Image via WikipediaBy Randy EconomyReporter
Los Cerritos Community News
www.loscerritosnews.net
Long Beach, CA
Sunday, October 16, 2011
1:48 a.m.
Long Beach, CA
In an effort to expand the "Occupy" movement that has been sweeping to cities all over the globe, the latest encampment from Long Beach has started and ended within hours. A Long Beach city law that bans "overnight camping" in city parks was cited in dissolving the group before the stoke of midnight.
According to information just released to the media, Long Beach Police officials said that "members of the community gathered today as the group Occupy Long Beach to demonstrate in a peaceful and orderly fashion."
Image via WikipediaLBPD claim that approximately 250 to 300 people gathered throughout the day on Saturday at popular Lincoln Park in downtown Long Beach to protest. Shortly after 12:00 pm., the group marched north on Pacific Avenue to 4th Street, and then proceeded to Pine Avenue where they continued southbound to Ocean Boulevard then retruned to Lincoln Park. After marching, the group remained at the park chanting, protesting and expressing concerns, law enforcement claim..
Apparently, some of the protesters wanted to set up "camp" like other "Occupy" protests, but they ran into a local Long Beach ordinance that bans overnight "camping" in city parks. "While the mission of the Long Beach Police Department is to protect life and property, maintain order and ensure public safety, the police department also supports the right of every person to assemble and demonstrate in a lawful manner, which was the case in today's event," a statement read. Police and city officials had met with organizers of the event and they were informed of the City’s laws and expectations for a peaceful
Image via Wikipedia demonstration.Later on Saturday night, police claim that "a smaller group formed at the park and set up tents in an apparent attempt to camp out at the park, however, the tents were removed without confrontation upon request, as this violates Long Beach City Ordinance."
The group remained on the sidewalk to carry out their demonstration throughout the night, according to LBPD media spokespersons, while being "monitored" by police.
"Today’s demonstration was a display of mutual respect between police and the demonstrating community. Demonstrators were able to exercise their First Amendment rights to freedom of speech while obeying all applicable laws. As a result of this peaceful protest, no arrests were made or citations issued.,"
If you "occupied Long Beach" on Saturday, share you comments below on this blog. More details as the emerge.
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