PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia police arrested up to 50 people early Wednesday morning as they completed their mission to clear “Occupy Philly” protesters from their encampment in Dilworth Plaza near City Hall.
Calling the police operation to evict the protesters “tremendously well planned and executed,” Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter declared that the “Dilworth occupation is over” at a news conference held just before 7:00am.
POLICE ARREST 200 DURING OCCUPY LOS ANGELES EVICTION
Three police officers and one civilian suffered minor injuries during the removal process. Two officers were hurt while making arrests, with one injuring a shoulder and another cutting his hand. A third officer cut his leg while taking a tent down.
The only protester injury reported was to a female who had a police horse stomp on her foot after a tense moment in which protesters broke through a metal barricade. According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, the confrontation rattled several police horses, with one seen running away from the chaos.
The Inquirer reported that bulldozers and other heavy equipment were being used to clear out debris from Dilworth Plaza. Crews employed by the city could be seen using fire hoses to wash down the formerly “occupied” area.
Nutter last week set a deadline of 5:00pm Sunday for “Occupy” participants to move from Dilworth Plaza to Thomas Paine Plaza across the street, but said they would not be allowed to camp overnight at the new site.
The deadline passed without incident Sunday and without protesters being forcibly removed.
But just after 1:00am Wednesday morning, police issued a warning over a bullhorn to “leave immediately and you will not be arrested,” the Philadelphia Daily News reported. Officers then began pulling down tents at around 1:20am.
Protesters scattered throughout City Center and occasionally regrouped, with some bands of occupiers chanting, “The people united will never be defeated.”
Police followed protesters throughout the night and 44 were arrested at a 5:00am standoff several blocks from Dilworth Plaza.
Protesters taunted police throughout the night and on several occasions accused them of police brutality.
“They pretend they are your friends,” a group of protesters shouted repeatedly at one point, The Inquirer reported.
“I’m very proud of the men and women in the department,” Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey told myFOXphilly.com. “They took some pretty serious taunting on the part of the some of the protesters and so forth. They kept their cool, maintained their discipline, and we only arrested those people who we absolutely had to.”
Free public transportation was offered to protesters that left the area peacefully.
MyFOXphilly.com reported that as many as 500 police officers have been taking part in the operation.
With the protesters pushed out, construction on a $50 million renovation project for Dilworth Plaza is expected to begin as early as Friday. The city previously issued a notice from Nutter’s office on Nov. 16 ordering “Occupy” participants to “remove all of your personal belongings immediately” due to the renovation project.
The “Occupy” protests — voicing opposition to the influence of money in US politics and decrying what protesters perceive to be the injustices of the financial system — began in New York’s Zuccotti Park on Sept. 17, and have spread to other cities throughout the US and the world.
“Occupy Wall Street” protesters were evicted from Zuccotti Park on Nov. 15.
To read more, go to MyFoxPhilly.com.