FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
#OccupyCleveland receives new permit for Public Square
Occupation gaining strength and support, call for volunteers to occupy square 24/7
October 24, 2011
#OccupyCleveland Media Coordinator: Erin McCardle
P: 216-212-0610
Email: erin.m.mccardle@gmail.com
#OccupyCleveland Media Coordinator: Timothy Smith
P: 216-926-4806
Email: tim@timroff.com
#OccupyCleveland Media Contact: Jacob Wagner
P: 440.231.6323
Email: jxw434@case.edu
www.occupycleveland.com
Cleveland – October 24 – The City of Cleveland issued a new permit today to #OccupyCleveland. This will enable the movement to continuously occupy a space adjacent to Public Square legally through October 31st. The new permit allows the group to set-up a 10 x 20’canopy to protect members from the weather but prohibits any camping or sleeping overnight on the permitted space. The new permit is for the use of a 10 x 60’ area on the sidewalk adjacent to West Roadway, located just west of the Mayor Tom Johnson/Free Speech quadrant of Public Square.
In communications with City officials #OccupyCleveland facilitators have stressed that their movement is part of a national and global movement, in approximately 250 cities nationwide, and in 82 countries worldwide. The occupy movement seeks to empower individuals through cooperative living and democratic consensus-based decision-making.
#OccupyCleveland is willing to compromise within reason, however the original permitted 120’ sidewalk space quickly became inadequate for the movement, and was the impetus for the group’s attempt to move to a quadrant of Public Square. #OccupyCleveland will continue to engage in peaceful, civil disobedience demanding a permanent home as reclaimed democratic space where the movement can develop and grow.
City of Cleveland Ordinance #s 559.45 (sleeping in public space) & 559.541 (10:00 pm – 5:00 am curfew), were passed in 2007 in response to the City’s attempt to regulate the homeless population. #OccupyCleveland contends that these ordinance are unconstitutional because they unreasonably limit freedom of speech and assembly on public property. By not lifting the 10:00 pm curfew, the City has made it clear that there are no intentions of supporting the movement’s fundamental aim of occupying a public space for an alternative civic commons. In protest of the City’s position eleven members of #OccupyCleveland participated in non-violent civil disobedience and were subsequently arrested Friday evening.
In response to the City’s actions, one of those arrested said “ I believe there should be no curfew on peaceful freedom of assembly and speech, although we’ve made every attempt to compromise with city officials, their position is to refuse anyone from sleeping overnight on public property anywhere. The city, the Downtown Cleveland Alliance and Huntington Bank had effectively evicted #OccupyCleveland from public square and foreclosed on our home downtown.”
Activities of #OccupyCleveland continue with the most recent daily schedule including:
- educational programs at 12:00 noon;
- organized marches at 3:00 pm;
- general assemblies at 6:00 pm; and
- 8-10pm Artistic Outreach. All activities are organized to commence on the Mayor Tom Johnson quadrant (northwest) of Cleveland’s Public Square.
The movement also is putting out a call to community members to join and help the movement by attending activities and volunteering to staff the #OccupyCleveland space on Public Square 24 hours a day and seven days per week. The movement is being forced to occupy Public Square by requiring members to stay awake and constantly be engaged in public education. Occupy volunteers should sign-up for rotating shifts by emailing info@occupycleveland.com or calling 216-212-0610.
#OccupyCleveland dare to imagine a new socio-political and economic alternative that offers greater possibilities of equality.
#end.
REF:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/70150315/OccupyCleveland-Press-Release-10-24-11
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