The police prepare-- How many cuffs will be needed.
Lt. Konczyk of the Philly Police Civil Affairs unit gives the protesters the first of the standard three warnings. Konczyk is the same officer who did the count-down for the people arrested at the Army Experience Center Protest on September 12. We think he is the one who ordered the arrest of OEN managing editor, Cheryl Biren, when she was photographing protesters. At the BC/BS protest, I could hear him and see him directing the plain clothes and uniformed police on the scene. The photographer directly behind him is from the Philadelphia Inquirer. A Daily News reporter was also there, new to the health beat-- didn't know who Wendell Potter-- a Philly person-- was. I guess it's better than not having anyone cover health care. The company that owns the Philly Inquirer and Daily News is in bankruptcy, and it's owned by right wingers. Progressives have pretty low expectations from them, except for a few writers, like Will Bunch. I mean, the Inquirer hired on John Yoo and Rick Santorum as columnists. I'm sure they're brilliant writers. NOT!!
Arrests begin. Most of those arrested seemed to be experiencing joy, laughing, being applauded by onlooking protesters who were not engaging in civil disobedience.
This sense of joy, of being part of something important and meaningful, while being arrested, is oft reported.
13 were arrested altogether-- 12 of them seemed to be under 25.
photo essay continued in next and final segment
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