The Occupy movement locally has had minor problems with West Palm Beach officials and police, compared to larger cities like Oakland, Calif., and New York City. They may be minimalist on hygiene, but the Occupy Palm Beach protestors prefer their methods to the conflict elsewhere that has involved violence and arrests.
"We strive so much to remain non-violent, non-confrontational. It's easier to maintain an established presence here," Allison Bannon of Loxahatchee said while struggling with tent poles just moments after relocating her "gingerbread house" a block. "This isn't about violence or negativity, it's about being part of the community."
While demonstrators are concerned about space to place more tents when or if the encampment grows, the grassy areas flanking a cement courtyard near old city hall have just enough room for the current crew. The city offered protestors an alternative site when they told them they'd have to move from the grass at Narcissus and First streets where a circus performer is scheduled to offer trapeze lessons.
"We worked out a deal with the city," said Mark Schall, who serves on several committees for the Occupy group although he only sleeps at the encampment on the weekends due to his 34-hour-a-week job. "If you look around the country, we're being treated pretty good."
Bannon, a freelance geneologist, moved the tent she shares with Aaron DuBois still fully assembled, so the block and a half walk looked something like the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon crews, as the wind luffed the canvas. The mostly cloudy but warm morning was accomodating. A city maintenance crew kept up a roar at the street while working out of a manhole, and a block down Olive, St. Ann's Catholic Church parishoners strolled toward services.
The new location gives protestors a presence on Olive, where many people move to and from county offices and other businesses. The old location was within earshot of the waterfront.
Frazier Williams, who moved his "Indian reservation" tent over well before the deadline, said he was happy to move away from the waterfront.
"We can continue to protest in peace," said the West Palm Beach man who has a full-time job at a local florist. "That's all we're looking for, peace and justice."
Staff writer Alexandra Seltzer contributed to this report.
emily_roach@pbpost.com
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/occupy-palm-beach-protestors-move-encampment-prior-to-2025688.html
"We strive so much to remain non-violent, non-confrontational. It's easier to maintain an established presence here," Allison Bannon of Loxahatchee said while struggling with tent poles just moments after relocating her "gingerbread house" a block. "This isn't about violence or negativity, it's about being part of the community."While demonstrators are concerned about space to place more tents when or if the encampment grows, the grassy areas flanking a cement courtyard near old city hall have just enough room for the current crew. The city offered protestors an alternative site when they told them they'd have to move from the grass at Narcissus and First streets where a circus performer is scheduled to offer trapeze lessons.
"We worked out a deal with the city," said Mark Schall, who serves on several committees for the Occupy group although he only sleeps at the encampment on the weekends due to his 34-hour-a-week job. "If you look around the country, we're being treated pretty good."
Bannon, a freelance geneologist, moved the tent she shares with Aaron DuBois still fully assembled, so the block and a half walk looked something like the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon crews, as the wind luffed the canvas. The mostly cloudy but warm morning was accomodating. A city maintenance crew kept up a roar at the street while working out of a manhole, and a block down Olive, St. Ann's Catholic Church parishoners strolled toward services.
The new location gives protestors a presence on Olive, where many people move to and from county offices and other businesses. The old location was within earshot of the waterfront.
Frazier Williams, who moved his "Indian reservation" tent over well before the deadline, said he was happy to move away from the waterfront.
"We can continue to protest in peace," said the West Palm Beach man who has a full-time job at a local florist. "That's all we're looking for, peace and justice."
Staff writer Alexandra Seltzer contributed to this report.
emily_roach@pbpost.com
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/occupy-palm-beach-protestors-move-encampment-prior-to-2025688.html
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