Tampa Bay Online: Oakland tells protesters to pack up immediately

[Patricia M. McBride]

Another rat infested pig sty created by the OWS group.  If they can be this creative, one might think they could find a job somewhere......................but perhaps they wouldn't put them in charge on day 1 or pay them what the owner of the company makes.  Oh well.   I might also add that apparently Oakland officials also don't understand we are a constitutional republic either.............."democracy is  messy"?

 

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: October 22, 2011

OAKLAND, Calif. — Oakland city officials on Friday evening told hundreds of protesters camping outside City Hall in support of the Occupy Wall Street movement to "immediately" pack up their tents and prepare to vacate the area.

The city gave official notice to the protesters, stating that they do not have permission to camp overnight on the city plaza and that their near two-week encampment is breaking the law, said Karen Boyd, a city spokeswoman.

Many protesters said they have no intentions of leaving even though the city announced Thursday that it can no longer assure public health and safety at the site. Many ripped copies of the notice into shreds.

"I'm not going anywhere. They're going to have to come and take me away," said Christopher Dunlap, 23, who said he has been on the City Hall lawn since the first day of the encampment.

Boyd declined to say what would happen if protesters ignored the order banning tents and overnight camping nor did she comment on what role police may play. While the city will no longer allow protesters to stay overnight at the site, they can demonstrate there from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., Boyd added.

"It is our anticipation that they will comply," Boyd said. "Our goal is to have a peaceful and cooperative end to the encampment."

But another protester, Gerry Johnson, 55, who said he has been at the site for more than a week said it's unlikely his fellow demonstrators will leave.

"I'm trying to keep calm," Johnson said. "We're here for a good cause. I think we'll stand our ground."

The encampment has quickly grown from a few dozen tents to more than 150, causing overcrowding and tension. Some protesters moved to another site across town.

Oakland officials repeatedly said the city was committed to allowing free speech, with Mayor Jean Quan proclaiming Wednesday that sometimes "democracy is messy."

read more here:  http://www2.tbo.com/news/breaking-news/2011/oct/22/oakland-tells-pr...