Occupy Pittsburgh to cops: prepare to be rickrolled

If authorities come to Mellon Green to break up the Occupy Pittsburgh encampment, the protesters said this morning they have a plan to fight back -- by rickrolling.

Before Occupy Pittsburgh rested its case on the second day of a hearing on a request for an injunction to have the group ousted from BNY Mellon's Downtown park, occupier Mike Lawson said the group decided to play the 1987 Rick Astley song "Never Gonna Give You Up" if confronted by authorities.

Playing the song or reading the lyrics in unexpected situations is a popular prank.

"Is that called rickrolling?" asked Daniel I. Booker, an attorney for BNY Mellon, which is asking the court for a preliminary injunction to have the protesters removed.

"Yes," Mr. Lawson said, prompting court spectators to roar with laughter.

Mr. Lawson and another occupier, Don Carpenter, were the first witnesses called by Occupy Pittsburgh today. Their testimony also touched on how order is kept in the camp and how decisions are made.

Both men, who work for the group's People's Watch, said that camp rules are enforced by a sort of honor code and that campers who have not abided by the drug and alcohol policy have been evicted.

Lawyers for Occupy Pittsburgh rested after calling three witnesses this morning on the second day of the hearing.

Attorneys for both sides will file findings of fact before Judge Christine Ward rules on the injunction to have the campers removed.

Pittsburgh police have told corporate security for the company that they will not evict the campers without a court order.

First published on January 11, 2012 at 11:45 am