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Occupy campers, city plan to keep talking
YOUNGSTOWN
Members of Occupy Youngstown want to set up camp downtown and have taken city officials to court for the right to do so, but for now, there will be no burn barrels or encampment there.
About 13 members of the Occupy Youngstown group, along with Atty. Kim Akins and state Rep. Bob Hagan of Youngstown, D-60th, occupied a courtroom in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court on Friday asking for the return of property and the court’s blessing for unfettered protest.
On the other side of the issue are city Law Director Anthony Farris, Police Chief Rod Foley and a list of other city officials arguing against an encampment.
Farris and Akins negotiated the issue for more than an hour before Magistrate Timothy G. Welsh determined more time to negotiate is needed. The attorneys will continue to meet and return to court in January to discuss a possible resolution.
“There is no guarantee of a resolution, but we are set to return Jan. 20,” said Farris.
Akins said she could not discuss what terms would make her clients happy, but did say an indefinite protest occupation in the downtown area is part of the negotiations. She said the group wants the right to protest in “a safe and warm way.”
Hagan, before leaving the courthouse, said the issue is a matter of free speech and assembly.
“We are going to continue to negotiate; they have agreed to negotiate with us. We are going to continue to fight for the rights of free speech and free assembly,” he said.
Welsh previously rejected a Nov. 16 request by the group for a temporary restraining order to permit the use of a tent, burn barrel and other items. The magistrate, however, did agree to hear arguments for a preliminary injunction to consider the group’s request.
The group contends the city violated the rights of Occupy Youngstown members to free speech and assembly as well as to protection against unreasonable seizure of their possessions.
City officials say the group can protest but not establish an encampment downtown because that violates city ordinances.
City police and firefighters confiscated the items the morning of Nov. 11.
The items were confiscated after the group ignored an order by the police chief that Occupy Youngstown members remove the tent, burn barrel, chairs, tarps and sleeping bags. Police ultimately returned the tent to its owner.