NY1 Exclusive: Teachers Union Says NYPD Keeping Close Watch Following Support Of Protests

By: Lindsey Christ

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The United Federation of Teachers has vocally supported the “Occupy Wall Street” movement, and union representatives now say they believe the New York City Police Department may be spying on them as a result. NY1’s Lindsey Christ filed the following report.

Police cars are not usually parked outside the headquarters of the United Federation of Teachers, but union representatives say they've been there for the past few weeks.

Union leaders say they think they've been put under surveillance by the New York City Police Department ever since they began supporting “Occupy Wall Street.”

“I’ll put it this way: we are a very safe building at this point in time since we seem to have all our exits and entrances are all being watched. So, I am very happy to be able to say we are probably one of the safest buildings in the city of New York,” said Michael Mulgrew, president of the teachers union.

The building is just a few blocks south of Zuccotti Park, the epicenter of the “Occupy Wall Street” protest. The UFT has given the protesters space on the first floor to hold donated supplies. Union representatives say they're happy to help since they support the protesters' general message.

“We’re teachers, so we understand that income disparity is probably the biggest danger facing us as a society,” said Mulgrew.

NYPD officials dismiss the suggestion they've been spying.

Deputy Police Commissioner for Public Information Paul Browne said, “When police saw individuals wheeling boxes into Zuccotti Park with the union's address on it, we investigated to make sure people weren't taking valuables from the location uninvited. We subsequently determined it had been donated by the union.”

The connection runs deeper, however. Several of the original “Occupy Wall Street” organizers are former public school teachers, and many education activists who are known for criticizing Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s school policies have also aligned themselves with the movement.

“We’re more than happy to help people out who are trying to do the right thing. If people need to look at us at all times and feel they need to put a presence around us, that’s fine, too,” said Mulgrew.

NY1 asked the NYPD why police cars were still stationed outside union headquarters if their investigation’s over. Their answer: It’s a busy area.