City exempts 'Occupy' protests from ban through December
EUGENE, Ore. -- Occupy Eugene protesters at Alton Baker Park will be allowed to camp at the municipal park until Dec. 15, according to a City Council vote Monday.
The 5 to 3 ruling gives the Occupy demonstrators an exemption to the city’s ban on camping in city parks.
The demonstrators moved to Alton Baker Park Friday after spending a week in downtown Eugene.
According to city officials, the exemption means the protesters can remain at Alton Baker Park until Dec. 15 as long as the encampment does not pose any public health or safety concerns.
If the demonstrators want to move to another city park before mid-December, they must seek approval from the city.
The council may also vote to extend the exemption when the current exemption is exhausted.
The vote came late Monday night after more than 20 exemption supporters and opponents spoke at the public hearing.
The Occupy Eugene protest began in mid-October after similar demonstrations in Portland, New York, and Seattle called for an end to “corporate greed.”
The Occupy Wall Street protests have swept the nation and are now also present in Oregon cities such as Corvallis and Creswell.
