The Iowa Department of Administrative Services approved a permit for Occupy Iowa today, allowing protesters to stay on the Capitol grounds in Des Moines until 11 pm on Friday, October 14.
The Des Moines Register posted the permit here (pdf). It allows the use of the “West Capitol Terrace” (near the granite map of Iowa) around the clock from today until 11 pm on October 14. The permit also stipulates,
*Group will provide at least one ADA accessible portable restroom to be located on concrete; however, not on sidewalks or grassy areas. Restroom(s) to be serviced as needed
*No sidewalk chalk
*Any defacing of public property may cause this permit to be revoked.
*The Capitol Grounds is a public space with visitors every day; you do not have exclusive use of the space.
David Goodner of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement was part of a small group meeting with Department of Administrative Services officials earlier today.
The language of the permit may remain in effect for only a few days, but Goodner said he expects to have it renewed on a regular basis, and that the park space will be occupied “for the foreseeable future.”
If the state declines to renew the permit, a replay of Sunday is likely, he said.
“The permit might say three days but at the end of those three days they’re either going to renew the permit or spend lot of time hauling dozens of people away to jail again,” he said.
But, Goodner added, the ongoing protest would be a “safe space” and “family friendly.”
“We’ll be very disciplined, we’ll be very organized,” he said. “We do not want to obstruct anyone else’s access to the Capitol and we’ll make sure to not do that.”
Another Occupy Iowa general assembly is set for tonight at 6 pm. Sunday evening’s protests ended with at least 30 arrests on the Capitol grounds.
Depending on how long Des Moines protesters keep up their activism, state officials might consider following the lead of Iowa City Parks and Recreation Director Mike Moran. He said today that the city may ask Occupy Iowa City activists to help with maintenance at College Green Park, where they have set up camp.
3 Comments
Time to distance ourselves from the "occupy" movement...
If wacky demands were not enough, or defecating on police cars didn’t do it for you, this should be plenty for all to see the end of the “occupy” group, and anyone that wants to associate with it…
http://www.thegatewaypundit.co…
mirage Wed 12 Oct 5:22 PM
the Occupy Iowa protesters
are focused on state-level policies relating to economic and social justice. Nice try, though.
desmoinesdem Wed 12 Oct 10:06 PM
Let's deal in facts....
Occupy Iowa has been reported by many sources to be a spinoff/local version of Occupy Wall Street…
Occupy Iowa uses the Occupy name, general structure, and even the same cult like chanting with speakers as the main organization…
Occupy Iowa uses the same social networks and specific stets as the parent. For example, on the OccupyTogether site, the Iowa group uses the linkage and meeting planning apps…on the first page of the site ion the fiesta sentence in reads “…in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street”. Translation…similar goals and demands.
What is worse now, is that the local group is now basically run by Iowa CCI…check out the article in the Register…Iowa CCI is now identified as the local occupy leadership by other activist groups… and are identified on the protest permits filed with the state.
As we know, Sue Dvorsky, democratic party chair just said a couple weeks ago…and I quote…”…the behavior of Iowa CCI is unproductive, embarrassing, and has no place in serious debate” (source, press release 8/31/2011)
I agree.
Is it any wonder NO Iowa state or local elected officials have publicly supported these protesters?
One more thing, our favorite liberal mayor of Chicago was reported in the Tribune today…when asked about the occupy movement…he stated he did NOT support the method they are using…or the demands. Interesting.
The occupy movement should not be supported by any….they really ARE the extreme 1%
mirage Thu 13 Oct 4:21 PM