[KLhdfskja]

Developing Story: People Arrested for Trying to Close Citibank Accounts


October 15, 2011 09:10 PM EDT


More ridiculous arrests coming out of New York today, as Citibank proves it's just as bad, or even worse than Bank of America in how it treats its customers. Earlier today, about two dozen people formed a queue inside the Citibank building in order to close their accounts as a part of the Occupy Wall Street protests. Instead of allowing them to take their money elsewhere, the genius managers and security people in charge locked them inside and had them arrested.
It's not clear why the people were arrested, but speculation is that when the bank would not allow customers to close their accounts, the customers began to protest. When this happened, that's when the genius managers decided to lock them all in and call the police. Nice work, police, protecting your corporate masters.
The arrests were so contrived that you can't help but laugh in bemusement. One woman who was talking angrily with police outside the building was manhandled by what appears to be a plain clothes officer and dragged inside by about five other officers.
Reports from around the internet are saying that two people who succeeded in closing their account left the bank but were forced back inside by police and security officials. In the video posted online, you can see how one woman was practically carried into the bank by a plain clothes officer, where she and the rest of the bank's customers were subsequently arrested. So, if you were just in the neighborhood, and arrived before these people and closed your account, you'd have been arrested for disorderly conduct, whether you were a part of this protest or not. What the hell is this country coming to when you get arrested for simply asserting your right to do what you want with your own money?
The NYC police department is not doing itself any favors by acting with such force and dishonor towards the people it's supposed to be protecting. Citibank, likewise, isn't going to garner any kind of support among its customer base for refusing to allow customers to withdraw their money.
Corporate greed, a police state, citizens arrested for voicing their opinions. Unfortunately, it looks as if the United States is living proof that '1984' has come to pass.
http://politics.gather.com/viewArtic...81474980587518

[IssuessBratte]

She was right, that was wrong.

Must be good pay being one of those zip tie police, what do you think they program those types with?

[geniusxs81]

I dunno, that seemed very weird, my spidey sense says bullshit on both ends.

[KLhdfskja]

She was too pretty to just let her wander off






also....http://www.activistpost.com/2011/10/...vent-bank.html

[wantedLOX]

Are you going to follow up on this?

It's Sunday so there's probably nothing new but tomorrow there should be more info.

What kind of story could they make up to excuse this?

[AndrewBoss]

She was right, that was wrong.

Must be good pay being one of those zip tie police, what do you think they program those types with?

How to escape from being zip tied

[Teareerah]

http://www.longislandpress.com/2011/...ibank-arrests/

More than 90 people have been arrested so far during this weekend’s Occupy Wall Street “Global Day of Protest” in New York City, and two dozen of those arrested were at the La Guardia Place Citibank branch Saturday.

While reports that the bank was arresting customers trying to close their accounts went viral, authorities maintained that the protesters were detained for trespassing and other violations, including wearing masks and resisting arrest.

The demonstrators staged a sit-in at the West Village bank Saturday, stating that they wanted to close their Citibank accounts. They were handcuffed and removed by police shortly after.

On Saturday evening Citibank Public Affairs issued a statement regarding the incident: “A large amount of protesters entered our branch at 555 La Guardia Place around 2:00 PM today. They were very disruptive and refused to leave after being repeatedly asked, causing our staff to call 911. The Police asked the branch staff to close the branch until the protesters could be removed. Only one person asked to close an account and was accommodated.”

“To be clear: no one was arrested for closing an account; we didn’t lock people in our branch – the police decided to close the branch; and we didn’t ask for anyone to be arrested - that is a police decision.”

There was also a brief standoff at a nearby Chase Bank, but no arrests were made.

The rest of the New York City arrests took place in Times Square and Washington Square Park. Demonstrators were ordered to leave the park at midnight, and those who refused were taken into police custody.

Demonstrations also took place around the world, including Orlando Florida, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and internationally in Rome, Italy and Australia and Asia.

[DeilMikina]

dont these people know that when they engage in this behavior they are probably going to be arrested?

[BalaGire]

So it only takes 25 people pulling out probably a single measly 2 weeks worth of their pay on average to crash a bank? Wow.

[xsexymasterix]

That's what I was asking about some of their other activities. As in what's the point of intentionally doing stuff to get arrested? Makes no sense.



Why should that surprise you? Banks don't really deal in paper "money". It's a side product, of sorts.

What I'm concerned with is if this idea spreads it'll end up just like 1933 all over again except instead of people trying to get their gold that isn't there, it'll be FRNs that won't be there.
...and at that point the next logical step is to go all electronic. After all, the only reason you have paper now is to give customers who ask for it in place of digits on a screen. Once it's shown there's obviously not enough paper to cover those digits everyone has, it'll be on.

They are engaging in acts of civil disobedience with the understanding that it could lead to arrests. Many of them probably welcome the arrests with the sort of coverage it receives with all the real time updates available today. I'm sure many of them feel like martyrs.

Banks like Citi and BAC have been insolvent for years now. Like an angry tyrant about to lose the throne, they are lashing out in an attempt to try and deny reality.

[DeilMikina]

They are engaging in acts of civil disobedience with the understanding that it could lead to arrests. Many of them probably welcome the arrests with the sort of coverage it receives with all the real time updates available today. I'm sure many of them feel like martyrs.

Banks like Citi and BAC have been insolvent for years now. Like an angry tyrant about to lose the throne, they are lashing out in an attempt to try and deny reality.

i would think thats the case , knowing they are engagingin civil disobedience , but the videos i've seen they kinda seem suprised the cops are getting in thier face and almost, i'll dare say acting like brats whinning when the cops show up? i had run ins with them when me was younger as i'm sure others on this site have as well, but even when shit faced i knew they meant business and usually put a hurtin on

[AlexanderDrew]

It all depends upon if they were actually being unruly and disturbing the peace in the bank. If the banker came in your house and started actin' a fool, you might be justified in locking him inside until the cops got there.

I'd love to see video from inside the bank to know what really happened. Perhaps they did get set up for arrest.

LOL. You are a funny guy.