Police and climate-change activists clashed on Wall Street on Monday during a protest over corporate and economic institutions' role in the climate crisis.
Hundreds of activists gathered in Lower Manhattan's financial district for "Flood Wall Street," where they chanted, carried signs and — in some places — sat down in the street. At one point, activists struggled with police to gain control of metal barricades. At least one man appeared to be taken away in handcuffs after the incident, and an NYPD official threw three punches (as seen in the video above at 2:29).
Protestors wrestled barricades away from police, who fought them, said Mashable's Evan Engel, who was at the protest. "At one point the demonstrators opened up a 10-foot gap, but few seemed willing to charge through it. The crowd simmered and the cops regained control of the barricades."
These 2 guys are taunting the cops #FloodWallStreet pic.twitter.com/jN6wwOta9C— Evan Engel (@evanengel) September 22, 2014
There were reports of some isolated arrests of protesters, who police said did not obtain a permit for the rally. But by and large, the police, office workers and tourists watched alike as the activists chanted: "We can't take this climate heat; we've got to shut down Wall Street," and bounced two large, inflatable balloons meant to represent carbon dioxide bubbles, which police later punctured.
There were also reports that police had used pepper spray on protesters.
Police pepper spray #FloodWallStreet demonstrators (photos via @ajplus video) pic.twitter.com/JlVfMGdGXZ— Rachael P (@plussone) September 22, 2014
The video below appears to show an NYPD officer holding a spray canister.
Ben Shapiro, an urban farmer and bread maker from Youngstown, Ohio, said he didn't participate in Sunday's march but came specifically on Monday because he's concerned about fracking, a technique that cracks open rock layers to free natural gas, and feels the financial system enables pollution.
Crowd chanting "We are unstoppable, another world is possible" #FloodWallStreet pic.twitter.com/Vmy3tdZcpJ— Evan Engel (@evanengel) September 22, 2014
"I wanted to come specifically to disrupt Wall Street because it's Wall Street that's fueling this," said Shapiro, while sitting next to the famed bull statute on Broadway. "I'm going after the source of the problem. ... That means actively having to confront the system."
Dressed in a green wig and superhero outfit, protester Jenna DeBoisblanc said at a rally in a park near Wall Street before the protest that those assembled were expecting arrests at the sit-in.
"I think arrests in particular are a very good way of conveying the gravity of an issue," said DeBoisblanc, an environmental activist from New Orleans. "If you're willing to risk arrest it certainly demonstrates that it's something very urgent."