Video: "Heartless" Cops Rip Down OWS Kids' Arts & Crafts

Police remove the hearts from the gates of City Hall (screenshot)

On Saturday, Parents for Occupy Wall Street led a Rally Against NYPD Bullies, to denounce "bullying and specifically the recent actions of NYPD Police Brutality." Kids painted signs and 5,000 paper hearts in Union Square, "one to represent each peaceful protest arrested over the past 3 months," and brought them to the gates of City Hall. But NYPD officers standing watch apparently didn't appreciate the arts and crafts, and began tearing them down to cries of "Shame!" and several children weeping.

You can see the waste of perfectly good construction paper at around 3:10.

Shortly before the two officers began ripping the signage off the fence (one of them does so with particular zeal—what's more motivating than the tears of children?) the several dozen protesters are passed by a hoard of tipsy Santas. "Stop bullying in schools!" One girl shouts. "Occupy North Pole!" says another. Another man sees where this is going: "Occupy my pole!"

While the kids may have seen their creations destroyed, they'll flash back to this moment in 15 years as they're putting the finishing touches on a riot shield before joining the masses outside the White House on the eve that President Gingrich declares himself Historian for Life. As the chant goes: "The children, united, will never be defeated!"

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By Christopher Robbins in News on December 12, 2011 1:36 PM

Comments [rss]

canofpeas

Stop bullies??? Stop breeding.

Carl

The headline should read "Heartless Cops remove art of kids from Brainless Parents who somehow thought they could "decorate" the city as they see fit." Or something like that. Who in their right mind would ever think this stuff would NOT be taken down? Have you never seen graffitti removal workers? Have you ever seen "post no bills" signs? Of course they're going to pull down "art". Especially when it comes from the biggest thorn in the city's paw, OWS.

eliekedourie

Hey Gothamist. Any time you wanna stop pretending a cop wasn't killed yesterday, feel free to put up a story. You've got four articles crapping on the NYPD...yet no mention of the LOD. Nice.

ga1n

This is stooping really low. I'm so embarrassed for these kids.

I'm all for your right to criticize Bloomberg, just leave the kids at home.

mogwai

i'd also like to point out that none of the protesters were attractive or fit.

bawlsdeep

Totally. All were pretty busted.

urbanmom

This is not responsible parenting. The parents KNEW that those hearts would get ripped down when they put them up on the FENCE AT CITY HALL! Why would they use their kids like that? So they could get a video of their kids crying? Thats DISGUSTING. I don't think it's wrong for kids to safely participate in protests or discuss the issues but IT IS TOTALLY WRONG FOR PARENTS TO SET THEIR KIDS UP!

"Tim Osman"

But it's ok to make those "I ate all your halloween candy" videos and laugh at them right?

urbanmom

Erm...don't know what the hell you're talking about but that is probably NOT ok either.

pumabydesign001

GET A FREAKING CLUE PLEASE!!!!!

These kids should have been occupying a classroom in spite of the fact the indoctrinated education they're receiving.Oh what the heck, their parents are also guilty of indoctrination and placing them in the perfect position to get their feelings hurt.

Shame on the parents, you're not allowed to post anything on these fences. The same rule applies to Marxists.

pumabydesign001

Shame on the parents for indoctrinating and placing their children on the spot.

nayerr

Puerto Rican cops are the worst cops.

ButtPlugs

That one mom with the glasses and the blue/green hat seems like your worst nightmare as a neighbor.

SteveKJR

What kind of message are these morons sending to their children by exposing them to thier stupidity.

whitecastlerock

I'm a firm believer in letting children enjoy their youth. When they become teenagers then they can sleep in parks and whine and bitch about the big bad police officers, banks, and life's responsibilities, wearing the latest trendiest bullshit to express their individuality...