In an early morning raid on Tuesday November 15 2011 by approximately 1,000 New York City police officers in riot gear, Zuccotti Park was cleared of all protestors who had occupied the park for the previous two months. The action was taken under orders from Mayor Michael Bloomberg at the request of Brookfield Properties, the owners of the private park, following concerns by area businesses and residents of increasing unsanitary conditions. Police Commissioner Ray Kelly personally supervised the clearing of the park.
Just after 1 a.m. on Tuesday November 15 2011, the NYPD set up a perimeter around the park and turned on flood lights. The mayor's order to vacate the park was broadcast by bullhorn with a warning that those who would not leave would be arrested. The demonstrators were given until 3:30 to leave. Most of the protestors peacefully complied with the order gathering their belongings. Others, however, defied the orders and built makeshift barricades around the area that housed the communal kitchen. Many chained themselves together and to trees, some even placing U-shaped bicycle locks around their necks. Emergency Services officers used power saws to cut through the chains. Zuccotti Park was effectively cleared by 4:30 a.m.
More than 100 people were arrested, and several instances of violence were reported. One policeman was removed on a stretcher with lacerations on his face. Several protestors claimed police used excessive force in the arrests.
Remaining possessions, tents, furniture and debris were dismantled and tossed into garbage trucks by the New York City Sanitation Department. Personal items, including blankets and tents were sent to a garage on the city's West Side for storage, where the owners can reclaim them. As crews moved in with cleaning equipment, one of New York's Strongest was overheard saying: “We’re gonna disinfect the hell out of this place.” By 5 a.m. Zuccotti Park had been properly cleaned, and barricades were erected blocking access to the park.
Several clashes between protestors and police were reported north of the park, as the #Occupy Wall Street movement attempted to re-group by Foley Square and City Hall. The protestors were broken up into smaller pockets and effectively dispersed by police.
Mayor Bloomberg announced that protestors would eventually be permitted to re-enter Zuccotti Park: “The law that created Zuccotti Park required that it be open for the public to enjoy for passive recreation 24 hours a day. Ever since the occupation began, that law has not been complied with, as the park has been taken over by protestors, making it unavailable to anyone else.” The mayor stressed that tents, tarps and camping gear would be prohibited. Lawyers representing the protestors won an injunction in State Supreme Court that would have permitted the demonstrators to return to Zuccotti Park with all of their gear, however Supreme Court Justice Michael Stallman sided with the City of New York.
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