Occupy's new tactic on the West Coast: Squatting
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
SEATTLE (AP) -- To continue their protests on wealth inequality, Occupy Wall Street demonstrators in Seattle, Portland and Oakland have taken up a new tactic: Squatting in vacant properties.
Squatting marks a move away from the public demonstrations that have been a marquee of the national protest, one that is attempting to re-energize the protests in Oakland and Portland -- two cities that have seen violent clashes with police and evictions from parks.
But police have already moved in at least one city. Portland police officers have arrested more than a dozen people trying to squat in a home in the city.
Occupy Portland Andrea Townsend says squatting provides a safe and warm place for demonstrators and keeps attention on the city's homelessness.
____
Associated Press writer Nigel Duara in Portland, Ore., contributed to this report.
____
Valdes can be reached at twitter.com/ByManuelValdes
More like this
New Occupy tactic on West Coast: squatting
