After a five-hour General Assembly, Occupy Philadelphia on Friday voted to defy the city’s orders to vacate Dilworth Plaza when their permit expires on Nov. 15:
Occupy Philadelphia will stay at Dilworth Plaza at the anticipated “start of the Dilworth Plaza construction.” If this proposal is adopted, Occupy Philadelphia will issue a public statement and a list of demands. Occupy Philadelphia will schedule and implement nonviolence resistance training and eviction preparations.
I walked through the encampment on Saturday. I stopped by the food station to see what was cooking. They had some fresh artisanal bagels so I decided to help myself to one. As I reached for a bagel, an Occupier said my name and told everyone he always had a crush on me.
After I got over the shock, I remembered I was still wearing my name tag from the “Engaging Communities” conference hosted by the Center for Public Interest Journalism and Temple University’s Department of Journalism. So as a new media practitioner, I engaged in a conversation with a member of the Occupy Philly community.
Darren Borders is from West Philadelphia. He has been living at the encampment since Day 4. A volunteer with the Safety and Food working groups, Darren offered to show me his tent. I followed him with some hesitation.
I asked Darren whether he planned to resist eviction.
It’s a shame more Occupiers fail to see the folly of digging in their heels. Staying will not move the needle on issues of concern to the 99 percent.
Sadly, Occupy Wall Street has squandered an opportunity to catalyze a movement. The Occupy movement moment has gone from speaking truth to power to protesting for the right to squat in unsanitary encampments that have become breeding grounds for communicable diseases and violence. In fact, less than three hours after I left Dilworth Plaza, a rape was reported.
On Saturday, I noticed a construction boom lift at City Hall. In the wake of the alleged sexual assault, Mayor Michael Nutter is ready to lower the boom.
During a press conference, Nutter said “things have changed”:
I’ve asked you here today because of my very great concern about dramatically deteriorating conditions on Day 39 in our engagement with Occupy Philly on City Hall apron, also known as Dilworth Plaza.Occupy Philly has changed. We’re seeing serious health and safety issues playing out on almost a daily basis.
Occupy Philly is fractured with internal disagreement and disputes. The people of Occupy Philly have also changed and their intentions have changed. All of this is not good for Philadelphia.
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In recent weeks, there have been numerous reports of thefts and assaults in the Occupy Philly space. In addition, between Oct. 6 and Nov. 11, there have been 15 EMS runs related to the Occupy Philly site.
And then last night shortly before 8 p.m., a woman reported an alleged sexual assault in one of the tents. This incident is also under investigation.
These conditions are intolerable. Occupy Philly is not acting in good faith, and it’s now abundantly clear that on many levels this group is violating a range of city ordinances and the terms of their permit.
Of necessity, we are now at a critical point where we must reevaluate out entire relationship with this very changed group.
Occupy Philly has changed so we must change our relationship with them – THINGS HAVE CHANGED.
Indeed, enough is enough.
