© Agence France-PresseNew York Governor Andrew Cuomo takes questions at a press conference.
According to the Albany Times Union, New York state troopers and Albany police did not adhere to a curfew crackdown on protesters urged by Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) and Albany mayor Gerald Jennings.
Mass arrests seemed to be in the cards once Jennings directed officers to enforce the curfew on roughly 700 protesters occupying the city owned park. But as state police joined the local cops, protesters moved past the property line dividing city and state land.
With protesters acting peacefully, local and state police agreed that low level arrests could cause a riot, so they decided instead to defy Cuomo and Jennings.
"We don't have those resources, and these people were not causing trouble," a state official said. "The bottom line is the police know policing, not the governor and not the mayor."
Occupy Albany, an offspring of Occupy Wall Street, has seen its protesters remain as committed as those located at its parent site. At least 30 tents have remained in the park over the weekend.
Reader Comments
The writing is on the wall. The police are starting to wake up. It kinda looks like they're no longer willing to be your personal goon squad.
KUDOS TO THE POLICE!
I often wonder why perfectly good men & women who swear to protect their fellow citizens and neighbours,suddenly change from being a police `man women`. When the promise of a reasonable salary and another false promise of a secure future pension will cloud their judgement into becoming a ` police `Officer` at which point they will serve and protect only the hand that feeds. Where does the human part exist in your actions that prompts you to snitch on your fellow neighbour. These protesters are serving to help protect your future pensions, and your Wall St guys are just paying for your services on an ongoing monthly basis until you are no longer needed . Please wake up ! all of you `zombie `police officers, and once again become a policeman or a policewomen to help protect and serve with pride dignity and a sense of fair play to your fellow neighbours, because you are sadly missed by the 95% of decent humans. Kind regards Dave Bates
Bravo!