Neither more nor less

Saturday afternoon this group :
http://evgrieve.com/2011/08/planning-meeting-to-occupy-wall-street.html
gathered in Tompkins Square Park under the Hare Krishna Tree to organize a movement that will cause 20000 people to descend on Wall Street September 17 , 2011 .This organizing action of course being a public political action utilizing a public resource , Tompkins Square Park .

A number of individuals , in considerable ignorance of the law of the land, complained that their pictures were being taken .We were lectured quite arrogantly and condescendingly at length to respect the privacy of individuals  .

TSP isn't the dorm rec room or the recitation hall folks , it is public property , public space .There is no expectation of privacy here , especially when engaged in a political act .In such a political situation any request for privacy is moot , the peoples right to know trumps all . If you don't want to be seen involved in political organizing then do it on your laptop in a cafe or at home . Organize in a private space if it is important not to be seen .Everyone can do so . Otherwise  stand up , speak up  and bear the consequences of having been recorded present , standing  for something . .

The arrests actully occured around 2:40 pm on Friday on Death Row , the first row of benches in from avenue A .The 2 cuffed at the entrance  of TSP were apparently involved in a drug transaction .

TSP was thick with rats Tuesday night and Inside Edition was there to video them .The rats seemed to be having quite a good time too . One of the "rat proof" garbage containers was mobbed with perhaps 15 rats . The door to the container had been left ajar , likely by someone who had stashed a few beers or some dope in the container earlier in the day .

The guard at the gate said no : the party walked in .Though the staff was likely a bit confused and uncertain , at the beginning  it seemed welcoming as Penley's party made its way under the bright lights to the the central portion of the BMW Guggenheim Lab. During most of the event  staff members sat or stood quietly on the perimeter of the action , some photographing and videoing the party members .We attempted to speak with a few staff members and were told that they had been told not to speak with us .Later these staff members , clearly conflicted  ,did talk about what was happening and how they felt about it all .Seems that they had anticipated this event .They certainly had reason to anticipate , Mr. Penley had previously told them that he was bringing a street party to the Lab.

The same folks that speak out at the corner 7th Street and avenue A to the wreak of bum piss , passed out drunks and  nodding junkies were at the BMW Guggenheim Lab Saturday night  under the bright lights of an utterly sterile stage .Their message was nothing new ,the same messengers too delivering it not to the passing souls on avenue A , but to the Guggenheim staff .

Top billed L.E.S. Jewels made his entrance with his entourage from the opposite end of the Gug Lab .He spoke a poem written for the evening . Amazingly sober and with his pants on he comported himself honorably as one of the main acts of the evening .

The few truly tense moments occurred when Mr. Penley refused a request  from staff members to not smoke . Mr. Penley taunting , challenged a staff member to call the police , opening a hard pack of Marlboroughs and offering cigarettes to other members of the party  . Several lit up and smoke  dramatically curled around in the bright stage lighting .Reasonably the Gug staff seemed not to want cops and the press attention  that their presence would bring . Mr. Penley also introduced a masked member of the group "Annonymous" noting that perhaps BMW and the Guggenheim might be next on the hackers list .

What did this party at the Gug Lab matter ? As we've noted nothing was said  that hasn't been shouted out many times at the entrance to Tompkins Square Park . Some stood Saturday night to power and wealth? Whatever it is that was accomplished its likely as significant as the usual intellectualized drivel that oozes from think tanks .

  

Around 9:45 PM the street party left the BMW Guggenheim Lab for the old Mars Bar. Mars Bar is no longer with us but there is still the sidewalk . Inside the old bar there was some old wine too .Purloined , this wine became the liquid faire of the evening . Ending the party with a revolutionary fervor in a fine drizzle with bad wine , really bad wine  seemed fitting .

A couple of guys argued a bit , a fire extinguisher was tossed aggressively . Folks continued to drink , Jewels urinated . When the wine was consumed folks left , some heading to Ray's. Jewels and Penley made it to Ray's  but Jewels quickly passed out in a familiar doorway . Lucy expressed herself and the "Let 'Em Eat Cake /Eat the Rich/No Comfort Zone  street party was finished .



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A group of 20 or so  gathered Saturday night just in from the corner of 2nd Avenue and 3rd street . A familiar group that's been seen many a desperate Saturday evening at the 7th street and Avenue A entrance to Tompkins Square Park . A mix of aging  Yippies , Slaktivists,Communists , anarchists and assorted others .Posters were made , folks socialized and then moved 2 doors east and effected a small anti-gentrification ritual in front of the Economakis Mansion . John Penley then led a march to the BMW Guggenhein Lab  a couple of blocks down 2nd Avenue .