The Occupy movement is at a crossroads. Municipalities across the country have evicted Occupy protesters in recent weeks. Even the original Wall Street encampment in Zuccotti Park was destroyed by the New York Police Department. Occupy Los Angeles, a last symbol of resistance, now faces eviction as of 12:01 a.m. Monday. Here is a brief summary of the Occupy Los Angeles movement.
* Occupy Los Angeles began on Oct. 1, when protesters occupied City Hall Park.
* According to the LA Times, the Los Angeles City Council passed a motion in support of the protest in October.
* Occupy LA is believed to be the largest “Occupy” encampment left with 485 tents serving as temporary shelters, according to the Washington Post.
* Occupy LA gained a reputation of being one of the more cooperative protests. There has been an open dialogue between protesters and police since the inception of the movement.
* Police Chief Charlie Beck, says the Post, promised protesters that no surprise raids would be carried out. This stands in contrast to New York City, where police evicted protesters in the middle of the night.
* Mayor Villaraigosa, a Democrat in his second term, has shown support for the movement throughout the occupation. At one point, Villaraigosa handed out plastic ponchos to the protesters in an attempt to protect them from the rain.
* The New York Times reported that city officials offered protesters alternative space if they vacated City Hall Park. Among these was an offer of downtown office space for $ 1 a year. In addition, the protesters were offered land to grow community gardens.
* Some in the Occupy LA camp have denounced negotiations with the city, citing that those who continue to speak with city officials represent a small group of protesters. Others did not even realize spokesman serving on the behalf of protesters existed.
* Occupy LA protesters maintain they are exercising their First Amendment rights, and will refuse to leave the encampment.
* According to the Atlantic Wire, the city of Los Angeles has promised to find beds in homeless shelters for those protesters who have nowhere to go.
* In his eviction notice to protesters, Mayor Villaraigosa praised the movement, saying, “In seven short weeks, you have awakened the country’s conscience…You have given voice to those who have not been heard.”
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