'Getting Arrested' App Created For OWS Protesters
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Occupy Wall Street protesters now have a free app to alert others if they're about to be arrested.
The "I'm Getting Arrested" app was created by Brooklyn software developer Jason Van Anden.
Van Anden told 1010 WINS he came up with the idea for the app while working on another project with a colleague whose girlfriend was arrested during one of the demonstrations.
"Afterwards, he said you know it would be really great if she had an app that she could have quickly communicated what was going on in a situation like that," Van Anden said.
It is currently available in the Android Market and Van Anden is also working to make it available for iPhone.
Users write a text message in advance and program a list of recipients.
"If you're a demonstrator who knew there was legal aid available, you might put the number for legal aid in and if you wanted, lets say, your parents or your spouse to know you can enter in those numbers as well," Van Anden said.
As they're about to be arrested, users can hit one button and alert everyone on their list.
As of Monday morning, 9,000 had installed it. Van Anden says he doesn't know if anyone used it because he installed privacy controls.
Meanwhile, OWS rallied outside the Adam Clayton Powell State Office Building Tuesday afternoon against Rep. Charles Rangel.
According to their website, OWS is against Rangel for "selling out the 99 percent to Wall Street."
Rangel has visited Zuccotti Park twice since the demonstrations began, but Occupy Wall Street calls him a "phony friend" because they say he voted for trade agreements that encourage outsourcing of U.S. jobs, among other issues.
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