"Black Bloc" Occupiers Turn On Media, Grabbing Cameras

[superpatriotman]

http://www.buzzfeed.com/rosiegray/photographers-attacked-by-black-bloc-occupy-prot

Occupy Wall Street protesters attacked some photographers covering the May Day protests today in New York, trying to damage or seize their cameras. There are no reported injuries but one photographer was hit in the face, another got in a "tug-of-war" with a protester over her camera, and another had her camera smashed into her face by a protesters, according to those at the scene.
"The black bloc crowd has been making grabs for cameras," C.S. Muncy, a freelance photographer on assignment for the Village Voice, told BuzzFeed. The "black bloc" is a group of protesters all dressed in black, wearing masks.
"I had a couple people make grabs for my gear," Muncy said. "They just didn't want their pictures taken."
"One girl walks up to one of the photogs and nailed him right in the face," Muncy said. "He popped her right back." Muncy said the photographer was Lucas Jackson of Reuters.

"Black Bloc" are cops. Guaranteed.

[snooper2]

1. Yeah, there's NO way it could be the anarchist segment

albeit small, in our society of 18-25 year olds who have watched too many IMF protest videos on youtube LOL

[Jackpine Radical]

2. Everybody had to know stuff like this was gonna happen.

I expect that a lot of it is agents provocateurs, but some of it is no doubt unbalanced punks looking for an excuse to display their general assholery.

[eomer]

6. And in some cases the latter instigated by the former.

Which, of course, is one of the intended consequences of the covert ops of the instigators.

[JHB]

7. No doubt. And wouldn't be surprised if they had tacit leeway to do so...

They've been a known element for years, and are known vandals/disruptors. Cops should be on the lookout, yet they never get rounded up. And they haven't ID'd some?

Pull the other one.

[Jackpine Radical]

9. Sure. Why should the cops stop volunteers from

doing their work for them?

[RZM]

3. There are over 300 million people in this country

That's a large enough pool to produce an asshole or 12.

The argument that all of these people are cops is really quite odd. People riot and destroy property for all sorts of stupid reasons, including when their favorite sports team wins the big game. Occasionally it happens for no reason at all, or because the people involved are drunk. Think junior high kids TPing a random house.

So if people will destroy property for such trivial causes, what makes you think they won't when they have legitimate grievances?

[loyalsister]

16. Agree

There are plenty of people who romanticize both protests and violence. I have many relatives I would rather not claim but I can't deny that they exist.

[KansDem]

4. NYPD? NYPD? Wasn't that the police department that arrested innocent folks...

...in order to meet quotas?

Why, yes it is!

http://hypervocal.com/news/2011/former-nypd-detective-we-fabricated-drug-charges-against-innocent-people-to-meet-arrest-quotas/

[Selatius]

5. They're more likely punks than cops.

However, I wouldn't put the idea past cops to pose as Black Blockers to discredit the Occupy Movement.

[KurtNYC]

8. Smashing cameras? you hold a protest, you want publicity so who would

want to smash cameras and who would get away with it? Hmmmm...

When "Black Bloc" starts using their pepper spray and police batons on the protestors and cameras we will have our answer.

[Prometheus Bound]

10. I always find it irritating when I see people taking pictures of me at demonstrations.

I immediately assume they are from the police or other parts of the security establishment. I always give them dirty looks because I don't understand the rudeness of taking my picture without asking me first.

Not much I can do beyond the dirty look and a request not to take my picture though.

[Robb]

11. Anarchists on May Day? Unheard of!

[Better Believe It]

12. "Black Bloc" blockheads. Easy pickens for government disruption agents

[southernyankeebelle]

13. Maybe they are part of the police dressed in black.

[saras]

14. Nothin is harmed by legitimate protesters removing their masks.

Everyone else is being photographed, why not them?

[annabanana]

17. While I don't think I would

cover my face.. There is the possibility that 'face recognition' technology is in play. I respect a choice.

[mwrguy]

15. Pinkertons in disguise

or maybe cops