National Memorial, surprised OWS protestors by serving them with federal guidelines for the property, severely restricting their movements and ability to protest.
Although the federal rules allow protestors to remain on the steps overnight without a permit, the guidelines strictly limit the number of protestors to 25, as well as the size of placards. Noise above 16 decibels after 8 p.m. is also forbidden. No sleeping on the steps is allowed. Baggage larger than a carry-on case is also forbidden.
By 6 p.m. the sidewalk facing Federal Hall had been cleared by the NYPD, leaving remaining OWS protestors penned in and surrounded by an estimated 80 cops, including a SWAT team and federal police. While the stand-off was tense until the evening, no arrests were made.
The protests dwindled overnight to approximately four.
"The Romanian" lights a cigarette at Zuccotti Park, Friday April 20, 2012.
Occupy Wall Street Protestors take a break to watch performers in Zuccotti Park following the “People’s Gong” at the nearby New York Stock Exchange, which coincides with NYSE’s “closing of the bell” at 4 p.m. Police arrested several protestors who lay down on the sidewalk outside the stock exchange.
Veteran OWS protestor Lauren Digioia paints a fellow protestor on the steps of the Federal Hall National Memorial on Friday evening, April 20, 2012.
Federal Parks Officers with the assistance of members of the NYPD and SWAT barricade protestors inside the steps of the Federal Hall National Memorial at the junction of Nassau and Wall Streets on Friday, April 20, 2012.
National Parks police officer stands guard over Occupy Wall Street protestors on the steps of the Federal Hall National Memorial on Friday evening, April 20, 2012.
OWS medic “Shirley,” a massage therapist from Canada, takes a smoking break at Zuccotti Park on Friday April 20, 2012.
Cops clear the sidewalk outside the Federal Hall National Memorial on Friday April 20, 2012.
Lauren Digioia on the steps of the Federal Hall National Memorial on Friday April 20, 2012.
NYPD phalanx stand guard at Zuccotti Park on Friday afternoon, April 20, 2012.
Zuccotti Park, Friday afternoon, April 20, 2012.
OWS protestor holds a placard on the steps of the Federal Hall National Memorial on Friday evening, April 20, 2012.
OWS protestors on the steps of the Federal Hall National Memorial on Friday evening, April 20, 2012.