Occupy Ottawa returns with a new name
Posted May 13, 2012 03:40:11 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
OTTAWA, On. – More than 50 protesters occupied the Garden of Provinces and Territories near Wellington and Bay on Saturday afternoon, in an attempt to re-launch a local occupy movement.
Organizer Hugh Goldring said most protesters planned on leaving before 11 p.m. when a by-law kicks in, forcing people to vacate city parks. Ottawa Police told 1310News that the occupiers have remained.
“I think there are people who have been very enthusiastic about this and put a lot of energy into it and will be interested in staying,” said Goldring. “But at the end of the day we are and always have been a peaceful movement, so if police ask us to leave we’re not going to resist that.”
It was clear the renamed Occupied Ottawa was different than Occupy Ottawa.
Police outnumbered the protesters as they marched from the Human Rights Monument and down Sparks Street.
Goldring acknowledged the turnout for the protest was much lower than last time.
“What happened in the last occupation in the fall was a …special case,” he said. “It was very exciting.”
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