Chanting crowd masses as some occupiers decamp, others vow to stay

A crowd of as many as 1,000 people gathered at Occupy Boston in Dewey Square last night, some chanting defiantly, blocking the street and erecting a barricade around part of the tent city, while others sang and danced to a brass band, as authorities delayed their promised eviction of the two-month-old encampment.

Some capitulating members of Occupy Boston meekly folded their tents earlier in the evening, declaring their occupation of Dewey Square a success in the wake, while more defiant protesters remain encamped, building a barricade and braced for a standoff with police.

“The majority of the tents are coming down, but some people want to take autonomous action,” occupier Bill McDonagh, who serves as the tent city’s medic, said early in the evening. “We’ve got crews in here for whatever happens.”

“We have occupied Dewey Square because Wall Street has occupied our government, broken our economic system, divided our country, and negatively impacted our lives for far too long,” the statement said. “Occupation is a single tactic, but its significance is much greater than that.”

Shortly after 10 p.m., people began dancing to a New Orleans jazz-style brass band, while police began moving sections of makeshift fencing from the campsite.

Shortly before 11 p.m., some occupiers ripped up a pallet-and-plywood walkway that ran through the muddy center of their Dewy Square encampment and used the material to erect a barricade to keep out police, propping up pallets and boards in a line about 50 feet long. Other occupiers then began dismantling parts of the barricade and throwing the pallets into a garbage truck, in an apparent dispute over how to deal with the eviction order.

At 11:25 p.m., with a crowd of nearly 1,000 people in the square, protesters began shouting for people who didn’t want to be arrested to leave the encampment.

“Everybody that can risk being arrested go inside the camp at this time,” a speaker shouted. “If you don’t want to be arrested, there will be a solidarity march in the streets.”

Chants of “The people united will never be defeated!” and “We are the 99 percent!” were raised.

Police kept a low-key presence, trying to keep the crowd out of the streets, with no visible presence of officers in riot gear. At about 12:45 a.m. the crowd began to converge from both sides onto Atlantic Avenue, blocking the street. Police diverted traffic and showed no immediate signs of trying to clear the street as some protesters sat down, chanting, “Our street!” as several tents were moved into the street.

“The deadline was midnight; we’re just working to keep the street open. When the time comes, we will move them, but for now we’re just working to keep the streets open,” said police Superintendent William Evans, saying the occupiers would be allowed to remain overnight.

Earlier yesterday, Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino gave the occupiers until midnight to unoccupy the half acre of lawn on the Rose Kennedy Greenway. At noon, police issued leaflets warning protesters they could be arrested if they were in Dewey Square after 11 p.m. Some police sources said early in the evening a forcible removal might be held off, however, given the good-faith departure of many tent dwellers.

In a civil disobedience training session put on by occupiers last night, a legal team warned them that the slightest resistance such as stiffening arms could be considered resisting arrest. But at the end of the session, a legal advisor exuberantly told protesters to “kick ass!”

Spokesman Gunner Scott said a general assembly of Occupy members is planned for the bandstand on Boston Common tonight at 7 p.m. to discuss the group’s future plans. In the event of arrests overnight, protesters planned to meet at Dewey Square at 8 a.m. today and march to the courthouse.

Occupier Ryan Cahill said, “I’m sad that the occupation is probably coming to an end, but I’m excited to see where it goes. And I’m interested to see who is still dedicated when there isn’t free food or free shelter.” “Occupy is over,” said a man who gave his name only as Al P., 44, of Boston. “Look at the place. It’s been overrun by alcohol and drugs. It’s done.”

Wednesday, Suffolk Superior Court Judge Frances A. McIntyre lifted a temporary restraining order that had blocked city officials from evicting the squatters, calling the occupation a “hostile act” that is not protected speech. Protesters vowed to appeal, but had not by late yesterday.

Howie Carr list ping
While we’re at it:
It pays to follow the House Rules
By Howie Carr | Friday, December 9, 2011 | http://www.bostonherald.com | Columnists

The House majority whip got fired the other day. Once upon a time, that might have set off a bare-knuckles brawl for control of the body, like the protracted struggles they had in the House in the 1980s or in the Senate a decade later.

But this week ... crickets. Ain’t nobody here at the State House but us chickens, and I do mean chickens.

You’ve heard of grade inflation in colleges? In the Legislature, you have title inflation ... and with the dozens of new phony baloney titles come the extra “stipends,” ranging from $35,000 for speaker to $7,500 for most of the hacks.

That’s why there are no more insurrections. The solons have been bought for the bargain-basement price of $7,500 a year.

Right now the House includes 128 Democrats. Of those 128, 70 are in so-called leadership. They serve at the pleasure, as it were, of the speaker, which means he can fire them, just like he capped Rep. Charlie Murphy this week.

If they too were fired, these payroll patriots would have to get by on their regular $61,440.19 a year, plus the per diem traveling expenses and all the other assorted perks too numerous to mention.

A rep who goes off the reservation too many times risks losing that extra money. Look at Speaker Bobby DeLeo, who fired Murphy. He’s the biggest shill for casinos in the state, but three years ago, when the now-incarcerated Sal DiMasi was the speaker, DeLeo routinely voted against casinos. Because DiMasi did.

It was DiMasi’s way or the highway.

With 70 “leadership” positions to fill, the titles have become more and more preposterous. For instance, how did the commonwealth get along without a “speaker pro tempore” for its first 380 or so years?

And what exactly are the duties of “chairman, 1st floor division of the House,” not to mention 2nd, 3rd, and 4th floor divisions ... other than collect an extra $15,000 a year. Do they wipe the dust off the chairs in their sections?

In all, I count 31 different House committees (plus the four floor division chairs, whatever they are), with chairmen, not to mention 28 vice chairmen and one assistant vice chairman. Don’t forget the majority leader, the assistant majority leader, the second majority leader and the third majority leader, all of whom make an extra $15,000, the same as the four minority floor leaders.

It’s the best Legislature money can buy. The House has become like one of those Occupy microphones. DeLeo: “I vote yes.” All the sheeple: “I vote yes.” DeLeo: “Murphy must go.” The sheeple: “Murphy must go.”

My favorite committee is Rules. That chairmanship is good for an extra $15,000 a year, not bad considering there are only two rules. The first rule is, the speaker rules. The second rule is, if you don’t obey the first rule, as a rule, they kill you.

Just ask Charlie Murphy.
Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/news/columnists/view.bg?articleid=1387067

some tweets

AlertNewEngland (3 hrs ago) South Station #MBTA doors facing Dewey Sq are being locked to avoid people flooding in.

Fara1 Big #OccupyBoston chant: ‘Evict us - we’ll multiply - #Occupy will never die.’

SteveAnnear Fights breaking out between people mocking protest and occupiers. #occupyboston

SamuelMiller #occupyboston slogan on banner: “You can’t evict an idea” - it’s a good thing they don’t have any ideas, evict away!

Police on standby as deadline passes on Occupy Boston eviction

Updated: Friday, 09 Dec 2011, 1:48 AM EST
Published : Friday, 09 Dec 2011, 1:09 AM EST

BOSTON (FOX 25 / MyFoxBoston.com) - Police blocked off the streets surrounding Dewey Square just before 1 AM on Friday as hundreds of Occupy protesters and Occupy supporters packed the former encampment. Superintendent Evans told FOX 25 that the police would not be moving in on Dewey Square early Friday morning.

The massive crowd gathered in response to the city of Boston giving Occupiers a midnight deadline to leave their Dewey Square encampment. That deadline came after a Supreme Court Judge lifted a restraining order keeping the city from removing the protesters.

While some protesters packed up and went home on Thursday morning, others decided to stand their ground. Some who stood there (SIC!) ground even decided to move their tents to the middle of Atlantic Avenue just before 2 AM on Friday.

FOX 25 was there as the midnight deadline came and went. Protesters began chanting, “our streets,” as one protester held an upside down American flag. An upside down American flag some protesters say is a sign of distress. Viewers spoke out on social media calling it a sign of disrespect.

Midnight came and went with no response from police officers, as they stood around the perimeter looking into the swelling crowd. For many of those officers, it is a familiar job. Since Occupy Boston’s September start, overtime for police has reached $900,000.

A legal advisor told the group to stay calm if they were arrested before the deadline hit.

Some protesters told FOX 25 at their encampment on Thursday night that they would be arrested to make their point, but once they are arrested they’ll peacefully leave.

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