Dozens of Occupy Philadelphia protesters planned to try to hold down their encampment outside City Hall on Monday, a day after a city-imposed deadline passed for them to leave to make way for a $50 million renovation project.
Dozens of tents remain at the site, but no arrests were reported, according to protest organizers and police. The city has asked the protesters to move to another site across the street, but said they won't be able to camp there.
Gwen Snyder, one of the protest organizers, said about 70 people stayed at City Hall's Dilworth Plaza overnight and were elated that they were not removed. She also says the current plan is to stay unless the city offers an alternative site where protesters can continue their encampment.
"We held Dilworth, which is wonderful," Snyder said. "Folks are really excited that we kept the space."
"This is our spot, this where we chose to be," said member Steven Venus. "The city hasn't addressed any of our issues and they want us to move."
"We will leave if we're given a dispersal order to leave," said member Aine Fox. "We have not received a dispersal order."
Occupy Philadelphia, aligned with the Occupy Wall Street protests that originated in New York City and spawned movements in cities worldwide, opposes economic inequality and corporate influence on government.
Despite about four dozen arrests, there have been no violent confrontations with police -- a marked contrast to similar demonstrations in other cities across the country.
In recent weeks, there has been a division among protesters --with some wanting to follow the city's order and move and others wanting to remain until eviction.
Some demonstrators have already agreed to leave and continue their activities across the street under strict conditions that forbid camping.
Mayor Michael Nutter has said that continuing the 24-7 camping that the protest has been doing since early October is not an option, citing what he described as the adverse impact on public health and safety.
The city has cited graffiti, public urination, people smoking in tents and other issues among its concerns with the encampment.
Clean up crews Monday morning also say they found hypodermic needles among the trash left behind by Occupy members.
Last week the city offered Occupy Philly a permit to protest across the street at Thomas Paine plaza from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. but without tents or sleeping bags.
Occupy Philly met Monday night at 7 p.m. but did not make a final decision regarding whether or not they would move.
"We're going to stay until they arrest us and kick us out," said one member.
"People are determined," said member Vienna Linderman. "People are not going to be pushed aside any longer."
“There are some folks who will be conducting non-violent civil disobedience,” said member Gwen Snyder. “There are many of us who will be observing and witnessing across the street in solidarity with them.”
“We would have another Occupy somewhere else if they allow us to have another Occupy to take care of the homeless,” said member Adan X. “Peacefully we’ll do it!”
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According to the city, Occupy Philadelphia has now cost taxpayers more than $651,000 on police work and sanitation costs.
Some local residents have become frustrated with the movement.
“You end up asking more questions than feeling moved by anything,” said Babatunde Ali of South Philadelphia. “Everyone’s kind of rallying for a different topic that has nothing to do with the other so they end up sounding like idiots as a mass.”
Occupy Philly member Colleen Begley claims the group is open to constructive criticism.
“Give us suggestions, give us your tips,” said Begley. “We’re very receptive to those kinds of things.”
Begley, a student at Rutgers-Camden, has been a part of the group since the beginning. While she admits there have been bumps along the road, she insists the movement is a focused and peaceful protest.
“There was a misconception that all of a sudden Occupy Philly somehow sprouted these homeless people into Dilworth Plaza,” said Begley. “It really was an existing problem the city of Philadelphia is facing and a challenge that we’re working on together.”
“I just actually saw a fight in the compound,” said one resident. “It almost reminded me of something you would see at a tailgate as opposed to an organized protest. Given where the economy is and given the issues with pensions that these cities are facing, I think it’s very unfortunate that this movement is costing the city money.”
