Occupy Calgary not moving out
Posted Nov 16, 2011 4:38 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Another deadline has come and gone, and tents belonging to Occupy Calgary protesters are still sprawled across Olympic Plaza.
The city had said officers would be coming around in Wednesday after noon to remove tents and hand out tickets to people still there.
However, Police Chief Rick Hanson said Wednesday this is a difficult situation, not just for Calgary, but for cities all over North America.
“The courts have liberally interpreted the Charter of Rights for that, just as they have in the States with the First Amendment rights to free speech and free assembly,” said Hanson.
As a result, the abilities of police and bylaw officers to enforce other laws is limited, said Hanson.
Meanwhile, Alderman Druh Farrell said Wednesday, whatever message protesters were originally trying to get across is being overshadowed by this emergent struggle, adding the road ahead must be navigated with care.
“As we are seeing in other cities, these removals are being challenged in court. We want to ensure that we’re proceeding cautiously and that we’re effective,” said Alderman Farrell.
