It’s fair to say that the Occupy Wall Street movement has been in hibernation for the last few months. Cold temperatures coupled with escalating violence from local law enforcement drove many protesters away from the reclaimed public parks and plazas they occupied for much of the fall and winter.

Some have chosen to point to these empty camps as a sign that the Occupy Wall Street movement is over; nothing more than a fad, a crowd of malcontents who only wanted to start trouble and blame their problems on others. But these empty camps only indicate that the Occupy Movement is flexible. We don’t need public encampments to be effective. Instead we can leverage the incredible power of the internet to connect and take action.

All the while, Occupy has been gathering steam for the American Spring. Just like our counterparts in other countries, we will continue to fight for our rights. We are not afraid to stand up to the corporate bullies and the politicians they’ve purchased. We will continue to demonstrate the power of non-violence in the face of unchecked violence; we will continue to work for healthy, self-sufficient communities; we will take a stand against injustice, inequality, and the oppressive forces that have slowly taken away our rights and stolen our government.

We, the people, will rise. Expect us.

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March 17th marked the 6 month anniversary of the Occupy Wall Street movement’s beginning, and to celebrate, throngs of protesters took to the streets of New York City to march and celebrate the coming American Spring.

After a weekend of marches on Wall Street complete with spring training exercises, a St. Patrick’s Day march, floating tents, and dancing in the streets, Liberty Square (officially known as Zuccotti Park) was re-occupied by thousands of Occupy supporters. Early in the day, protesters embarked on a winding march around the area. They ended up back at the park, and police officers arrested about a dozen people, according to Truth-Out.

As night fell on Zuccotti Park, however, Occupy Wall Street protesters were reminded of the violent eviction that first drove them from the park in mid-November. Although police tried to deny media access to the park during the eviction, New York Times reporter Colin Moynihan observed the following:

By 11:30 p.m., as police officers massed on Broadway, a commander announced that the park was closed. Those inside shouted back that the park was obliged through an agreement with the city to remain open. The commander then announced that anyone who remained inside would be arrested and charged with trespassing.

After clearing the park, police officers and private security guards began placing a ring of metal barricades on the park’s perimeter, as those who had been arrested were placed inside a city bus.

“At least one person was taken to the hospital on a stretcher,” reads a statement on the OWS website. “We have also heard reports of seizures and broken bones. On Livestream, peaceful protesters are seen being tackled, punched, stomped, choked, hit with batons, and thrown against cars for no reason other than sitting down to peacefully protest inequality in a public park. At around 3:40 minutes into the following video, watch as NYPD slams a medic’s head against a glass window and shatters it.”

Watch video here

OWS also claims that police used city buses to corral mass-arrested protesters, and that after clearing the Square, NYPD placed barricades around the area – an act specifically forbidden by previous legal action. The barricades were removed earlier this year as protesters attempted to reclaim the park on New Year’s Eve.

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