Anti-Wall Street protesters in Des Moines averted a confrontation and likely arrests on Friday night by agreeing to move their campsite from the Iowa Statehouse grounds to a nearby city park.
Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie extended an olive branch to the group’s general assembly early Friday evening, just hours after Gov. Terry Branstad’s administration refused to extend a permit to stay overnight on the Capitol grounds.
“One of the original purposes of parks was for people to gather. We want you to feel like you can gather,” Cownie told the crowd. “I want my police force out chasing the bad guys and arresting criminals.”
The permit allows the loose- knit organization known as Occupy Iowa to use Stewart Square at 1401 E. Grand Ave. during a period that began Friday night and runs through 11 p.m. next Thursday. Officials said they didn’t expect any problems and would probably extend the permit if protesters behaved themselves.
The protesters, who were not unanimous about leaving the Statehouse grounds, issued a statement after making their decision: “Anytime the government is responsive to the will of the people, it is a victory. This move will allow us to refocus on the real enemy: corporate greed.”
Friday’s move most likely avoided a situation similar to one that occurred Sunday night, when more than 30 protesters were arrested after they refused to leave the Statehouse grounds at the 11 p.m. closing time. State officials later granted a permit allowing overnight camping for three nights, but the permit was not renewed Friday — which officials said was consistent with past practices.
The Des Moines protests have been modeled after the Occupy Wall Street protests in New York and similar efforts nationwide. It’s been hard to pin down exactly what activists want, although they have expressed frustrations about economic uncertainty, a widening income gap between rich and poor people, too much corporate power and a failure of government to act.
By 9 p.m. Friday, just three hours after the mayor’s offer, tents and equipment had already been cleared off the Statehouse lawn and moved to Stewart Square. Tents were set up and the mood was peaceful. But the quick move came after more than an hour of debate at a general assembly earlier in the evening.
The central question discussed was whether agreeing to vacate the Capitol grounds — exactly as state officials wanted — would compromise the movement’s principles.
In the end, though, many called the move a victory and most at least acknowledged it was the most pragmatic decision.
“We’re thankful the mayor gave us space. I consider it a victory,” said Vanessa Andrews, who was on the permit committee talking with state officials.
But others disagreed.
“This is in direct opposition to the concept of occupation,” said Justin Norman, who was arrested Sunday night. “This is looking more like a family camp-out to me.”
Earlier Friday, more than 60 protesters crammed into Branstad’s office to plead for renewal of the Statehouse grounds permit.
When they entered the room, they were met by Brenna Findley, legal counsel for the Branstad administration, and David Roederer, director of the Department of Management, who offered to answer questions.
The crowd grew raucous, with some members of the group urging others to stop making speeches and keep the dialogue limited to questions for the administration.
“If you want to further a cause, then further a cause,” Roederer said to the crowd. “If you want to make this a political issue, that’s how you get branded, and it hurts your cause.”
Answering a call Friday while appearing on Iowa Public Radio’s “The Exchange,” Branstad said, “The Statehouse grounds were never meant as a place for people to permanently camp out. We have made accommodations to groups that wanted to have an event that may last for two or three days. Nobody’s ever had a permit for more than three days. This group was granted a three-day permit. That is now over. That’s the same policy that’s been in place, as far as I know, for decades. The Statehouse grounds are for everybody to enjoy, not just for one group to be able to permanently camp out there.”
After the confrontation in the governor’s office, the Occupy group met to discuss its behavior and to determine a course of action.
“I had hoped for a more accommodating response from the governor’s office, and I think it would be in their best interest, and in our best interest, to allow the permit to extend,” said Ed Fallon, a former state legislator. “There have been no problems. Trash is not a problem; behavior is not a problem. I think when they say it’s unprecedented, I think the unprecedented part is the issue. I think it’s the focus they don’t like.”
Fallon said he thought if the group were a military group asking to display military hardware on the lawn, or an event like the Hy-Vee Triathlon requesting extra time to set up on the grounds, an extended permit would be granted.
Caleb Hunter, a spokesman for the Department of Administrative Services, wrote in an email that “the key difference between an event like the Hy-Vee Triathlon and this event is the physical presence of people and the requirements that environment poses as opposed to the placement of bleacher, equipment, fencing, etc.”
Source: http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011310150025
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Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie extended an olive branch to the group’s general assembly early Friday evening, just hours after Gov. Terry Branstad’s administration refused to extend a permit to stay overnight on the Capitol grounds.
“One of the original purposes of parks was for people to gather. We want you to feel like you can gather,” Cownie told the crowd. “I want my police force out chasing the bad guys and arresting criminals.”
The permit allows the loose- knit organization known as Occupy Iowa to use Stewart Square at 1401 E. Grand Ave. during a period that began Friday night and runs through 11 p.m. next Thursday. Officials said they didn’t expect any problems and would probably extend the permit if protesters behaved themselves.
The protesters, who were not unanimous about leaving the Statehouse grounds, issued a statement after making their decision: “Anytime the government is responsive to the will of the people, it is a victory. This move will allow us to refocus on the real enemy: corporate greed.”
Friday’s move most likely avoided a situation similar to one that occurred Sunday night, when more than 30 protesters were arrested after they refused to leave the Statehouse grounds at the 11 p.m. closing time. State officials later granted a permit allowing overnight camping for three nights, but the permit was not renewed Friday — which officials said was consistent with past practices.
The Des Moines protests have been modeled after the Occupy Wall Street protests in New York and similar efforts nationwide. It’s been hard to pin down exactly what activists want, although they have expressed frustrations about economic uncertainty, a widening income gap between rich and poor people, too much corporate power and a failure of government to act.
By 9 p.m. Friday, just three hours after the mayor’s offer, tents and equipment had already been cleared off the Statehouse lawn and moved to Stewart Square. Tents were set up and the mood was peaceful. But the quick move came after more than an hour of debate at a general assembly earlier in the evening.
The central question discussed was whether agreeing to vacate the Capitol grounds — exactly as state officials wanted — would compromise the movement’s principles.
In the end, though, many called the move a victory and most at least acknowledged it was the most pragmatic decision.
“We’re thankful the mayor gave us space. I consider it a victory,” said Vanessa Andrews, who was on the permit committee talking with state officials.
But others disagreed.
“This is in direct opposition to the concept of occupation,” said Justin Norman, who was arrested Sunday night. “This is looking more like a family camp-out to me.”
Earlier Friday, more than 60 protesters crammed into Branstad’s office to plead for renewal of the Statehouse grounds permit.
When they entered the room, they were met by Brenna Findley, legal counsel for the Branstad administration, and David Roederer, director of the Department of Management, who offered to answer questions.
The crowd grew raucous, with some members of the group urging others to stop making speeches and keep the dialogue limited to questions for the administration.
“If you want to further a cause, then further a cause,” Roederer said to the crowd. “If you want to make this a political issue, that’s how you get branded, and it hurts your cause.”
Answering a call Friday while appearing on Iowa Public Radio’s “The Exchange,” Branstad said, “The Statehouse grounds were never meant as a place for people to permanently camp out. We have made accommodations to groups that wanted to have an event that may last for two or three days. Nobody’s ever had a permit for more than three days. This group was granted a three-day permit. That is now over. That’s the same policy that’s been in place, as far as I know, for decades. The Statehouse grounds are for everybody to enjoy, not just for one group to be able to permanently camp out there.”
After the confrontation in the governor’s office, the Occupy group met to discuss its behavior and to determine a course of action.
“I had hoped for a more accommodating response from the governor’s office, and I think it would be in their best interest, and in our best interest, to allow the permit to extend,” said Ed Fallon, a former state legislator. “There have been no problems. Trash is not a problem; behavior is not a problem. I think when they say it’s unprecedented, I think the unprecedented part is the issue. I think it’s the focus they don’t like.”
Fallon said he thought if the group were a military group asking to display military hardware on the lawn, or an event like the Hy-Vee Triathlon requesting extra time to set up on the grounds, an extended permit would be granted.
Caleb Hunter, a spokesman for the Department of Administrative Services, wrote in an email that “the key difference between an event like the Hy-Vee Triathlon and this event is the physical presence of people and the requirements that environment poses as opposed to the placement of bleacher, equipment, fencing, etc.”
Source: http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011310150025
Movers Chula Vista
Movers Aventura
Movers Concord
Movers Rancho Palos Verdes
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