Scenes from The Occupy Dallas Eviction

slide show from eviction

City Hall's statement on Occupy Dallas eviction

n the early morning hours, city spokesman Frank Librio issued the following statement about the eviction of Occupy Dallas protestors from their campsite at City Hall.
Police plan a 10 a.m. news conference.

The City of Dallas has made every effort at each juncture of the Occupy Dallas situation over the past six weeks to support the group's ability to express its First Amendment rights. The City's approach and response to this situation have been cited by observers to be a model for other cities experiencing similar circumstances associated with the Occupy movement. Occupy demonstrations have occurred over many weeks and led to erection of encampments in many cities, including Dallas. Generally, overnight camping and sleeping in public are not allowed on public property and are not associated with First Amendment rights. However, the City of Dallas worked with Occupy Dallas' legal representatives to reach an agreement which allowed the encampment behind City Hall, for a limited period of time, as long as conditions of the agreement were in strict compliance.
Despite repeated attempts by the City asking for compliance, some individuals associated with Occupy Dallas have violated the agreement. Criminal offenses have also occurred and are documented in the attachment.

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Occupy Criminal Allegations

Press Release: City Manager orders raid of OccupyDallas camp

Dallas, TX, November 17, 2011 — Police officers in riot gear raided the OccupyDallas camp early Thursday morning after City Manager Mary Suhm rescinded the agreement with protesters and ordered evictions. Members of the camp who have been protesting for over 42 days were given no notice from the city before police strategically surrounded them.

                In an excessive show of force, mounted officers on horseback trotted onto the scene while police sport utility vehicles lined the streets. Jonathan Winocour, the lawyer working with OccupyDallas, was sent a fax at 11:46 p.m. from the City Attorney's office informing him of the city's intention to forcibly remove the peaceful protesters. Minutes after Winocour relayed the message to protesters, the members of the media were warned to leave by police loudspeaker. They were relocated across the street while the police loudspeaker issued a statement to the remaining OccupyDallas members. The protesters were given 20 minutes to collect their personal property and vacate the park.

                After the 20 minute deadline had expired, police officers carrying shields lined the sidewalk and began moving into the camp. They searched each tent before arresting those who had chosen to stay. In total, 17 protesters were arrested for refusing to leave the park.

                The raid on the camp comes less than 24 hours after Winocour met with city officials who assured him that there were no plans to evict the protesters. Protesters were warned by members of the media that police officers were being briefed and prepared for the raid on the camp.

OccupyDallas advisor Glynn Wilcox was shocked to discover that City Manager Suhm failed to notify Mayor Rawlings and the members of the City Council of the police action. The raid comes on a day which has been planned as a National Day of Action across the country.

                For more information, contact Michael Prestonise at 214-293-0548 or news@occupydallas.org. More information, including additional multimedia content, can also be found at www.occupydallas.org.

Occupy Dallas Becomes the Latest Target for Eviction

Taking a page out of other cities' books, police in Dallas launched a 1:00 a.m. raid on the local Occupy Wall Street protest Thursday morning, removing tents and arresting about 20 people. The camp, which was relatively small compared to some other cities, was cleared out in less than an hour with little resistance.

About 100 people had been camped out in City Hall Park a few days before, but police showed up around midnight local time and announced that protesters would have to leave or face arrest. Most went voluntarily and only about 20 or 30 remained when police in riot gear moved in, going tent to tent to seek out and remove stragglers

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Overwhelming police presence 'unnecessary,' Occupy Dallas lawyer says

DALLAS — Before scores of police officers moved in to dismantle the Occupy Dallas campground early Thursday morning, Jonathan Winocour, an attorney representing the protesters, advised them to leave peacefully. He said the overwhelming police presence was "unnecessary."

"Frankly, it's a grossly disproportionate use of threatened force for this situation," he said. "It's very aggressive, in-your face policing. This is reminiscent of some nascent police state; that's a little scary."

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In yet another midnight police raid, Occupy Dallas eviction under way

"Dozens of Dallas Police officers holding shields, batons and wearing helmets about to enter the #Occupy camp," tweets WFAA (Dallas, TX) reporter Jason Whitely.

By various reports, about 50 Occupy Dallas protestors are gathered. Police are in riot gear.

Media were ordered by police to move away from the camp (at a distance that would make direct observation impossible), or face arrest along with protesters, according to various sources.

The camp wasn't all that big, compared to other cities, really. One WFAA reporter says she's covered the Dallas police department for 8 years, and she's never seen this scope of police action. Describes it as an "unusual show of force." So does a city councilwoman, according to local NBC affiliate reporter Amanda Guerra.

Dallas councilwoman Angela Hunt says police response is "vast overkill." says council received notice just before 12am

The Occupiers must have had something really dangerous on-site, like books.

http://boingboing.net/2011/11/16/police-raid-occupy-dallas-in-f.html

As it happened: Police raid Occupy Dallas