Night 1 of this weekend's Campout New York Post got underway on Avenue A at East Seventh Street… John Penley, one of the event's organizers, shared these photos from last night…
The idea for the campout came about after the NYPD installed a patrol tower in Tompkins Square Park on July 21 … following the Post and the Observer's recent reports citing anecdotal evidence that there's an influx of homeless people and drug users in the park. (Police officials removed the tower on July 28.)
Per the Campout New York Post Facebook invite:
[T]he reason for doing this is not just the tower it is because we believe the NY Post used the sad plight of homeless people to create a return to Giuliani style policing in relation to the poor and those suffering from poverty, mental illness and gentrification and we do not want that to continue.
[Photo by Bobby Williams]
As part of the campout tomorrow night at 7:30, The Living Theatre will perform "No Place to Hide" in the Park … followed by an open mic to memorialize Judith Malina, the group's founder who died in April at age 88. (Details here)
Find more photos from last night at Campout New York Post Facebook invite.
Stopped by at 2AM to drop off some canned food and I was really disappointed with the turnout. Most of those folks already seemed homeless; it did *not* seem like a welcoming crowd with a great vibe. There was no designated place for drop-off food or clothing donations, which is sad because that probably means there weren't any. Saw lots of cops though, mostly just looking at their multiple devices. At least they got a pleasant night. I wanted to take some photos, but honestly, I didn't feel welcomed so taking them just felt like exploitation. Bummed.
ReplyDeleteThe Post will not cover this story and if they do they will leave out the mission statement of this group and be dismissive. I am happy there are people willing to do this although few outside the immediate neighborhood will ever hear of it.
ReplyDeleteIt's idiotic to blame the New York Post for the tower put up by the NYPD.
ReplyDeleteThe New York Post and the Observer had everything to do with the tower going up. They spun up a false hysteria over an issue that's no better or worse than it's ever been. They are tools being used to keep the property values up for Kushner and pals.
ReplyDeleteTo the food person that commented this was the first day it will get bigger and thanks for your support we were hot and tired when you came by come back and actually yes a lot of people were homeless which was good because they got a good night sleep and no one was arrested.
ReplyDeleteHaters will always hate no matter what..it is in their subconsciousnesses..boo
ReplyDeleteI love John Penley's photos.
ReplyDeleteMelanie
East Village Corner
I fuckin hate how there is always a cop car in the park now...bothers me for some reason even though I've never even gotten so much as a misdemeanor. It's uncomfortable and creepy. I si ton the bench and it's just watching me.
ReplyDeleteNot to worry. The cops will never look up from their phones.
ReplyDeleteAre people surprised that it wasnt more popular amongst the yuppie/college crowd.? They are the ones who ask for hardline policing.
ReplyDeleteThis phone compulsion that police have is out of hand. The city should crack down. They get paid to check their phones?
ReplyDeleteI thought newspapers are supposed to cover the need. And isn't a deterioration in the quality of life for most Nee Yorkers news?
ReplyDeleteEven a manufactured deterioration in the quality of life?
ReplyDeleteThe economy is only getting worse so the internal aspect of empire is slowly heating up the pot until the sheeple/frogs are even more brainwashed. And defenseless.
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