Occupy campers want city to provide a permanent site
Protesters say they will take action if the council moves them on
The Occupy Edinburgh group today pledged to escalate its protest to include “direct action” if the city council refuses to grant it a permanent camp site.
Protesters gave the warning as legal papers were lodged at Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday to remove the camp from the Meadows.
The anti-inequality group has requested a disused building or piece of land to operate in as an alternative to occupying public spaces.
Occupy members left St Andrew Square peacefully last week, days before Essential Edinburgh was due to evict them, but set up camp at the Meadows on Monday.
The city council has made it clear that no camping is allowed on the site and will not negotiate.
Tomorrow, a city sheriff will consider whether to grant an eviction order paving the way for a forced removal.
Today, campaigner Mike Ferrigan warned that the group would carry out “direct action” against the local authority.
In November, the council passed a motion which recognised the aims of the Occupy movements.
He told the Evening News: “We would peacefully vacate [the Meadows] if we had somewhere to set up an office.
“The council recognises our right to occupy, but has so far refused to meet with us to reach a compromise.
“If the eviction does go ahead we’ll be looking at occupying other pieces of public land, public parks, empty buildings.
“It may mean a constant eviction process for the council.
“It may also mean an escalation of activities against the council, potentially direct action, continuing right up until the Festival.”
Fellow member, Pete Nicholson, 26, said: “There are hundreds of buildings empty across the city which could be put to use. We want to be able to host sports, events, meetings, a speaker’s corner.
“All of this could be possible if the council will sit down and discuss some of our suggestions but there is an unwillingness to do that.”
Currently around half a dozen members of the movement are camped on the public grounds close to Jawbone Walk.
Councillor Robert Aldridge, the city’s environment leader, said: “We have had regular discussions with the Occupy Edinburgh protesters since they turned up in the Meadows on Monday. They have ignored our repeated requests to leave so we have started the legal process. Our position is quite clear – we do not allow camping on the Meadows.”
The case is scheduled to be heard at Edinburgh Sheriff Court tomorrow.
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Comments
There are 101 comments to this article
Page 1 of 7
korndog
Monday, February 6, 2012 at 10:41 AMI believe there's a campsite at mortonall, quote reasonable rates as well.
occupylink
Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 08:31 AM#81 Tartancult. Of little consequence? Occupy Edinburgh did manage to force Hester to give up his bonus.
occupylink
Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 08:28 AM#85. Tartancult. OK, By your rants against us, we figure you are for the banking execs and their bonuses and against the Occupy Movement. I assure you that we represent the 99%. You represent the banking tycooons.
occupylink
Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 08:25 AM#91. You seem to have a lot of hatred for the "dispossessed". Hey - that is us - the 99% - the dispossessed. If you are not one of the banking executives at the top table, you don;t count.
Frottomhound
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 01:26 PMProbably limited wi-fi converage in the meadows.
Overfinch
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 01:00 PMHere's a spot http:g.comapsu8am9 Good transport links and a central location
Pending Consternation
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 12:27 PMComment removed by moderator
Bruce Robertson
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 11:19 AM82 & 83 misinformation - Mike? Is that you? .... still not sure how defecating in the doorway of Harvey Nicks helps anyone ?
knapper
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 09:15 AMI'm glad that at least a few people have the balls to stand up and be counted. They at least deserve to be supported by us in their protest against inequality. They speak for more than just radical anticonsumerism. With the amount of rubbish being talked about the poor old bankers not gtting enough money to live on because as we all know its "the going rate"? It's good to know that someone is standing for the rest of us.
Rabigyin
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 07:59 AMThere is a lovely bit of Edinburgh available, downwind of Seafield! It's where the aroma of putrifying council can be detected.
Hector the Lessor
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 07:24 AMNot a lot wrong with providing a permanent site, and maybe putting up a few council tents. Handy for the dispossessed to have somewhere to stay and maybe a cup of tea and a good breakfast, or do those guys reckon they will get the site for nothing.
allymax
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 04:58 AM" Justice, justice shall you pursue, that you may thrive and occupy the land that the Lord your God is giving you. " ... (Deuteronomy 16;20), JPS
allymax
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 04:56 AM' Occupy campers want city to provide a permanent site '.....................................................is......................................................................................................................................anti-Scottish.
RyanJones
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 02:43 AMComment removed by moderator
Tartancult
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 11:04 PM#86 Occupy, what does it all mean? I do not know."------------------------------Indeed, we got that from your post.
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