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Eviction Notice: Occupiers, You're Out

By Katrina Helmer

Credit: Aaron Dohring

Eviction Notice: Occupiers, You're Out

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March 11, 2012 Updated Mar 11, 2012 at 11:36 AM EDT

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (Indiana's NewsCenter) -- After five months of protesting, the Occupiers were given the boot by the Fort Wayne Police Department Sunday morning.

INC photographer, Aaron Dohring, was driving downtown when he noticed just a pile of trash in Freimann Square. That pile is where the Occupy tents used to be anchored after Mayor Tom Henry requested they move from Headwaters Park in November.

Rumors were flying for the past couple weeks that the Occupiers would eventually be evicted so crews could prep the park for Spring. This coming week we will investigate what the next Occupy move will be.

The Mayor's office released this statement before noon on Sunday:

"Throughout the Occupy Fort Wayne protest, the City of Fort Wayne has worked to balance important freedom of speech and assembly principles with the use of public space.

City officials have continually reinforced with Occupy members that the situation was being monitored and that it could be reevaluated at any time.

In discussions late last year, the City recommended to Occupy members that they should consider other options long term.

With the change in the season, park use and rental requests will begin to increase, as will the time required to manage this issue.

The Occupy protesters have been informed that a permanent encampment in a public park will no longer be allowed.

This information has been conveyed to Occupy members. They have been asked to clear the encampment by noon today.

The news does not mean that Occupy members cannot continue to exercise their free speech and assembly rights. They can still demonstrate and march in public spaces – with appropriate permits, as can any citizen. But the parks must now be fully available to the general public."



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