Earlier today, Occupy Wall Street took to the streets to commemorate the 2 month anniversary of the protest in a “Day of Action”. This morning, occupiers tried to block off access to the New York Stock Exchange in order to prevent the market from opening. They did not succeed. My mother, who works in the area, told me that at a few points this morning, the protests around the stock exchange became violent with the police.

This afternoon, around 3pm, the occupied moved to selected areas around the city including Brooklyn’s Borough Hall Plaza. I was on the scene. In fact, Colin Campbell of The Brooklyn Politics blog used a photo I tweeted of the protest in a blog post.

As the various protests broke up, the occupiers took to the subways, hoping to congest the system.

Meanwhile, at around 4pm, occupiers marched across the Brooklyn Bridge from Foley Square in Manhattan. As they exited the bridge footpath, at around 7:45, they started to converge in Cadman Plaza Park in Brooklyn. I live right across the street from the park, so I went to participate and take some photos and videos. I must say that the protest was very peaceful. Cops were on the scene just in case. But, the most violent thing I saw was an impromptu game of tag on the soccer field.

Colin Campbell tweeted that I had the “goldmine of BK’s Cadman Plaza Park #OWS protest video footage.” I’ll let you decide for yourselves. The playlist of the videos I recorded are below.

The photos I took of the protest at Borough Hall this afternoon and the protest in Cadman Plaza Park are below

Borough Hall, Borough Hall Plaza, Brooklyn, Cadman Plaza Park, Colin Campbell, Foley Square, New York Stick Exchange, occupy wall street, OWS, The Brooklyn Politics

Today, on the steps of Brooklyn Borough Hall, politicians, union leaders, and local activists joined together to stand in solidarity with the people of the Occupy Wall Street movement.

Assembly members Vito Lopez, Hakeem Jeffries, Council members Stephen Levin and Jumanne Williams, Senator Eric Adams Borough President Marty Markowitz joined SEIU Local 32BJ, New York Hotel Trades Council, and the AFL-CIO to tell the public that now is the time to end corporate greed and bring jobs back home.

This morning, I, in full disclosure, forgot my camera so I had to photograph and record using my iPod Touch. You can view the photos at http://www.brooklynyds.com/media/photos/march-across-brooklyn-bridge-we-are-the-99/. I tried to record video, but my iPod’s battery was going low, so I was only able to record the remarks by Borough President Marty Markowitz.

AFL-CIO, Borough Hall, Eric Adams, Hakeem Jeffries, Jumanne Williams, Marty Markowitz, New York Hotel Trades Council, Occupy Wall Stree, SEIU Local 32BJ, Stephen Levin, Vito Lopez

Yesterday, Sunday, July 24, 2011, to commemorate the first day of marriage equality in the State of New York, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz opened up Borough Hall as the backdrop of what would likely be the happiest day of dozens of gay and lesbian couples.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg ensured that all city clerk offices be open yesterday so any couples wishing to get a marriage license on the first day of same-sex marriage in the State. For couples wishing to get married the same day as they got their marriage licenses, would have need the 24-hour waiting period waived by a judge.

In a statement, Borough President Markowitz said “Besides being elected borough president, marrying my wife Jamie nearly 12 years ago was the best moment of my life. I wish these couples as much happiness as my wife and I have been blessed to share. This is a historic day in New York, and seeing these newlyweds—their smiles, that twinkle in their eye—that says it all.”

Markowitz made sure that judges, rabbis, and ministers were on hand to preside over the ceremonies. The beep even went so far to offer free wedding cake, champagne, and professional photographs for all of the newlyweds.

Video coverage of yesterday’s events are below.

Borough Hall, Borough President, Marriage Equality, Marty Markowitz, Michael Bloomberg, Same-Sex Marriage

One year ago today, the Brooklyn Young Democrats were officially chartered as a chapter at the New York State Young Democrats’ convention. Since then, we have campaigned for State Senate candidates and Mike McMahon, held a straw poll for the state Attorney General race, participated in rallies for redistricting reform, hosted a fundraiser for our state organization, and co-sponsored numerous events across the city and state, but we’re just getting started. Here’s what we have going on over the next few weeks:

Tomorrow evening, the NYSYD High School Caucus is having a comedy show fundraiser that BYD is co-sponsoring. All proceeds will empower them to help organize young people around a common desire for progress in our state and across the country, and the belief that no one is too young to make a difference. Tickets are just $15 for Young Democrats. You can register at https://secure.actblue.com/page/nysyd_hc_comedy. For more details, please go to http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=152317988167532.

On Thursday, we will be having a small get together at Apartment 138 (138 Smith Street, Brooklyn) at 7:30. For more details, please check out the Facebook event at http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=166030770126854.

This Friday, May 27, at 10 AM, at Columbus Park-Brooklyn Borough Hall Plaza, a tree will be planted in memory of our late Northern Regional Vice President, Hope Reichbach. This event is being sponsored by the Offices of Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz and Councilman Stephen Levin.

On Thursday, June 2nd, at 7 PM, the Thomas Jefferson Democratic Club (77 Conklin Avenue, Canarsie) will be having a ‘Law Night.’ Attendees will include Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes, President of the Metropolitan Black Bar Association Joe Drayton, Kings County Civil Court Judge Betty Williams, Kings County Law Chairman Frank Carone, and TJ Club Law Chairwoman Lara Genovesi. We encourage all of you to attend.

If you are interested in being a delegate at the YDA National Convention (July 28, 2011 – July 31, 2011 in Louisville, Kentucky), please fill out the sign-up form located at http://www.nysyd.org/blog/register-for-the-yda-convention-in-louisville-july-28-2011-july-31-2011-53/ before June 3rd.

Make sure to mark your calendars for June 11th. We are in the process of organizing a Rally for Redistricting Reform, this time focusing on Brooklyn’s own Senator Marty Golden, with our friends from the other Downstate Young Democrats chapters. More information to follow.

Finally, tomorrow is the special election to fill the vacancy in New York’s 26th Congressional District. If you have a few free minutes in the next day, please go to http://www.dccc.org/page/contact/splash/ny26 in order to make calls for Kathy Hochul.

Apartment 138, Borough Hall, Charles Hynes, Downstate Region, High School Caucus, Hope Reichbach, Kathy Hochul, Louisville, Marty Connor, Marty Markowitz, Mike McMahon, NYSYD, Redistricting Reform, Stephen Levin, Thomas Jefferson Democratic Club, YDA