Ohio Occupy Group Asked To Move For Tree-Lighting (No Compromise Yet Between Occupy Protesters and County) DAYTON, Ohio (AP) - An Occupy protest group in Ohio is holding off on a saying yes to a request that it move out of the way of a Christmas tree-lighting ceremony.
Occupy Dayton demonstrator John Tall tells the Dayton Daily News the group will discuss the issue on Saturday before making a decision.
The protest is going on in downtown Dayton's Courthouse Square, where the ceremony called the Grande Illumination is planned for Nov. 25. President Sandy Gudorf of the Downtown Dayton Partnership on Thursday asked the group to relocate around the time of the event, which tends to draw large crowds.
Gudorf says that while the Occupy Group has a right to protest, the kickoff of the holiday season isn't the right place to make a political statement.
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Poster Comment:
No Compromise Yet Between Occupy Protesters and County
DAYTON -- As protesters continue to occupy Courthouse Square, preps for the annual tree lighting ceremony are well underway.
So, too is the back and forth between protesters and Montgomery County.
"Point blank, are you going to stay or are you going to go?" we asked camp commander John Tall. "I can't speak for everyone because it's an individual choice but i'm going to stay," he said. "I'll be here until they take me away."
So far, protesters have agreed to take down their tents for the Grande Illumination as well as other county-permitted events. They also promise no signs on sticks or bullhorns. They've even agreed to help clean up the square after the ceremony next week.
"We have to come up with a compromise that works for everybody," Tall said.
County spokeswoman Cathy Peterson said Friday that the latest 'Occupy' proposal is under review. She says one administrator has already met with the group and that there will be more talks next week.
Peterson added that the requirement that the group must remove all its belongings by Wednesday night still stands.
"We don't want to interrupt their ceremony, we don't want to look like we're in shambles, so we were going to tone everything down anyway and be prepared for it," Tall said.
The 'Occupy' protestors will hold a general assembly Saturday afternoon to decide on their next course of action.
