This Week’s Geek Release: Occupy Gotham Edition

For several weeks, disenfranchised youths have gathered outside the steps of City Hall in a demonstration formally known as Occupy Gotham. The protests have garnered national attention as the crowd continues to grow and more citizens demand justice from the city’s elected officials. With the number of protestors already in the hundreds, several makeshift shelters have began popping up throughout the demonstration zone. A sea of tents, blankets, and improvised dwellings have spread from the steps of City Hall all the way to The Monarch Theatre.

The protestors seek an end to the corruption that has plagued the city’s leadership for many years and stand in staunch opposition of the proposed “Arkham City” initiative. Mayor Hady made headlines last year as he announced plans for an expansion to the now infamous Arkham Asylum. “The tidewaters of crime and violence in this fair city continue to rise,” said Mayor Hady in a prepared statement. “So much so that the walls of Arkham Asylum, once believed to be impenetrable, can no longer hold back the raging torrent of villainy. To put it plainly, there are too many criminals and too few cells, too few jailers, and too few wardens willing to risk their lives to contain these murderers, thieves, and demented psychopaths.” Working with Mr. Quincy Sharp, Mayor Hady and his directors have proposed an expansion to Arkham Asylum which would include an annexation of the less-than-ideal areas of the city. The Arkham City project has been met with criticism and praise from both sides of Gotham’s electorate since its inception. Plans to begin building the walls to contain the criminals are already underway. Occupy Gotham protestors say they’re opposed to the expansion’s construction as it would only create more trouble for the good citizens of Gotham.

“By giving these maniacs their own part of town to run amok,” shouted Alberto Francone, leader of the Occupy Gotham movement, “we’re only ensuring they’ll grow stronger, plan their escape, and kill us all!” Francone then turned toward City Hall and demanded, “Mr. Mayor, tear down this wall!” Hostility has continued to rise amongst the protestors and the media as the right-wing news outlet, The Gotham Gazette, has portrayed the demonstrators as agitated hipsters with a socialist agenda. “And to the Bruce Waynes of the world,” continued Francone, “you are the 1%! Rich, playboy fatcats like Bruce Wayne who continue to avoid paying taxes while the city wastes resources on abominations like this Arkham City project are going to bring Gotham to its knees!” The speech was met with cheers and applause. Mr. Wayne could not reached for comment.

The growing animosity between protestors and the Gotham police force came to a head late last night as several officers fired canisters into a crowd of about a dozen unruly demonstrators. It was later revealed that the so-called officers were none other than henchmen for the Joker, dressed as riot police. To the dismay of several onlookers, the teargas has since been identified as the dangerous chemical, Laughing Toxin. Details are scarce at the moment but reports of a costumed vigilante continue to come in as more witnesses claim they saw the masked hero amidst the clash. “I seen him!” said Joseph Kerr, one of the protesters. “It was him! The Batman I tell ya!” Witnesses say they saw this caped crusader swoop down from a nearby building and incapacitated the gang of thugs. Turning his attention to the crowd,  he fired several high-tension cables toward nearby buildings and attached them to the embattled protestors, yanking them to safety. Who is this so-called “Bat Man“? When will Gotham’s elected officials be held accountable for their crimes?” Is the proposed Arkham City project doomed to fail? Tune in next week for another exciting edition of This Week’s Geek Release.