Judge Rules Against Occupy Wall Street

 　　The Occupy Wall Street movement has suffered a legal setback¹ that prevents protesters from using an encampment in a New York City park to spread its message.  The ruling distinguishes between free speech and the occupation of a park used by the general public.

　　Police maintained a heavy presence in Zuccotti Park throughout the day as city officials and protesters awaited the decision by New York Supreme² Court Justice Michael Stallman.  He denied a motion filed on behalf of demonstrators to allow them back into the park with tents and sleeping bags.  Stallman sided with city officials who voiced concerns about the tents, and also about health and safety concerns in the crowed encampment.

　　There was also a heavy police presence outside New York City Hall, where Mayor Michael Bloomberg said earlier that no right is absolute.

　　"There is no ambiguity³ here, the law here," he said. "The First Amendment⁴ [to the U.S. Constitution] protects speech.  It does not protect the use of tents and sleeping bags to take over a public space."

　　Police in riot gear raided the Occupy Wall Street encampment at one in the morning.  They arrested about 200 protesters,, many of them on charges of resisting the eviction⁵.  Cleanup crews hauled away tents and sleeping bags.  Protesters claim authorities also disposed of the movement’s library of more than 5,000 books.  Police kept news reporters at a distance.  Mayor Bloomberg said the reason was "to protect the members of the press."

　　Where tents packed the park a day before, police ensured protesters would not reoccupy Zuccotti Park.  Some, however, taunted⁶ the police.

　　"What you all did last night was wrong.  Shame on every one of you!" said one.

　　Protesters are clearly disappointed, but many said the Occupy movement will continue.  During his seven weeks at the encampment, David Intrator beat drums and played the saxophone.  He says that movement does not necessarily depend on the occupation of a park.

　　"It’s kind of a mental thing," he said. "I think ultimately that has a great effect.  The occupation first starts here (points to head) in your understanding of what kind of society you would like, and how you’d like to be in that society.  And it all flows from that."

　　The Occupy movement began nearly two months ago and focused attention on corporations and the wealthiest one percent of Americans that protesters say have corrupted⁷ the country’s political system.  In recent days, authorities have also dispersed⁸ Occupy protests in other U.S. cities.

　　Judge Stallman’s decision is consistent with Mayor Bloomberg’s statement that protesters may return to the park to exercise their free speech rights, but they may not stay overnight.

1 setback   

n.退步，挫折，挫败

参考例句：

• Since that time there has never been any setback in his career.从那时起他在事业上一直没有遇到周折。
• She views every minor setback as a disaster.她把每个较小的挫折都看成重大灾难。

2 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

3 ambiguity   

n.模棱两可；意义不明确

参考例句：

• The telegram was misunderstood because of its ambiguity.由于电文意义不明确而造成了误解。
• Her answer was above all ambiguity.她的回答毫不含糊。

4 amendment   

n.改正，修正，改善，修正案

参考例句：

• The amendment was rejected by 207 voters to 143.这项修正案以207票对143票被否决。
• The Opposition has tabled an amendment to the bill.反对党已经就该议案提交了一项修正条款。

5 eviction   

n.租地等的收回

参考例句：

• The family have won a temporary reprieve from eviction.这个家庭暂时免于被逐出。
• He claimed damages for unlawful eviction.他要求对非法驱逐作出赔偿。

6 taunted   

嘲讽( taunt的过去式和过去分词 )； 嘲弄； 辱骂； 奚落

参考例句：

• The other kids continually taunted him about his size. 其他孩子不断地耻笑他的个头儿。
• Some of the girls taunted her about her weight. 有些女孩子笑她胖。

7 corrupted   

（使）败坏( corrupt的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）腐化； 引起（计算机文件等的）错误； 破坏

参考例句：

• The body corrupted quite quickly. 尸体很快腐烂了。
• The text was corrupted by careless copyists. 原文因抄写员粗心而有讹误。

8 dispersed   

adj. 被驱散的, 被分散的, 散布的

参考例句：

• The clouds dispersed themselves. 云散了。
• After school the children dispersed to their homes. 放学后，孩子们四散回家了。