Occupy Dallas Days Numbered

[struggle4progress]

BJ Austin, KERA News (2011-10-12)
Listen Now:
Occupy Dallas at Pioneer Park

DALLAS, TX (KERA) - Occupy Dallas protesters and City Hall are on a slow collision course. KERA's BJ Austin says police are beginning to enforce the city's ordinance against sleeping in public; and protesters vow they'll continue to "occupy" Pioneer Plaza.

The mood at Pioneer Plaza was subdued after an overnight downpour, and uncertainty about the future of the Occupy Dallas tent-city. Protesters declined to secure a million dollar insurance policy required by a permit that allowed camping in the park until Friday afternoon. Because of that, City Hall cancelled the permit and said police would begin enforcement actions. But protestor Jared Schiffner says nothing happened immediately after that -- except strong thunderstorms.

Schiffner: Gotta give props to the Dallas P-D. You know, we've seen stuff at other occupations that have not gone quite so well. But, I believe it's the respect that we've been trying to give to them, and they're giving it back.

City officials say police will begin issuing warnings for "sleeping in public", then tickets, then possible arrests ...

http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/kera/news.newsmain/article/1/0/1863049/North.Texas/Occupy.Dallas.Days.Numbered

[MrsBrady]

1. they have lawyers

http://www.facebook.com/OccupyDallas

[kjackson227]

2. Yes, they have lawyers AND donations. I don't understand...

why they didn't use some of the funds to purchase the insurance, so I don't understand why they didn't or couldn't buy it. I know they were under time restraints, but was this the only reason, and couldn't they have asked for an extension?

[justabob]

3. word is now that the city wants to negotiate

From what I have read on the feed is that they are taking the stand that you don't need insurance to exercise your First Amendment rights. The only reason they even applied for a permit was so they could have port-a-potties delivered.

from their FB feed today:

Help us do the right thing. We want to go to court. We want a ruling that will prevent police from New York to Boston to San Fransisco to Dallas and everywhere in between from simply walking up and destroying someone's personal belongings and dragging them off to jail without provocation. OCCUPY THE EMAIL!

Dwaine Caraway is worried about liability. He mentions people being struck by lightning and his concern was that the city would be liable... not that the person could be struck by lightning. Call him and tell him liability is denying a peaceful public assembly access to restrooms for over a week. When a 19 year old women is walking four city blocks at 4 am to use the facilities THAT is liability. - Dwaine Caraway - 214-670-0781

I just got word from one of our attorneys. The city wants to negotiate. I will update you with more information as soon as it's availible.

[FloriTexan]

4. I saw one lone protestor...

in front of the fed last night on my way home. One guy and his sign, well, two signs. Is he all that is left of Occupy Dallas?

[fegi052li]

5. i'm afraid so, sadly

[cfsteak]

6. Still happening, they have a 60 day permit

They are camped at city hall and hold events daily
check schedule at http://occupydallas.org/

They had 350 people last Saturday at Goldman Sachs Dallas office was a good time
The vibe I picked up the 2 times I've been down there was of P.O. Obama voters

March: Federal Reserve
Saturday, October 22, 2011 - 1:00pm

[robertporter]

7. I am so disappointed in BJ Austin....

This is the superficial journalism that we expect from Fox News, not KERA. I really do not care if you personally disagree with my opinions BJ. But I do expect you to demonstrate an understanding of the essence of my protest (or any of the other protester's voice) rather meting a publication deadline with a glib recitation weather and red tape factoids.