| Occupy Baltimore | |||||||||
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| Part of the "Occupy" protests | |||||||||
| Tents erected at McKeldin Square | |||||||||
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Occupy Baltimore is a peaceful protest and demonstration that began on October 4, 2011 in Baltimore, Maryland, in McKeldin Square near the Inner Harbor area of Downtown Baltimore. It is one of the many Occupy movements around the United States and worldwide, inspired by Occupy Wall Street.
Toward the end of October, the city stated that the wanted to scale back the protest. They wanted to limit the hours the protesters were at the site, the number of tents at the site, and the amount of space at the site the protesters were using. The concern was that the site was being used as a campground, which is was not supposed to be, and each case would be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.[1]
Meanwhile, the group has been determined to keep their protest alive, not letting the city's decision to cut off power stop them, and planning to winterize their tents for the cold.[2]
On November 17, 2011, protesters marched on the Howard Street Bridge.[3] The bridge was chosen by the protesters because they said it was a symbol of the city's decaying infrastructure and the need to get Americans back to work.[4]
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The occupation of McKeldin Square began on October 4, 2011. This came after a meeting held on October 2 by 150 people at a different location. Those holding the meeting requested that a Baltimore Sun reporter leave.[5]
Organizers from the beginning did not have a single ideology.[6] Various messages have been voiced by protesters. These include:
On October 25, City Hall declared the encampment was illegal on the basis that McKeldin Square is not a campground. The city stated that anyone is free to protest at the location, but not to camp overnight. Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said each illegal act would be handled on a "case-by-case basis."[10] the city stated that they wanted to avoid a violent confrontation.[11]
The ACLU has defended the movement is constitutionally protected free speech.[11]
Toward the end of November, the movement applied for a 6-month permit to occupy McKeldin Square and to set up 4 large and up to 40 personal tents. The city denied the permit on the basis that permits are not issued for more than 5 days or 150 people.[12]
On November 2, the city cut off power to the occupiers at McKeldin Square, citing safety concerns. The protesters had been using the electrical outlets at the square for their basic needs, including heating food and charging cell phones and laptops. The protesters said this would not stop them.[13] Protesters have responded by setting up solar panels and are also attempting to set up a bicycle that can generate electrical power.
Protesters blamed Baltimore Police for forcing the cancellation of a November 12 concert by the band Celebration. The concert was cancelled over safety concerns.[14]
On November 15, protesters interrupted a speech given by Karl Rove on the Johns Hopkins University campus. They stated that Rove had "occupied" Iraq and Afghanistan.[15]
On Friday, October 28, a woman claimed she had been sexually assaulted in her tent and robbed of $1800 cash. She said she could not go home because the attackers had taken her bills and knew where she lived.[16] A 38-year-old man was taken into custody, though no evidence of a sexual assault was found.[17]
On December 5, a woman was allegedly stabbed by another woman in a fight over not taking care of her cat. A 23-year-old woman was arrested as the prime suspect in the incident, marking the first protest-related arrest.[18]
On December 13, 2011, the Occupy Baltimore encampment was evicted from McKeldin Square at 3:15 AM. Police arrived in riot gear, closed off surrounding streets, and allowed protesters to retrieve their personal belongings prior to departure. The protesters left peacefully. There were no arrests. Of the 40 people who departed, 18 accepted shelter services the city offered on the spot.[19]
The protesters planned to hold a meeting regarding their next plans, and vowed to continue.[20]
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