Since I’ve started writing about this insane movement known as “Occupy,” which I am NOT a part of, more developments have occurred which I may as well keep on top of.
Check out this following article:
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A judge issued a court order allowing protesters to continue camping in the downtown park after city bylaw officers issued notices demanding tents and other structures be removed and protesters clear out overnight.
The court order was granted with a condition that no one else is permitted to show up at St. James Park or any new structures be erected on the site. The judge also warned the protesters that if more activists show up it may violate the order.
On Friday, a court hearing will be held for a judge to hear arguments on whether or not the protest can continue in the park. A decision is expected by 6 p.m. on Saturday.
The court order announcement prompted celebration during a late night rally at St. James Park.
Despite assurances from police that they would not clear the park overnight, some feared something would happen overnight.
“We were predicting something was going to happen and instead we just got really tired waiting for something to happen,” Occupy Toronto protester Stephonkee Wolscht told CTV Canada AM on Wednesday.
“We are hoping there is a peaceful end to this. We do not want to provoke the police or the government. We will still resist arrest but we will not defend ourselves. We will protect what we have here.”
Wolscht said the protesters’ work is not yet finished, saying their presence should provoke discussion about how to change how society operates.
On Tuesday, Deputy Mayor Doug Holyday said that he hopes the protest remains peaceful and that City staff is working towards that end.
“We are still hoping that the majority of people will leave and that there will not be any violence down there and that there won’t be any arrests. I know that is a pretty tall order,” he said.
Eviction notices that had been posted around the park on Tuesday state that residents were prohibited from building and maintaining tents or shelters and gathering in the park between midnight at 5 a.m.
The City had said that all tents needed to be removed from the park immediately and that they would take it upon themselves to remove the debris if protesters did not comply with the order.
Tuesday’s crackdown in Toronto came shortly after Occupy Wall Street protesters were forced out of a New York City park and told they could no longer camp overnight.
Other Occupy camps in London, Ont., Halifax and Saskatoon have already been evicted and protesters in Calgary have been given notice they must leave their encampment.
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford suggested last week that businesses and residents of the area wanted him to dismantle the camp and that they’ve “had enough” of the protest. The mayor also said that the occupants had made a point and it was time to leave.
The move also comes amid threats purportedly made by a group of Internet vigilantes suggesting they would declare cyber war on the City if it took action against the Occupy Toronto protesters.
In the 90-second video claiming to be from Anonymous, the hacking group said it was prepared to “remove” Toronto from the Internet if Ford took any action to end the downtown occupation.
Read more: http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/TopStories/20111116/occupy-toronto-stay-of-eviction-111116/#ixzz1dsoYD1rJ
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As far as I know, public parks are used for public recreation and enjoyment. Tenting is generally reserved for campgrounds and maybe the occasional back yard. (It should be noted that there are many places in the world where people can take part in tenting and camping activities). People go to parks to get away from the busyness of life for a while, not to see a protest. As for the evictions, I believe that is a common sense thing. The Occupy protesters who are ignoring the eviction notices to remove themselves from the parks which they occupy are really just ignoring common sense. The Police aren’t out to get them just for spite. They have enforced the evictions in the interest of public safety. That includes the safety of the Occupy protesters believe it or not. These guys think they are being mistreated by being evicted in the hopes that they will return to their warm, cozy homes. (Most of these protestors are middle class so the chances are high that they would be able to afford such homes.) These protesters are under the impression that their rights are being violated…but they’re not. Who wants to be tenting in the dead of winter if this protest lasts that long? Nobody wants to die of hypothermia, and it is generally frowned upon to set fires in public places, just because things could get out of control.
I do agree that it is good to have your voice heard if you a legitimate idea to offer…go for it. However, standing around yelling about it will not do you good in the long run, and it will also cause vocal chord strain. Why not actually get involved in the affairs of the companies you are trying to change. Then you will be able to get your points across and evoke change in climate controlled meeting rooms in stead of having to winter camp and risk getting sick.
Just a thought to ponder.
Related:
“Why Would You Want To Take An Entire City Off The Internet”
“Trying To Understand Occupy”