Thousands of Occupy Wall Street protesters have now begun filing into Times Square for a massive Occupation Party, in part to celebrate the spreading of OWS across the globe today. The police have begun setting up barricades to keep the protesters within certain areas, and portions of the sidewalks have become almost impassable. However, the mood around midtown is joyousyou can watch a live stream from there below, and we'll be giving live updates for the next few hours. [More Updates Below]
According to James Thilman, our reporter at the scene, there are sporatic eruptions of extended cheering between chants: the usuals, such as "banks got bailed out, we got sold out. Whose street our streets," and, "we are unstoppable, another world is possible." Police are keeping people-particularly bewildered touristson the sidewalks moving, while protesters are confined to large areas in the center of the square, with limited entrances to barricaded area. There are lots of people with tambourines and other instruments, and the crowd continues to grow ever larger.
Update 6:35 p.m.: Reports are coming in that police have started arresting rowdy protesters. There have been reports of mounted policemen pushing back and forth with boxed in protestersand it seems at least one man ascended a traffic light to flash the peace sign (and now is doing a "mic check").
Update 6:45 p.m.: NewYorkist tweets that he's seen, "At least two large NYPD trucks moved into Bway, coming north of 46th full if barticafes. Currently placing them in pedestrian plaza." With the square packed in as it is already, and more and more people joining in on the occupation, it's hard to imagine the police barricades, which are keeping people on the sidewalks and in designated areas, lasting through the whole evening. However, it seems to be working thus far: police have just started letting traffic come through 7th Avenue.
James Thilman/Gothamist
Update 6:54 p.m.: According to @Jopauca, the older cop you can see in the picture below has pushed at least two protesters.
In addition, it was announced on the microphone that horse cops and riot police have lined up, and the NYPD are "asking everyone to exit east on 46th. Including those on the sidewalk." According to The Nation publisher Peter Rothberg, "WNBC reporting 10,000-20,000 in Times Sq ."