So Occupy Nova Scotia was essentially shut down yesterday. The occupiers had been occupying the Grand Parade Square in Halifax up until November 10th, when they were asked to move for Remembrance Day ceremonies. They sat down with the legion, had a discussion and decided it would be best, out of respect for our Veterans, to move for the ceremonies.
While this was going on the mayor of Halifax, Peter Kelly, was laying down threats that the Occupiers wouldn't be allowed to.... occupy. Anyways it came to a conclusion of sorts on Friday. 15 minutes after the remembrance day ceremonies police started tearing down tents, and eventually encircling the occupiers arresting any that tried to break through the circle.
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http://thechronicleherald.ca/metro/32150-i...occupy-evictionQuote
The following is an excerpt from an interview with Halifax Mayor Peter Kelly at 5:10 p.m. Friday.
Herald: Was this the intention all along when you got them to leave the Grand Parade (earlier this week)?
Kelly: Council, on Tuesday, gave the directive to enforce the parks bylaw and it was enforced on that basis.
Herald: That’s clearly what I asked you, sir. I asked you if this was the intention all along to have them leave as you did and then have this happen?
Kelly: Council made the decision to ask them to leave on Tuesday and it became an operational issue and a bylaw enforcement issue and a police issue and they are the ones that enforced those time frames. For us it was clear that the public was clearly supportive of clearly being able to use public space and they have the right to be able to use it as well so we felt the need to enforce the parks bylaw and clearly to allow tenting. They can continue to protest, their democratic rights are protected but they cannot tent or encamp in public space.
Herald: I want you to say yes or no when I ask you this question, Mr. Mayor. Was this the intention all along – to have them leave this way and then to have them be told that they couldn’t come back?
Kelly: At no time, at no time were they told they would be able to come back.
Herald: They feel misled, why do you think that is?
Kelly: At no time were they told that they could come back. If you review my commentary over the last number of days it has said that they’re clearly welcome back, we don’t want them back and we prefer them clearly to come back. At no time were they told that they could come back.
Herald: Were you clear to them that when they left the Grand Parade that they were clearly going to be allowed to come back?
Kelly: They chose to go to Victoria Park and that was their decision. Council made the decision to clearly to allow camping in the Grand Parade or any public park, including Victoria Park.
Herald: You heard the question I asked. Were you clear to them when they left the Grand Parade that they weren’t going to be allowed to come back?
Kelly: At no time were they advised they’d be allowed to come back to the Grand Parade.
Herald: Were you clear to them about that message?
Kelly: At no time were they ever indicated they’d be allowed to come back to the Grand Parade.
Herald: Were they told they were going to be prohibited?
Kelly: At no time were they advised to come back to the Grand Parade.
Herald: Looking at the way this has been handled are you happy with the way things have gone down?
Kelly: The police are doing their jobs. I support the police chief and the police in doing the job they have to do. They unfortunately have to enforce the law. When the law is breached they have the role and responsibility and I support their approach.
Herald: Let’s talk about the Occupy people. If they want to set up somewhere, where would you allow them?
Kelly: Nowhere. There will be no camping in any public park.
Herald: Does that include the Commons?
Kelly: No place. From henceforth on there will be no camping in any public parks.
Herald: If they try to set up somewhere, what’s going to happen?
Kelly: The police will enforce the bylaw.
