I never imagined when I wrote about Zuccotti Park three months ago on my blog about the New York City parks that it would become ground zero for a protest the likes of Occupy Wall Street. What's really going on down there? What does it feel like to enter the "permanent" protest environment in the park?
First, here's what Zuccotti Park looks like on a normal sunny summer day: crowded, peaceful.
And here it was yesterday:
I was very positively impressed by the Occupy Wall Street crowd blanketing the park yesterday. There was no special action, no march, no celebrity visit, no arrests happening on this early Monday afternoon. 
While government offices had shut for the holiday, Wall Street itself was in full swing (in fact, the Dow rose over 300 points), so the streets and lunchtime hangouts on this unseasonably warm day were dotted with men in ties, some no doubt members of the "one percent."
Broadway, which forms the eastern boundary of Zuccotti Park, was itself lined with a street fair whose vendors were easily able to completely ignore the protesters' presence. A young Italian-American singer belted out "Beautiful" on a street stage just south, in celebration of Columbus Day; the organ player in neighboring Trinity Church blasted impressive chords as a lightly attended service wrapped up (there were more tourists observing from the rear of the sanctuary than parishioners in the pews…but then, that's New York for you.)
At the east end of Zuccotti Park under the big red sculpture known as Joie de Vivre a couple of protesters had assumed the mantle of leaders-of-the-moment and were leading the crowd in improvisational chanting. On the west end, a group banged out disorganized but energetic protest rhythms on drums and percussion as a little girl attempted to ping along on a triangle. 
In the middle of the park hundreds and hundreds of people engaged busily in various forms of protest business as trickles of tourists threaded through. There's a first aid station, a press "office," and countless desks and stands and "floor" spaces full of flyers and brochures. A messy but friendly-looking kitchen area offers food to long-term protesters camped out under blankets and tarps nearby. A sign politely requests that people refrain from taking photos of the camped-out residents (some sleeping) without permission.
Article comments
1 - Tommy Mack
It is the ass end of the bull picture that tells the story, Jon. And the ". . . when Texas executes one" crack is just, well, New York. Nice job.
Tommy
2 - John Lake
Great photos!
3 - Jon Sobel
Thanks Tommy, and thanks John. There's nothing like showing up in person to see what's really happening in the news.
4 - Victor Lana
Great coverage, Jon. Did you see the "golden calf" that was paraded around the other day? Such a fantastic incorporation of the iconic bull image (you photographed) and the Biblical story (labeled a "False Idol").
I just wonder how long this can play out with cold weather approaching. Even the Summer of Love had all too short a date.
5 - Panic Attacks
It's funny. I was in New York yesterday as a tourist and it was an incredible sight to see everyone gathered together like this. I hope they will be heard by the people who can actually change the economic problems we face.
6 - Anarcissie
You may be interested in a couple of observations of OWS here:
Liberty Street
Occupy Wall Street
7 - roger nowosielski
Anarcissie,
They usually use an HTML code here to post hyperlinks.
8 - roger nowosielski
Here's the second-mentioned link.
The first one doesn't seem to work.
9 - Christopher Rose
I have actually linkified Anarcissie's links but it would be better if I didn't have to, lest I use inappropriate anchor text...
10 - roger nowosielski
I'll email the HTML code.
11 - Arch Conservative
Ah yes ...occupy wall street....Americas most notable "idiots without a cause."
12 - Jordan Richardson
So you figure the economic situation in your country is just fine, Arch?
Or is it that you can't distance yourself enough from your preconceived notions and inherent biases to determine what these protesters stand for?
13 - Arch Conservative
So now calling these people idiots and believing our economic situation is not fine are mutually exclusive concepts?
14 - zingzing
when someone's protesting because of our economic situation and you say they have no cause, it kinda seems like you think they are.
maybe you ought to explain your rationale, if you have one.
15 - Jordan Richardson
What makes "these people" idiots, Arch?
Again, I think it's a kneejerk reaction on your part.
You seem to be subscribing to the "hippie scum" mythology without actually recognizing the OWS protesters, who are now active in numerous cities in Canada and the United States, as individuals with viewpoints and perspectives as unique as yours.
16 - roger nowosielski
Arch simply doesn't like the fact they remind him of "hippies."
Well yes, Arch, most of the OWS protesters haven't gone to a theological seminary or college. But might I remind you that even some of the "red-neck," secular colleges, like Kent State, aren't the virtual preserve of rednecks but are attended by all kinds of people.
Of course you're probably too young for this thought to ever register. And no, they didn't use rubber bullets.
17 - Arch Conservative
5% maybe 10% (and that's being generous) are serious individuals with legitimate gripes.....the rest, well i prefer leftist riff raff to "hippie scum" but either way it is what they are
18 - zingzing
where did you come up with your figures?
19 - Jordan Richardson
He's sitting on his sources.