The NYPD are doing a good job keeping everybody moving along. Access to the tower entrance is restricted and the entire sidewalk on the east side of Fifth is barricaded with only people having business in the area being allowed in. Everybody else is forced to the sidewalk on the west side of Fifth and it is JAMMED with people, mostly curious tourists who are there to take pictures. The NYPD will allow you to stop and take a couple pictures but then they quickly tell you to get moving.
There is a press area there and a "cage" to enclose the protesters that are at least behaving themselves. At least during daytime, anybody becoming unruly are quickly rounded up. Can't speak to what happens at night as I'm back to my "safe space" in suburban CT!