Dallas Hopes to Head Off Future Occupy Protests by Tightening Anti-Camping Rules

[TexasTowelie]

Occupy Dallas, the local champion of the 99 percent, persists in vestigial form as small band of activists who stage occasional temporary demonstrations. The semi-permanent-City Hall-squatter's-camp version of the movement died in November 2011 when it was raided by police as part of a nationwide crackdown on Occupy.

Since then, the city of Dallas has apparently been mulling ways to head off any repeats of 2011, when an Occupy encampment sprung up at City Hall. They've finally arrived at a solution, arrived at after 16 months of careful study: a more restrictive anti-camping ordinance.

The council's Public Safety Committee will meet Wednesday to discuss the measure, which would expand the current ban on overnight camping in parks to include City Hall, the library, the convention center, and other city-owned land. The new rules also wouldn't be limited only to overnight stays but would bar tents or any other "temporary shelter" from being set up at any time.

In a presentation (below) set to be delivered Monday, Dallas Police Chief David Brown argues such measures are needed to combat unsanitary conditions, fire hazards, property damage and crime that crop up during semi-permanent gatherings. The presentation does not specifically name Occupy Dallas but cites "confusion" that arose from certain "Spontaneous Encampments." The accompanying photos show the Occupy encampment that took root behind City Hall.

More at http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2013/03/occupy_dallas_camp.php .

[TheMastersNemesis]

1. Welcome To The New Police State. Demonstrate Against The Rich Abuse And See What You Get.

[sabrina 1]

2. They are so afraid of the people, and they should be. But OWS has moved on from the encampment stage

which lasted way longer than they themselves ever anticipated. Long enough to ensure it is a movement that will not be going away any time soon. An International movement.

So much going on around the world where now it isn't just the Corporations and their puppets in government that are 'Global'. The people finally are going Global. That is what is so frightening to the criminals who have destroyed the world's economies because there are way more of us than of them so they have to try to squash any sign of protests before they grow too big to fail!

Some democracy we live in!

[Arctic Dave]

3. I'm sure when the city needs to put up a tent they will

have no problem getting "the right permits" to do so.


No more outdoor weddings in the park.

[Fire Walk With Me]

4. City of Dallas: Your siding with the corrupt banksters who nearly destroyed the economy is noted!

[TexasTowelie]

5. I saw your note in another thread saying that you are taking a break from DU.

I will miss seeing you here and hope that you will reconsider and come back soon.

I agree with you that the city of Dallas is siding with the wrong people on the Occupy issue. Of course, I didn't expect anything different since glitz, glamor and greed take prominence among a select segment of the population there (not everyone is that way, but it is a status-oriented city). Considering that the signs of inequality are so noticeable there, it would be nice if the TPTB would set down their cappuccinos and try to promote the betterment of the city for all the residents rather than the select few with deep pockets.

I wish you good fortune Fire Walk With Me.

[sabrina 1]

6. I wonder what would happen if Occupy organised a national rally in Dallas, brining in tens of

thousands from across the country, the world maybe. Make it the Global city for

International protests against Wall Street.