some (apparently pointless and useless) thoughts
The first court order in NYC yesterday would have stopped the removal of people from Liberty Park and allowed them back in with their tents. Police refused to look at the Court order, making it useless, even though that meant their refusal to abide by it put them in Contempt of Court. If there are no consequences for these actions, does turning to courts even serve to protect any rights?
The Bloomberg administration apparently went judge shopping. That means the legal playing field is not level, further jeopardizing the protection of rights that should accrue to all.
The timing in the 2nd court order is designed to run out the clock, and to prevent an appeal on the grounds that the legal processes have not yet been completed. That seems like a transparent violation, but not clear that one can get the appellate division to even consider an appeal.
The use of sonic weapons, the use of massive police, the changing of the rules of access to the park after the fact in violation of the agreement by which the park was created, the refusal of the authorities to allow access to