Occupy Providence

{{Infobox civil conflict

| title = Occupy Providence

| partof = the "Occupy" protests

| image = Occupy Burnside Park, Providence RI.jpg

| caption = Demonstrators camping at Burnside Park, 19 November 2011

| date = 15 October 2011 – 24 January 2012

| place = Providence, Rhode Island, United States

| coordinates =

| causes = Economic inequality, corporate influence over government, inter alia.

| status = Ended Jan, 2012

| goals =

| result =

| methods = Demonstration, occupation, protest, street protesters

| casualties_label = Arrests and injuries

| arrests =

| injuries = 4 (Fights)

| howmany3 =

| notes =

}}

Occupy Providence began on Saturday October 15, 2011. According to the Boston Globe, well over 1,000 demonstrators, including children and adults of various ages, peacefully marched through the capital city before setting up camp at Burnside Park in downtown Providence, RI and turning the park into a 24 hour protest. The march made its way through the streets of downtown Providence, pausing outside such institutions as Bank of America, Providence Place Mall, and the Rhode Island State House.{{cite news|title="Occupy" Group Setting Up Camp In Providence, Rhode Island|url=http://boston.cbslocal.com/2011/10/15/occupy-group-setting-up-camp-in-providence-rhode-island/|publisher=Associated Press|date=15 October 2011|access-date=11 November 2011}}

Finally, in January 2012, Occupy Providence agreed to suspend its 24-hour-a-day protest.{{Cite web|url=http://www.gcpvd.org/2012/01/24/occupy-providence-to-vacate-burnside-park-after-reaching-agreement-with-the-city/|title = Occupy Providence to vacate Burnside Park after reaching agreement with the City|date = 24 January 2012}}

Occupy Providence participants continued to engage in organized meetings, events and actions in Burnside Park in 2012,{{cite web | url=http://www.occupyprovidence.com/ | title=Occupy Providence | publisher=Occupy Providence | access-date=March 3, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229184821/http://www.occupyprovidence.com/ | archive-date=February 29, 2012 | url-status=dead }}{{cite news|last1=Plain|first1=Bob|title=Occupy Providence Returns|url=http://www.rifuture.org/occupy-providence-returns-to-burnside-park/|access-date=20 February 2017|publisher=RI Future|date=August 31, 2012}} 2015,{{cite news|last1=Ahlquist|first1=Steve|author-link=Steve Ahlquist|title=Occupy Providence returns to confront harassment of homeless|url=http://www.rifuture.org/occupy-providence-returns-to-confront-harassment-of-homeless/|access-date=20 February 2017|work=Rhode Island's Future|date=August 30, 2015}} and 2016,{{cite news|last1=Reynolds|first1=Mark|title=Occupy Providence protests plan to revamp Kennedy Plaza, Burnside Park|url=http://www.providencejournal.com/news/20161015/occupy-providence-protests-plan-to-revamp-kennedy-plaza-burnside-park&usg=AFQjCNEauBWE3NTaHz4COAiv4iGK78SBEw|access-date=20 February 2017|newspaper=Providence Journal|date=October 15, 2016}} although many fewer people attended these than the original Occupy Providence events.

Background and aims

Occupy Providence is one of over 4000 "Occupy" protests across the globe to be inspired by Occupy Wall Street (which began in New York City on September 17, 2011). According to the official [https://web.archive.org/web/20120104100909/http://www.occupyprovidence.com/2011/10/official-statement-of-purpose/ Statement of Purpose] as published on the [https://web.archive.org/web/20120229184821/http://www.occupyprovidence.com/ Occupy Providence website] on October 24, 2011, participants seek socioeconomic change "by means of a truly democratic General Assembly." The "Occupy" protests are concerned with furnishing an alternative to corporate and lobbyist-driven politics and with building "a society by, for, and of the people." Occupy Providence is "non-violent, non-destructive, non-discriminatory and harassment-free" and prohibits all drugs and alcohol from the site of the occupation.{{cite web|url=http://www.occupyprovidence.com/2011/10/official-statement-of-purpose/|title=Official Statement of Purpose|publisher=Occupy Providence|date=25 October 2011|access-date=11 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120104100909/http://www.occupyprovidence.com/2011/10/official-statement-of-purpose/|archive-date=4 January 2012|url-status=dead}}

Cooperation with City officials

Though a group of protestors met with Providence's Public Safety Commissioner Steven Pare and other city officials on Thursday October 13, 2011, they decided to decline a city permit to inhabit Burnside Park. More than 100 tents were erected within the first week of Occupy Providence, despite some verbal pressure from city officials for a definitive exit timeline.{{cite news|title=Occupy Providence Members Say They Won't Budge|url=http://www.abc6.com/story/15789434/occupy-providence-members-say-they-wont-budge|publisher=WLNE-TV|date=23 October 2011|access-date=11 November 2011}}

At the outset of the demonstration, city officials showed cooperation with the Occupy participants as police cleared traffic for the October 15th march and General Assembly. No arrests or acts of violence have been reported to date.

On October 24, 2011 Occupy Providence activists staged a public reading of a letter to Providence Mayor Angel Taveras. The letter, made audible using the human microphone system, thanked the Mayor for his cooperation thus far and requested that the protest be allowed to carry on in Burnside Park.{{cite web|url=http://www.occupyprovidence.com/2011/10/open-letter-to-the-city/|title=Open Letter to the City|publisher=Occupy Providence|date=23 October 2011|access-date=11 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120110022336/http://www.occupyprovidence.com/2011/10/open-letter-to-the-city/|archive-date=10 January 2012|url-status=dead}}

Many Occupy Providence participants that were interviewed by the press stated no intention of leaving the park, while others considered moving to another location.{{cite news|last=Plain|first=Bob|url=http://www.630wpro.com/Article.asp?id=2319411&spid=38785|title=Occupy Providence considers moving from Burnside Park|publisher=WPRO (AM)|date=26 October 2011|access-date=11 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419142334/http://www.630wpro.com/Article.asp?id=2319411&spid=38785|archive-date=19 April 2012|url-status=dead}} On October 26, 2011 the Boston Globe reported Steven Pare's announcement that the city will consider taking legal action if protestors refuse to end the encampment. Pare cited concern for public health and safety and an ordinance prohibiting use of public parks past 9 PM as grounds for action.{{cite news|title=City to ask Occupy Providence to leave|url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/rhode_island/articles/2011/10/26/city_to_ask_occupy_providence_to_leave/|publisher=Associated Press|date=26 October 2011|access-date=11 November 2011}}

References

=Additional sources=

{{cite news | url=http://bangordailynews.com/2012/01/23/news/nation/occupy-providence-city-reach-deal-to-end-standoff/ | title=Occupy Providence, city reach deal to end standoff | newspaper=Bangor Daily News | date=January 23, 2012 | access-date=March 3, 2012 | author=Niedowski, Erika}}
{{cite news | url=http://news.providencejournal.com/breaking-news/2012/01/with-opening-of.html | title=With opening of day shelter for homeless, Occupy Providence will break camp Sunday | newspaper=Providence Journal | date=January 27, 2012 | access-date=March 3, 2012 | author=Rourke, Bryan}}
{{cite news | url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/rhode_island/articles/2012/01/28/occupy_providence_expected_to_clear_out_of_park/ | title=Occupy Providence expected to clear out of park | newspaper=The Boston Globe | date=January 28, 2012 | access-date=March 3, 2012 | agency=Associated Press}}

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20120229184821/http://www.occupyprovidence.com/ Official website]

Category:2011 in Rhode Island

Category:Occupy movement in the United States

Category:Nonviolent resistance movements

Category:History of Providence, Rhode Island

Category:Culture of Providence, Rhode Island

Category:Organizations based in Providence, Rhode Island