Protesters hold out against eviction
Source: Agencies |
November 14, 2011, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
ANTI-WALL Street protesters and their supporters flooded a city park area in Portland, Oregon in the US yesterday in defiance of an eviction order, and authorities elsewhere stepped up pressure against the demonstrators, arresting nearly two dozen.
Crowds converged on two downtown Portland parks where protesters are camped after city officials set a deadline of midnight Saturday to disperse.
But hours later, the protesters were still there, backed by many supporters who spilled out into the streets next to the camp, blocking traffic.
At one point the numbers swelled to thousands but then started to thin in the early morning hours.
Organizers said they hope enough people will join them to make it difficult if not impossible for police to carry out an eviction.
"Occupy the street," one organizer said through a loudspeaker. "Remain peaceful and aware. We have strength in holding the streets."
Mayor Sam Adams had ordered the camp shut down, citing unhealthy conditions and the encampment's attraction of drug users and thieves.
Police showed no signs of moving against the protesters. Around 4am a line of about 200 police stretched across a street. Protesters facing them appeared to be in festive spirits, some dancing in the street.
Police had prepared for a clash, warning earlier that dozens of anarchists may be planning a confrontation with authorities. Officers seized pieces of cement blocks last Friday, saying they were told some demonstrators had plans to use them as weapons against police. They said they believe some demonstrators are building shields and trying to collect gas masks.
Police spokesman Lieutenant Robert King said: "We are not going to engage in confrontation over a misdemeanor," referring to the legal violation for remaining in the park after midnight.
It appeared earlier that about 200 campers planned to be arrested, but police action seemed less likely after crowds swelled in the parks in the early morning.
In the hours leading up to midnight, protesters held meetings to discuss what to do when the deadline came. The also repeated the main Occupy Wall Street message of peaceful resistance to income inequality and corporate greed.
Elsewhere, for the second time in as many days, city officials in Oakland, California, warned protesters on Saturday that they do not have the right to camp in the plaza in front of City Hall and they face immediate arrest.
Demands for Oakland protesters to leave increased after a man was shot dead near the encampment.
Police officials have said a preliminary investigation suggested the shooting resulted from a fight between two groups near the encampment. Protesters said there was no connection between the shooting and the camp.
Crowds converged on two downtown Portland parks where protesters are camped after city officials set a deadline of midnight Saturday to disperse.
But hours later, the protesters were still there, backed by many supporters who spilled out into the streets next to the camp, blocking traffic.
At one point the numbers swelled to thousands but then started to thin in the early morning hours.
Organizers said they hope enough people will join them to make it difficult if not impossible for police to carry out an eviction.
"Occupy the street," one organizer said through a loudspeaker. "Remain peaceful and aware. We have strength in holding the streets."
Mayor Sam Adams had ordered the camp shut down, citing unhealthy conditions and the encampment's attraction of drug users and thieves.
Police showed no signs of moving against the protesters. Around 4am a line of about 200 police stretched across a street. Protesters facing them appeared to be in festive spirits, some dancing in the street.
Police had prepared for a clash, warning earlier that dozens of anarchists may be planning a confrontation with authorities. Officers seized pieces of cement blocks last Friday, saying they were told some demonstrators had plans to use them as weapons against police. They said they believe some demonstrators are building shields and trying to collect gas masks.
Police spokesman Lieutenant Robert King said: "We are not going to engage in confrontation over a misdemeanor," referring to the legal violation for remaining in the park after midnight.
It appeared earlier that about 200 campers planned to be arrested, but police action seemed less likely after crowds swelled in the parks in the early morning.
In the hours leading up to midnight, protesters held meetings to discuss what to do when the deadline came. The also repeated the main Occupy Wall Street message of peaceful resistance to income inequality and corporate greed.
Elsewhere, for the second time in as many days, city officials in Oakland, California, warned protesters on Saturday that they do not have the right to camp in the plaza in front of City Hall and they face immediate arrest.
Demands for Oakland protesters to leave increased after a man was shot dead near the encampment.
Police officials have said a preliminary investigation suggested the shooting resulted from a fight between two groups near the encampment. Protesters said there was no connection between the shooting and the camp.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
