After enjoying a seemingly harmonious relationship with city officials, police took down Occupy Newark's encampment just after midnight on Wednesday. Mayor Cory Booker had delivered coffee and doughnuts to the occupiers, and a city councilman had even stayed overnight in the tents at Military Park.
February 15, 2012

newark

After enjoying a seemingly harmonious relationship with city officials, police took down Occupy Newark's encampment just after midnight on Wednesday. Mayor Cory Booker had delivered coffee and doughnuts to the occupiers, and a city councilman had even stayed overnight in the tents at Military Park.

Via:

At Military Park, the site of Occupy Newark, about two dozen police officers and fire fighters disassembled what was left of the movement’s encampment and loaded much of into the back of a city truck: more than a dozen tents, a canopy, a sofa, pallets, blankets and other items.

Deputy Chief Tracy Glover of the Newark Police Department told protesters that if they did not have a permit that allowed them to be in the park after a 9 p.m. curfew, they had to leave immediately. By 1:30 a.m., most of the site had been removed. No arrests were made, although about a dozen protesters in the park taunted the officers as they worked.

“Carjackings are up 62 percent, but the tents are down,” said Teacher Iovino, 43. At its height, Occupy Newark was a cluster of tents that included a kitchen and an information area. About 30 people stayed overnight at the encampment, most of which was set up in November, and 50 to 60 people would be there during the day, said Anthony Batalla, 20, who has been there since November.

The eviction marked a shift in the city’s approach to the protesters. In November, the city’s police chief agreed to waive a permit required to assemble in Military Park. Mayor Cory A. Booker brought them doughnuts and coffee. A municipal councilman stayed there overnight, said one protester, Ibraheem Awadallah, 27.

A note sent by the city to the camp read "Respectfully, we appreciate working together, but this is over."

Now with Newark's skyrocketing crime rate, Cory Booker at least won't have to worry about those evil occupiers who helped the homeless and needy, and worked together to find solutions to problems within their communities. I have no doubt that Occupy Newark will continue their work with or without their camp, the entire occupy movement in solidarity with them. I wonder if they've already considered a new mission the next time Cory Booker comes up for re-election? Because everyone knows that a false friend is much more dangerous than an open enemy.

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