The first anniversary of Occupy Wall Street was a joyous affair for the 99%.

Yet regrettably, it was also a day that illustrated how Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s ‘private army’ has been increasingly unleashed to beat, arrest, imprison, and broadly suppress OWS.

Please post your videos, photos, and stories about how your rights were infringed on the Occupy Bloomberg’s Army Facebook page.

Occupy is a nonviolent movement, but this has not prevented Bloomberg’s Army from engaging in targeted arrests of specific organizers as well as random street ‘snatch and release’ intimidation tactics.

On September 17th not even the constant drone of helicopters overhead could drown out the screams of ‘I’m a journalist’ from the reporters who were arrested merely for practicing their and our right to freedom of the press.

And not even a cry of ‘I’m a City Councilmember’ was enough to staunch the established policy of brutality within the Mayor of Wall Street’s Police Department.

The message being sent by Bloomberg’s Army is being heard loud and clear. In Bloomberg’s New York: anyone who supports Occupy Wall Street in any fashion is being made an example of.

Were you one of these people extra-legally arrested or assaulted, or have you witnessed someone who was?

Post your videos, photos, and stories on the Occupy Bloomberg’s Army Facebook page.

We will not be stymied by the over 180 arrests on our anniversary, nor intimidated by the unprovoked and random nature of so many of them.

We will fight for our right to protest Wall Street while we protest Wall Street itself.

All Roads Lead To Wall Street

[Via]

Sierra Adamson breaks down this week's We are Change wrap-up.

On the first anniversary of Occupy Wall Street, GRITtv host Laura Flanders talks to journalist Arun Gupta and organizer Marina Sitrin about the movement’s impact and future role in American life and politics.

“Occupy has lifted all organizing boats,” says Gupta. “We saw that in New York City, for example, the Occupy movement helped Teamsters win a better contract with Sotheby’s… They [also] helped fast food workers at Hot & Crusty unionize, which is remarkable that you have fast food workers who unionized.”

Sitrin describes renewed momentum in terms of the personal self-esteem of the 99%. “In the past, to be unemployed, to be in foreclosure was something you kept secret. It was something to be ashamed of,” Sitrin told Flanders. “The power of Occupy and the slogan is to say, ‘Well, wait a minute. I’m the 99%. I’m the majority. I can feel empowered.’”

A full transcript of the show is available here.

Truth VS. Puppy Purging: Where Do YOU Get Your News? This is your Moment of Clarity #173:

We're in the middle of an all-out information war. Propaganda and mistruths are thrown around like hamburger helper in a food fight. The only way to fight the steady stream of bullshit is to know the truth, to have the facts, to grasp the reality. But where do you go to do that??

Much more at LeeCamp.net

Some great footage of Occupy Wall Street's 1st anniversary in NYC from Real News. September 17th, 2012 marked one year since protesters and activists first pitched tents in Zuccotti Park and took to the streets to denounce Wall Street corruption. The movement of the 99% gathered on Friday in NYC's financial district for three days of protests, anniversary celebration and education.

Random arrests in NYC on Monday, September 17, 2012.

In LeaguePress reporter Anaheim James brutalized and arrested by NYPD on #S17.

Anonymous had a message for Occupy Wall Street's 1 year anniversary: "The bankers are the problem."

Along Broadway on at least two instances NYPD officers lunged into the crowd grabbing and arresting protesters, some seemingly targeted, others just caught in the shuffle.

Here a few, there a few...

The incident with NYC council member Jumaane Williams starts at 2 minutes and 40 seconds into the video. This was filmed live at 11pm EST on September 17, 2012 during Occupy Wall Street's 1 year anniversary at Liberty Park. Courtesy of videographer Luke Rudkowski.

Jumaane D. Williams is a Democratic politician who is a member of the New York City Council, representing the 45th Council District which includes parts of Flatbush, East Flatbush, Flatlands, and Canarsie in Brooklyn.

Williams, who has been an outspoken ally of the Occupy movement since its early days last year, was observing a rally in Zuccotti Park and standing on a bench when he was shoved three times by the cop, who used her baton.

By Monday evening, NYPD officers had arrested 185 Occupy protesters.

Tom Morello stirs the Occupy movement into action with a performance of "This Land is Your Land" in Foley Square ahead of Occupy Wall Street's one year anniversary on September 17, 2012.

Activists with Code Pink attempted to make a statement outside of a Bank of America in NYC on Monday, but it seems that waving a pink bra at a bank is a dangerous thing to do. Co-Director Rae Abileah was arrested during a "bra toss" outside of the Bank of America on the corner of Washington Place and W. 14th Street. The police arrested her for "blocking a sidewalk."

Approximately 1,000 protesters, including a large group of musicians, left Zuccotti Park today at 4pm EST, and was cut in half by a group of helmeted NYPD officers at Williams and Pine Streets. Violent arrests ensued, with journalist John Knefel among those detained.