Wall Street Protest Marches to Police Headquarters

Wall Street protesters marched to police headquarters Friday, a silent walk that ended with chants of "End the War! Tax the Rich!" and calls to indict a police officer who tussled with demonstrators last weekend.

The march kicked off at about 5:30 p.m., proceeding from the downtown park where protesters have been gathered for days, to police headquarters about a half-mile away.

Hundreds of protesters sat down outside headquarters. There were no immediate reports of arrests.

While the main focus of "Occupy Wall Street" is centered on the financial world, those camping out in the park have championed causes covering the political and social spectrum, from supporters of Ron Paul to the anti-war activists of the Granny Peace Brigade.

Last Saturday, about 80 people were arrested in tense and sometimes physical interactions with police.

Video of some of the arrests were posted online, and included scenes that appeared to show an officer using pepper spray on protesters who already were cordoned off and officers handcuffing a man after pulling him up off the ground, blood trickling down his face.

Mayor Bloomberg was asked Friday whether the protesters on Wall Street could stay indefinitely, and said "we'll see."

The mayor said on his radio show that people have the right to protest, but that the city has a responsibility to keep the streets clean and make sure that others can get where they want to go downtown.

Bloomberg suggested that most Wall Street workers being targeted by the protesters "make $40,000 or $50,000 a year and are struggling to make ends meet."

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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