Bloomberg: Brooklyn Bridge Marchers Just Union Complainers, Not Occupiers

Thousands of protesters marched in the Day of Action, which began wtih a rally in the financial district.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg argued that the several thousand protesters who marched over the Brooklyn Bridge Thursday don't really represent Occupy Wall Street.      

The mayor said in his weekly WOR radio show Friday that "a vast percentage'' of the marchers were union members who "had organized signs and leadership.''      

Bloomberg said the protest "was just an opportunity for a bunch of unions to complain or to protest, or whatever they want to do.''      

He said, "it really wasn't the protesters that have been in Zuccotti Park or that you see around the country.''      

The mayor also said that of the roughly 250 people who were arrested in Thursday's protests, three were charged with felonies.

He says 80 were charged with misdemeanors and the rest were given summonses or desk tickets.

The day of action had been planned before the city and park owners cracked down on the encampment in Zuccotti Park early Tuesday morning. Tents, tarps and sleeping bags were cleared out and the granite plaza was cleaned for the first time since the group arrived more than two months ago.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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