Politics & Government

Occupy Athens Members No Longer Camped at City Hall

Police arrive and protesters depart early Wednesday morning.

They’re still Occupy Athens, but they are no longer occupying City Hall.

Athens Clarke County Police early Wednesday morning, between 3:30 and 4am, told the protesters they would be arrested if they didn’t remove their tents and personal property from the grounds of City Hall.

The tents and other belongings were blocking the city-owned sidewalks, the police said. The campers had also placed unattended signs on plants and had defaced the base of the Spirit of Athens sculpture.

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So the group gathered their belongings and left. They filmed the event.

On Tuesday evening, members of Occupy Athens weren’t allowed to occupy the chambers of City Hall either.

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When the time came for public comment during the Athens Clarke County Commission meeting, members of Occupy Athens blasted Mayor Denson and commission members for not listening to the people and for being corrupt. Mayor Denson allowed one speaker, Adam Lassila, to speak longer than the three minutes allotted.

Then Lauren Farmer, an Occupy member, hobbled on crutches to the podium. Farmer said the group was accustomed to speaking without a microphone, and then shouted “Mic check!” Other members in the audience shouted back. Farmer then yelled out Mayor Denson’s name, and members repeated it. Two police officers in the chambers jumped up, shook their heads at Farmer and other shouters and said, “Let’s go,” as they escorted them out of the room. You could hear the Occupiers shouting in the halls.

Outside City Hall, the police officers told the protesters they could return to the meeting room as long as they didn't disturb anyone, so they went back.

In his closing comments, Commissioner Ed Robinson scolded those who had disrupted the meeting, asking why they hadn’t attended an earlier public meeting on the Greenway if they are concerned about its protection and development. They are welcome to participate in and contribute to the workings of local government and its decisions, but they have to follow rules of procedure and decorum.

After the meeting adjourned, Jesse Houle, an Occupy Athens member, said the group was trying to speak in the people's voice.

Occupy Athens is planning to hold a press conference this afternoon.


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