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.
