Occupy Fort Lauderdale is now an "occupation in exile" after being booted from its second green space in as many days, an organizer said.
Though protests have been friendly and incident-free according to demonstrators and police alike, the group is having difficulties finding a park that will allow overnight camping, confirmed a member named Jake, who asked that his last name not be published.
A day after being banned overnight from downtown Bubier Park, the group was "welcomed with open arms" to Equality Park in Wilton Manors, Jake said.
But Tuesday afternoon, he said it appeared that pressure from upper levels of civic government nixed the group's plan to continue its occupation of Equality.
"We're getting evicted from that park as well," he explained. "It would seem there was pressure from on high in this case also. The community has been so supportive, especially the police."
Originally, Occupy Fort Lauderdale had verbal permission from multiple agencies to set up in downtown Bubier Park on Los Olas Boulevard, Jake said. But several days after assembling, the group was evicted.
"We just enforce the policies," explained a Fort Lauderdale police spokesman, who noted Occupy departed Bubier Park agreeably. "They left voluntarily...There have been no arrests, no problems."
Local
Bubier Park is leased to the city by the Fort Lauderdale Downtown Development Authority, from whom Jake said the group received verbal permission for its occupation.
"We also had verbal permission from the city commission, and it sounded like the mayor was okay with it. We had permission from the police chief, who even voiced a little unnofficial support. We had verbal permission from all the necessary powers that be," he said.
"They said we could use the park, and then they went back on that. Our counsel suggested we get written permission, and that's when they seemed to balk, saying we can't have tents even if we don't stake them, and we have to be out between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m."
DDA executive director Chris Wren took responsibility for what he said was a miscommunication, saying he was on vacation when the Occupy liaison called and that he didn't initially understand the group wanted to stay overnight.
Wren explained he was "all for" the group exercising their First Amendment rights, but the park's closing hours had to be enforced.
"I don't think we kicked them out," Wren said. "We just have to honor the park rules. We deal with First Amendment issues all the time...it's what makes our country great."
Jake acknowledged Occupy is being told they can use the park within its usual rules, but said protesters are determined to set up camp.
"The problem is symbolic of the cause as a whole," Jake said. "The community near Bubier Park was very supportive. The bars, the pizza shop down there love us. The small businesses seemed to really appreciate what we were doing. But it seems like someone high up didn't want us there."
While it remains in exile, Occupy memebers are promoting a phone campaign to civic officials.
"We've had a lot of support in terms of people calling the city commission, the mayor, and the DDA," Jake said, noting Occupy Fort Lauderdale is not encouraging supporters to contact police officials.
"We're aware they don't make the decision, and are respecting that," he said. "We realize they're part of the 99 percent."
Wren said not all the calls to DDA have been family friendly.
"My staff has been cursed out all day," he said cheerfully.
For now, Occupy Fort Lauderdale organizers are discussing new ideas, including the occupation of a Unitarian church or a green space in Hollywood.
Jake says he has even suggested marching all night and returning to a park camp in the morning.
"The group will have to decide as a whole," he said.
