Mayor Sam Adams this morning gave the Occupy Portland encampment an eviction notice of 12:01 a.m Sunday.
At a press conference at City Hall, Adams, standing with Chief Mike Reese and City Commissioner Nick Fish, cited the rise in crime around the encampments in ordering demonstrators out of the squares.
He said Terry Schrunk Plaza, a federal park, will be cleared as well.
"Crime, especially reported assaults, has increased in the area," he said. "Occupy has had a considerable time to share its movement's message with the public but has lost control of the camps it has created."
Occupy Portland representatives also attended the news conference.
Occupy Portland volunteer Katy McNulty urged the mayor to negotiate a later deadline.
"I think we can obtain a peaceful transition, but in three days?" McNulty said. She said she's worried that the time allowed won't be enough to organize all campers - many who are vulnerable and unprepared to pick up and move.
In a tweet from Occupy Portland, one protester wrote:
@OccupyPdx: He's giving us a heads up to finally clean house and regroup. SO WE NEED TO DO IT.
http://www.portlandonline.com/mayor/index.cfm?&c=52750At a press conference at City Hall, Adams, standing with Chief Mike Reese and City Commissioner Nick Fish, cited the rise in crime around the encampments in ordering demonstrators out of the squares.
He said Terry Schrunk Plaza, a federal park, will be cleared as well.
"Crime, especially reported assaults, has increased in the area," he said. "Occupy has had a considerable time to share its movement's message with the public but has lost control of the camps it has created."
Occupy Portland representatives also attended the news conference.
Occupy Portland volunteer Katy McNulty urged the mayor to negotiate a later deadline.
"I think we can obtain a peaceful transition, but in three days?" McNulty said. She said she's worried that the time allowed won't be enough to organize all campers - many who are vulnerable and unprepared to pick up and move.
In a tweet from Occupy Portland, one protester wrote:
@OccupyPdx: He's giving us a heads up to finally clean house and regroup. SO WE NEED TO DO IT.
About 10:45 a.m. City Hall locked its doors and about six police officers gathered there as did about a couple of dozen protesters. People chanted and cheered while others played drums and a guitar outside the building.
"This has been a peaceful protest," said one of the demonstrators, Jenny Pepper, 26. She plans to stay in the camps past the deadline. "We have no guns, no knives, only our voices," she said.
