Leftsolidarity
16th April 2012, 03:51
I'd like to say we did a damn good job ;)
http://www.rrstar.com/news/x1221869949/Police-remove-Occupy-Rockford-camp-from-empty-downtown-lot?img=4
ROCKFORD — Police in riot gear lined up in downtown Rockford this afternoon in response to a group of Occupy Rockford protesters gathered on private property.
No arrests were made, and no injuries were reported, but members of the Rockford Police Department did tear down signs that said “Food Not Bombs” and “The Occupation of Rockford” and tents that were set up on the property without a permit.
The protesters initially gathered this morning at Beattie Park and then marched to the empty, city-owned lot near Church and West State streets to set up camp. Police eventually blocked off traffic on State Street from Church to Mulberry Street to contain the crowd.
Protester Tommy — who chanted through a bullhorn and wore a bandanna over his face — said the group started with about 40 people. As of about 4 p.m., about 15 people were still standing on the lot, some of them locking arms in solidarity. Others had scattered to nearby sidewalks yelling things like “stay strong” and questioning police why it was necessary to be there in riot gear.
[Tommy]said the group had long-term plans of setting up camp for several days to open up a public space, start a dialogue and motivate others to speak up. The Occupy movement started last year in bigger cities as a response to growing social and economic inequalities in the U.S.
“This is ridiculous,” [Tommy] said of the police setup. “We did expect some police to be here, but not like this.”
Rockford police Chief Chet Epperson said the protesters were told that they could continue to assemble on the sidewalks but that they needed to leave the private property. He said police have followed the protests for about six months, and they’ve been peaceful thus far.
Epperson said the police also have to be prepared to react to any situation, good or bad, which was the reason officers in riot gear were put in place.
Stanley “Curly” Thompson said the closing of State Street hurt business at The Symbols, a men’s clothing store at 316 W. State St. Thompson manages the store and said he talked to the protesters about the fact that they were gathered on private, city-owned property.
Reach staff writer Melissa Westphal at [email protected] or 815-987-1341.Btw, it was over 60 cops, full riot gear, a sound cannon, a mobile command unit, the top dogs of the RPD. It was also 17 people standing on the lot. Everyone who couldn't get arrested moved to the side-walk and yelled at the cops and had a good time.
http://www.rrstar.com/news/x1221869949/Police-remove-Occupy-Rockford-camp-from-empty-downtown-lot?img=4
ROCKFORD — Police in riot gear lined up in downtown Rockford this afternoon in response to a group of Occupy Rockford protesters gathered on private property.
No arrests were made, and no injuries were reported, but members of the Rockford Police Department did tear down signs that said “Food Not Bombs” and “The Occupation of Rockford” and tents that were set up on the property without a permit.
The protesters initially gathered this morning at Beattie Park and then marched to the empty, city-owned lot near Church and West State streets to set up camp. Police eventually blocked off traffic on State Street from Church to Mulberry Street to contain the crowd.
Protester Tommy — who chanted through a bullhorn and wore a bandanna over his face — said the group started with about 40 people. As of about 4 p.m., about 15 people were still standing on the lot, some of them locking arms in solidarity. Others had scattered to nearby sidewalks yelling things like “stay strong” and questioning police why it was necessary to be there in riot gear.
[Tommy]said the group had long-term plans of setting up camp for several days to open up a public space, start a dialogue and motivate others to speak up. The Occupy movement started last year in bigger cities as a response to growing social and economic inequalities in the U.S.
“This is ridiculous,” [Tommy] said of the police setup. “We did expect some police to be here, but not like this.”
Rockford police Chief Chet Epperson said the protesters were told that they could continue to assemble on the sidewalks but that they needed to leave the private property. He said police have followed the protests for about six months, and they’ve been peaceful thus far.
Epperson said the police also have to be prepared to react to any situation, good or bad, which was the reason officers in riot gear were put in place.
Stanley “Curly” Thompson said the closing of State Street hurt business at The Symbols, a men’s clothing store at 316 W. State St. Thompson manages the store and said he talked to the protesters about the fact that they were gathered on private, city-owned property.
Reach staff writer Melissa Westphal at [email protected] or 815-987-1341.Btw, it was over 60 cops, full riot gear, a sound cannon, a mobile command unit, the top dogs of the RPD. It was also 17 people standing on the lot. Everyone who couldn't get arrested moved to the side-walk and yelled at the cops and had a good time.