In Boston, it’s crack dealing and fights, and in Atlanta, the Squatters spew hate at the police.
Police officers in riot gear and on horseback filled the street, warning protesters to stay on the sidewalk. The protesters shouted at the officers, chanting slogans such as, “Shame! Shame!” and “What about your pensions?” A small group yelled more insulting things like, “Put the pigs back in their sty, we the people occupy.” Police made a number of arrests, mostly people who disobeyed orders to stay on the sidewalk.
Police issued a statement early Sunday saying 19 people who either refused to leave the park after the 11 p.m. closing time or blocked nearby roads were arrested. The statement also said another person accused of assaulting a motorcycle officer on patrol was arrested and charged with aggravated assault and obstruction.
Saturday also featured a special guest at the Atlanta protest:
The protesters returned Saturday night. The crowd swelled during the brisk evening, as the Rev. Jesse Jackson paid an early-evening visit to show his support. He told those gathered that the movement was an extension of Martin Luther King Jr.’s Poor People’s Campaign.
