Occupy camp evicted from Halifax park
Posted Nov 11, 2011 01:05:48 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Tents set up by Occupy NS protestors in Victoria Park came down Friday afternoon as police moved in to clear the space after HRM authorities including Mayor Peter Kelly issued an order to leave.
Shortly after the end of the morning ceremony, Kelly issued a public warning that the protestors were violating city by-laws.
“Our parks are for all of the public, not an unregulated campground for some,” Kelly said in a statement.
Some protestors complained that the move was a betrayal, after they had negotiated directly with Kelly to clear Grand Parade in time for the annual veterans’ gathering..
“Council and the public have respected the right to peaceful protest and free assembly, but the time has come for the encampment to end,” Kelly said.
Halifax Police Chief Frank Beazley says they arrived a few hours after the notice went out.
“Our purpose was to just go in and remove the tents,” he told News 95.7 Friday. “It is everyone’s right to protest, it is everyone’s right to have freedom of speech and we have respected that. Our issue was these tent cities that looked like they were being made much more permanent.”
He says police have recieved more than fifty complaints about the protestors ranging from drug use, minor assaults, defacating in bushes and verbally abusing and blocking residents from passing through the park.
He says at first today’s situation was peaceful but as police moved to remove the tents several protesters lined up to stop officers.
Halifax Labour representative Kyle Buott was there when police arrived and says they used too much force.
“They were picking people up by the throats, by their hair. We saw several people choke slammed, we saw several people punched in the face and mace was used,” he says.
However, Chief Beazley says his officers acted appropriately.
“When fourteen people decide they’re going to stop us from doing what we’re there to do it is our job to remove them,” he says.
All fourteen protesters are charged with obstruction of police.
Reaction to the eviction was posted on Twitter (see live feed box below) as officers massed at the camp site in the pouring rain.
“Halifax is Oakland. Oakland is Halifax. If we are forcefully evicted today, there will be 5,000 people at Grand Parade tomorrow,” read the official @OccupyNS account, referring to a fatal shooting near Occupy Oakland’s camp.
“As much as I don’t get this #OccupyNS movement, I defend their right for peaceful protest.What @mayorpeterkelly has done is deplorable,” wrote @OhSusannah63.
Organizers said it was not the end of the local demonstrations. “Make no mistake,” wrote @OccupyNS on Twitter. “This is not a defeat. Rally at Grand Parade Square tomorrow morning at 11am. Bring tents.”
Police Chief Beazley says the group is welcome to protest however if they attempt to camp on the site they will be removed.
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The following notice was posted Friday after the Remembrance Day ceremony at Grand Parade:
NOTICE TO PERSONS OCCUPYING HRM PARKS
Friday, November 11, 2011
While the Halifax Regional Municipality has respected the Occupy NovaScotia participants’ right to a peaceful assembly and their right to havetheir issues known publicly, it is now time to return Victoria Park, the Grand Parade and other HRM parks to the public at large and forprotest participants to comply with the Municipal Parks By-Law.
Pursuant to Municipal Parks By-Law P-600
1.Camping in municipal parks is prohibited unless otherwise posted or by written permission of HRM.
2.No person shall erect or place in a park any thing for the purpose of temporary or permanent accommodation, unless by written permission of HRM.
3.No person shall be in a park at any time during the period 10p.m. to 5a.m., unless by written permission of HRM.
HRM will be enforcing this By-law effective November 11, 2011, by this notice you are required to remove any tents, belongings and any other items or structures from Victoria Park. Failure to do so will result in further enforcement of By-Law P-600.
By-Law P-600 also applies to the Grand Parade and will be enforced. While overnight occupation and the erection of tents or otherstructures for accommodation is prohibited under the By-law, all HRM parks remain a place for assembly and peaceful protest.Mike Labrecque,
Acting Chief Administrative Officer
