Dozens of protesters at economic inequality demonstrations in Austin, Texas, and Portland, Oregon were arrested peacefully early on Sunday over allegedly failing to comply with rules in each city. Both protests were among many held across the country since September by demonstrators who say they are angry over economic inequality and what they see as Wall Street greed.
At Occupy Austin, some 38 people were arrested on Saturday night and early Sunday after refusing to let police take down food tables and clean the City Hall plaza where they had camped for several weeks, police told Reuters on Sunday. They were charged with criminal trespass and issued citations that mean they can’t return to the protest site. “We’ve had a very peaceful Occupy Austin, especially compared to the rest of the nation, but we do have rules that have to be enforced,” said Austin Police Officer Dennis Farris.
Makeshift encampments sprouting up in cities nationwide have forced local officials to tread carefully between allowing peaceful assembly and addressing concerns about trespassing, noise, sanitation and safety. In Portland, protesters’ attempt to extend their occupation to a third city park in an upscale downtown neighborhood was broken up by police early Sunday morning. Some 25 protesters were arrested on charges related to rules about use of the park.
