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Video: Bored Zuccotti Park Security Guard Smashes Occupy Livestreamer's Camera
By
Christopher Robbins
Published Jul 18, 2012
Modified Jul 18, 2012
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By
Christopher Robbins
Published Jul 18, 2012
Modified Jul 18, 2012
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Since the barricades came down at Zuccotti Park in January, the privately-owned public space has remained under guard by a phalanx of security guards 24 hours a day. Save for a few attempts at revamping the General Assembly, there has been little Occupy activity there recently. This may be why one of the security employees charged with monitoring the park for Brookfield Properties was playing a card game on his computer last night. Not surprisingly, he became upset at being filmed by an Occupy livestreamer, and video shows him swatting the camera out of the livestreamer's hand.
The employee can be seen playing what appears to be a computer game at around the 5:20 mark, until he realizes he is being filmed and closes the window. At around 5:45, the Brookfield employees approach the livestreamer, Recai Iskender, and ask him to refrain from standing on the park's chair. A younger security employee orders Iskender to stop filming him, and (wrongly) questions its legality before the older employee appears to smack the camera out of Iskender's hand. The younger security employee's voice can be heard saying, "How bout that? Get it out of here. Get it out of here."
The employees apparently called the police, and several NYPD officers show up. At the same time, several people who had apparently been watching the livestream also arrive. One of the officers tell the livestreamer and the bystanders, "The bottom line is he told us he wanted us to come over here and tell you that you guys can't be standing on the tables and chairs."
That same officer can be seen speaking to the Brookfield security employees in this video.
Brookfield, a real estate company worth $8 billion with 2,500 employees, received $700,000 in government business grants following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. We've reached out to Brookfield for comment. The NYPD has no additional details on the incident.
Tagged
brookfield properties
livestreamers
occupy wall street
police state
Zuccotti Park
Christopher Robbins
Christopher Robbins is a New York City reporter covering transportation, affordable housing, local politics, and criminal justice. His work has also appeared in New York Magazine, The Village Voice and The New York Times. Chris is a graduate of Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke, Virginia, and enjoys biking to Fort Tilden in the summertime.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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