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Dozens Arrested at Occupy Wall Street Rally

By Tom Liddy | March 18, 2012 3:15pm | Updated on March 18, 2012 6:22pm
Hundreds of protesters gathered in Zuccotti Park to mark the Occupy Wall Street movement's six-month anniversary on Sat., March 17, 2012.
Hundreds of protesters gathered in Zuccotti Park to mark the Occupy Wall Street movement's six-month anniversary on Sat., March 17, 2012.
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DNAinfo/Sarah Tan

MANHATTAN — Dozens of protesters were arrested Saturday night during an Occupy Wall Street rally in Lower Manhattan marking the group's sixth month in existence — including a woman who suffered a seizure, according to authorities and reports.

Cops also said that the department is investigating online and telephone threats against police and their families including one to "kill a cop or 2."

Most of the 73 arrests made in and around the anti-greed group's former camp at Zuccotti Park, were for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

But they also included one for assaulting a police officer, an NYPD spokesman said.

In that case, the suspect, Cecily McMillan, 23, allegedly elbowed an officer from the Bronx's 40th Precinct as she was being led from the park, according to police.

When she was placed under arrest, she suffered an apparent seizure and was taken to New York Downtown Hospital for treatment.

According to the New York Times, she writhed on the ground as bystanders shouted for medical treatment and lay there for several minutes before an ambulance arrived. She was later charged with assault.

The officer who she allegedly injured suffered a cut to the eye and refused medical attention.

Cops are also investigating a Twitter posting in the chat room portion of a site that broadcast the protest live that apparently threatened violence against cops.

"we wont make a difference if we dont kill a cop or 2," read the Saturday night posting by Smackema1, police said.

Because there was no name or identifying information associated with the account, the department is seeking a subpoena.

And the NYPD is investigating telephone threats to at least two police officers and their family members Saturday.

The protesters who had amassed in the park, near the World Trade Center, sat down and locked arms around 11:30 p.m. following a march in the area, the Times said.

When police told them they would be arrested for trespassing, the protesters shouted that the park was supposed to be open to the public, according to the paper.

Zuccotti Park, while privately owned, must be open to all 24 hours a day under an agreement with the city.

Hundreds of Occupy protesters have been arrested since the movement began last September.