Photo by Wayne Laugesen
The Colorado Springs Police Department is taking a peaceful approach to the Occupy Colorado Springs protesters at Acacia Park.
Police spokesman Sgt. Steve Noblitt said the protesters aren’t creating a disturbance, so the issue isn’t a high priority.
“It’s one of those things where we’re not really receiving any complaints,” he said. “We have referred this matter to our Homeless Outreach Team. They’re the ones that deal with camping issues.”
The so-called HOT team is out of town on a conference and returning Monday, Noblitt said.
“When they come back, they’re going to go down and make contact with them. But at this point, we haven’t really received any complaints,” he said.
“But if we start receiving complaints, if they’re blocking paths down there, sleeping down there, we’ve made it clear to them that it would be in violation of our ordinances, and they can be arrested. We’re not saying we’re waiting until Monday. We’re just simply saying we made a referral to our outreach team,” Noblitt said.
Noblitt said police haven’t planned a crackdown on the protesters despite reports.
“It was misrepresented that we had some kind of ultimatum and that at 11 o’clock last night we were going out and arrest a bunch of people. That was never the case,” he said.
Earlier today, it was reported via Twitter that the protesters were working with City Council “on a solution.”
Council President Scott Hente said that was news to him as well as President Pro Tem Jan Martin.
“Certainly, you’re not going to tell me as a responsible journalist you’re using Twitter as an acceptable news source,” he said.
So what other laws is the city only enforcing selectively?
If ALL the laws aren’t enforced equally then they’re worthless… but of course anarchy is what these “people” have in mind. Little do they realize what it will net them.
Last time I visited Occupy Colorado Springs, day before yesterday, everything looked good. Organizers reported to the General Assembly that neither the police nor the city administration had any problems with Occupy Colorado Springs.
Now they’re talking about eviction, even possible arrests, so I’m going back to Acacia Park to stand with my friends. Occupy Colorado Springs is in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street, where things get fairly ugly every now and then, so whatever happens to Occupy Colorado Springs, at least it shouldn’t be any worse than that.
C. Springs doesn’t want to be first to oust ‘em.
Meanwhile, I wonder how many of these folks voted the Dems out control in Congress in the last election or actually voted at all?
Kudos to the protestors and the police for acting reasonably. Lets keep that park clean. It is awesome that peaceful protest is alive and well in Colorado Springs. Set a good example.
Get the signs and crap out of the flowerbeds, stand on the sidewalks and no where else and spend some money with down town merchants.
No food or drink allowed to be brought in. NO COOLERS. Have fun.