Zuccotti Park Continues to Be the Focus of Anti-Foreclosure Activists OWS
Photo by Renjith Krishnan
Zuccotti Park in New York continues to be the focus of anti-foreclosure activists OWS. They are streaming in and out but not permitted to stay overnight. They have shifted to indoor spaces and even camping in churches to continue with their movement.
Twenty five year old Daniel Abel is an activist who spends his nights at West Park Church. He said that role of Zuccotti Park was changing – it has become a meeting point. He explained, “If we slept here and fought the cops every night, it wouldn’t be effective”.
Recently one night all the lights were off at United Methodist in Brooklyn before the clock struck ten. The floor provided space for many to curl up while others chose the pews. Those who were awake kept far back and carried on their conversations in whispers.
Another activist, Andrew Dittner aged thirty six, said that the church environment makes the people respectful. He is a graduate from Boston.
Committees have been set up by the activists to see to multiple tasks like cleaning, housing, safety etc. The pastors of the churches expect the activists to oversee security, medical assistance and cleaning up operations. The church authorities have stipulated they must go to sleep early and exit in the mornings.
At the West Park Church and Park Slope United Methodist Church the activists of OWS pay for costs of utilities. From the donations they collected last autumn they have as balance $300,000.
Life in the church is not without challenges. There have been scuffles about who should stay and who should not. The committee on housing has fixed up for the protestors a hot line for registering their names for residing in the churches. About 150 are allowed. Each evening when they roll in their names are checked on a list.
Despite this, vagabonds and criminals have sneaked in together with the homeless.
One of the activists, Tonya Iketubosin was arrested for rape. He was released on bail last November. He posed a problem for the activists when he signed up for staying at St. Paul and St. Andrew churches. When the others recognized him, a meeting was held to decide whether he would be allowed in or not. The housing issues were being handled by Jeffrey Brewer. Ultimately they allowed him to stay on that night but the security kept an eye on him.
The churches that have opened their doors to the activists said that shelter would be provided all through winter. The pastor of West Park, Brashear said the movement had helped many individuals to battle foreclosure.
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