City of Atlanta and Atlanta Police taking steps to contain Occupy ATL (ADDED PHOTOS)

I thought to add this to my original thread, but I felt it needed a thread of its own.

I have been at Troy Davis Park (formerly Woodruff Park) every day since friday which is when the occupation began. The police presence was minimal as the occupation kicked off, and over the weekend, the police presence was even smaller.

Today I went to the park both before and after work. Before work, the police presence was noticeably high, and I just assumed it was because it was a monday. However after work, I saw that they have taken containment steps, such as minimizing escape routes from the park, and increasing the number of trip hazards and such.

Here is a small picture for reference.

link

along this edge of the park, they've added a 2.5 foot high fence which resembles a cheap wrought iron fence, but it can do damage if fallen on none the less.

On the other side of the park, along peach tree street, there is a 2 foot wall which had flower pots every 3 feet or so. Just today, they added more flower pots to where there is no gaps on that wall, putting anybody who is running at risk of tripping over them, or slipping once they hit the already slick side walk below.

Additionally, they removed a chain that blocked off the grassy area from the stairs, which are also slick - and they roped off 2 walk ways out of the park to the north and the south.

It has been raining all day and it's expected to rain all week. Every night at 11pm people get worried that today will be the day that police come, and from what I saw, that time is coming quickly.

I will add photos that I took tonight to this thread in a few minutes. Tomorrow I will go and take photos of the new changes that were made to the park.

Also, here is an ariel shot so that you can see what kind of box is being built.
link

At tonights general assembly, the only thing discussed was how to deal with a possibly confrontation with police, and where to run and not to run. "corral corners" were identified, and people were told to prepared for possible arrest soon.

ETA: there were 2 small altercations with flash photography wielding media men. the photographers were upset because some people didn't consent to having their photo taken for the AJC and another news outlet. The camera men both got on simultaneous high horses and got disrespectful to the point where one was escorted out of the park.

pics in a few minutes. peace

edit

here is my bad, nighttime shot, blurry attempt to show the flower pot arrangement as they made it now.



Troy Davis Park!



part of the 'community dining hall'

reply to post by My.mind.is.mine


Surely they can't arrest you for occupying a public park???
2nd

Sounds like the Occupy Movement is starting to gather pace.

Hopefully nothin' gets outta hand. & police go through the right procedures to ensure a peaceful & calm protest.

reply to post by Deplume


According to the police on friday night: it's illegal to be in the park after 11pm.. whatever the # that means.. lol

reply to post by My.mind.is.mine


What the frrggharrgh!
Police make me rage.
Illegal?
What exactly is 'illegal' about occupying a public space after 11???
You guys need to check up on this... get some legal advice just to be sure..
And make sure you're all prepared, because even if nothing you lot do turns it nasty... THEY will.

reply to post by Deplume


still working on securing lawyers just in case. but for now, it's just good ole fashioned solidarity and workshops on avoiding bad confrontation.

mmk, that's all the photos i have for now. i'm headed back over there right now, and will be back after 11pm to let y'all know if the police came out heavy or not.

reply to post by Deplume


It belongs to the city of Atlanta, and THEY can set the rules as to when the park can open OR close. If the city choses to have LEO's arrest those TRESPASSING at the park after a certain time, they have EVERY RIGHT to do so

reply to post by HomerinNC


THANK you for that INFORMATION. I feel AS though I AM fully aware OF the facts now.
Can you GET arrested for standing ON the street AT 11pm at night AS well?
Or IS it just parks IN general??

:3

probably IN the park, but they can ticket you if you stand in the street for obstructing traffic

Originally posted by Deplume
reply to post by HomerinNC

 

THANK you for that INFORMATION. I feel AS though I AM fully aware OF the facts now.
Can you GET arrested for standing ON the street AT 11pm at night AS well?
Or IS it just parks IN general??

:3

They can tell you when and where you can be. It's not public property, it's city property, that they allow the public to use.

And, yes, if the city tells you not to stand on the street corner after 11 PM, they WILL arrest YOU.

Just heard there are plans to shut down occupy Boston tonight too.

Originally posted by HomerinNC
reply to post by Deplume

 

It belongs to the city of Atlanta, and THEY can set the rules as to when the park can open OR close. If the city choses to have LEO's arrest those TRESPASSING at the park after a certain time, they have EVERY RIGHT to do so

Really? Let us look at this logically, and with at least a modicum of understanding of law, and the principles of a Constitutional government. If this park "belongs to the city of Atlanta", who does the city of Atlanta belong to? I suppose, using your twisted logic, we could argue that the State of Georgia owns the city of Atlanta, but this begs the question; who owns the State of Georgia?

Beginning with the Preamble of the Constitution for the State of Georgia, we have:

To perpetuate the principles of free government, insure justice to all, preserve peace, promote the interest and happiness of the citizen and of the family, and transmit to posterity the enjoyment of liberty, we the people of Georgia, relying upon the protection and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish this Constitution.

Hmmm, it would seem that the People own the State of Georgia, and what the State of Georgia owns the People own, so Atlanta is owned by the People, which would explain why they call the PUBLIC parks.

In order to lawfully charge these people with trespass, they would have to be trespassing against someone. Who the hell would they be trespassing against? It is a public park.

Further, it is worth considering the Declaration of Rights within that State Constitution for Georgia. Declarations such as:

Paragraph IX. Right to assemble and petition. The people have the right to assemble peaceably for their common good and to apply by petition or remonstrance to those vested with the powers of government for redress of grievances.

And:

Paragraph XXVIII. Enumeration of rights not denial of others. The enumeration of rights herein contained as a part of this Constitution shall not be construed to deny to the people any inherent rights which they may have hitherto enjoyed.

Whatever rights the City of Atlanta enjoys, so too do the People of the City of Atlanta. The City of Atlanta, lawfully and legally speaking, does not in any way, shape, or form, have "every right" to arrest people in a park for "trespass".

Ignorantia Juris Non Excusat!

reply to post by Jean Paul Zodeaux


who has to clean up the mess these people will leave behind? Most DEFINITELY not the protestors, thew CITY of ATLANTA. The TAXPAYERS, is that fair to the PEOPLE who dont support this?

ETA: most people that are at the park part of this 'protest' dont even know WHY theyre there protesting
utter fail

Originally posted by HomerinNC
reply to post by Jean Paul Zodeaux

 

who has to clean up the mess these people will leave behind? Most DEFINITELY not the protestors, thew CITY of ATLANTA. The TAXPAYERS, is that fair to the PEOPLE who dont support this?

ETA: most people that are at the park part of this 'protest' dont even know WHY theyre there protesting
utter fail

edit on 10/10/2011 by HomerinNC because: (no reason given)

Regardless of the petty pouty limp wristed protestor's motives, they have the absolute right to peaceably assemble and you or any other person claiming some sort of special privilege as a "TAXPAYER" does not give you any lawful authority to deny and disparage the rights of other people.

Send in the jackbooted thugs to deny and disparage these rights, and suddenly those clowns will have something very real to protest about.

reply to post by Jean Paul Zodeaux


Thanks for bringing some facts my friend, people tend to forget that this nation of the USA was founded by the people and for the people, to rule the government including the states not the government ruling over the people with absolute powers like they have been doing for decades thanks to special interest money

I live in GA I was looking for that information you just posted along with the one under the US constitution and the power that gives to the people.

The new generations in this nation has gotten so used to the power of the Federal government that has forgotten that they only have power because the people give it to them, that includes the individual governments of the Republic.

Is the US of America and the people no the US of America and private interest.

Money is running deep when it comes to political whores in Washington and in local state governments.

reply to post by HomerinNC


Wrong, Atlanta has always been a place for protest on one issue or the other, and that has been ok, the only reason the OWS is now so much debated is because it goes against the interest money that runs in every single state in the nation, the whores that governmen our states are not better than the ones running the nations in DC.

They all sold to big interest.

all the LEO's have to do is drop a few CS canisters to clear the park...

ETA: LOL the cameraman ran off...figures

reply to post by HomerinNC


They do that and tomorrow is going to be thousands of lawyers salivating for the law sue money that the "injured" will go after against the city, because I forgot to mention that GA is big on law sues, here people will sue you for anything

Originally posted by HomerinNC
all the LEO's have to do is drop a few CS canisters to clear the park...

ETA: LOL the cameraman ran off...figures

edit on 10/10/2011 by HomerinNC because: (no reason given)

That's right, laugh as if you are Nelson in NC. "Haw haw! All the LEO's have to do is spit all over the People's rights. Geez, what's taking them so long to just piss on those people? Haw haw! Lookie! The camera man is running in fear from the Police. Haw haw! Loser."

Who cares about rights, when you are a TAXPAYER, right? Like the customer of business who is always right, the TAXPAYER is always right too. Haw haw!