NYPD Counterterrorism Bureau’s Open Source Assessment of OWS May Day Events
Open Source Assessment of “May Day” activities planned by Occupy Wall Street participants in New York City as published in the NYPD Shield on April 29, 2012 by the police department’s Counterterrorism bureau.
Event Assessment reads as follows:
The General Strike is the first of several major global demonstrations that the OWS movement has played a role in planning, including demonstrations scheduled for May 12, May 15, and May 17-21. As such, it should be expected that organizers have emphasized the importance of turnout and will be seeking maximum media coverage.
Political fissures that are present within the OWS movement may impact the strategies of demonstrators during individual protest actions; in particular, the Wildcat March is not an officially sanctioned OWS march and may attract militant elements from inside and outside the OWS movement that may seek to directly confront law enforcement officials using barricades, riot shields, and possibly weapons such as pipes and rocks.
Although OWS organizers have publicized a large number of the marches, demonstrations, and activities that will take place throughout the day, it should be expected that “pop-up” demonstrations, splinter demonstrations, and flash mobs may occur at any time, especially during “evening actions” that are planned for 7:00pm and later.
In their planning, the OWS NYCGA has endorsed solidarity based on a “respect for a diversity of tactics,” which suggests that autonomous actions of demonstrators using Black Bloc tactics may occur at any time.
Full Document NYPD May Day Event Advisory Bulletin 04/29/12
