Halifax Mayor Defends Eviction of Occupy Protesters

Uploaded by LeakSourceCanada on Nov 12, 2011

Nova Scotia protesters are planning their next move after several were arrested Friday at the Occupy Nova Scotia site as police enforced an eviction notice and dismantled tents.

Police were processing 12 people arrested during the eviction and said they should be released from custody by midnight.

Activists met at St. Andrews Church Hall to regroup, as some of the protesters were spending the night at the church.

At Victoria Park, only remnants of the protesters' camp and a small police presence remain.

Police teams descended on Victoria Park on Friday afternoon, a couple of hours after demonstrators were told to leave the city park because they were camping illegally.

Fourteen people — 12 men and two women — were arrested as of 4 p.m. AT, all for obstruction of justice, Halifax Regional Police said.

"The time has come for the encampment to end," Mayor Peter Kelly said in a statement. "Our parks are for all of the public, not an unregulated campground for some."

Demonstrators moved to Victoria Park earlier this week after agreeing to leave Grand Parade for Remembrance Day events.

They planned to return to the main park in downtown Halifax on Saturday.

The notice said the demonstrators would not be allowed to camp in Grand Parade or any other HRM park.

Kelly said they have the right to gather and protest.

"We support that, but we don't support the use of tents," he told CBC News.

Demonstrators said they felt betrayed by the municipality, particularly the mayor. "Let him know we should not be evicted today!" the group said in a tweet.

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