Crowd at NYC’s ex-Occupy camp dwindles

Crowd at NYC’s ex-Occupy camp dwindles

NEW YORK (AP) — A handful of protesters did their best to occupy New York City’s Zuccotti Park today, a day after metal barricades surrounding it came down.

“We need to have a symbolic presence,” said Ned Merrill, 52, a blanket draped over his shoulder.

He spoke as workers for Brookfield Office Properties, which owns the plaza, maneuvered around the scattered protesters with steam cleaners. The barricades that came down Tuesday were chained together and neatly stacked at the north end of the park.

On Tuesday, about 300 protesters filled Zuccotti after the barricades were taken down.

Merrill said it’s important for at least a few protesters to be at Zuccotti at all times. He said he’s been there from midnight to about 10 a.m. most nights since Dec. 1.

“Most people in America know that something is wrong,” he said. “Much of what is wrong is that money owns the political process.”