Occupy protestors to set up "dozens of tents," risking arrest

The 61-day Wall Street protest on the plaza of the Hennepin County Government Center could face a critical turning point tonight when demonstrators say they will attempt to set up "dozens of tents."

Protesters say some of them are prepared to get arrested in what they promise will be a peaceful act of disobedience, following a rally where the scheduled speakers include a city council member and a Minneapolis member of the state legislature. They hope hundreds will attend the rally.

Tonight's action comes as Occupy protesters in other cities around the country, including Los Angeles and Philadelphia last night, are being cleared out of their encampments and arrested.

After a hearing in St. Paul last week, U.S. District Judge Richard Kyle issued an order upholding most of the rules established by the county regarding the protest, including the county's prohibition against tents or overnight sleepovers on the plaza. The only thing Kyle upheld is the right of the protesters to put up signs.

If tents are erected and protesters refuse to take them down, the likely scenario is that county security staff would hand the protesters "trespass " notices ordering them off county property, and if they refuse, they'd be arrested on the spot by Hennepin County sheriff's deputies.

Up to now the county and the sheriff's office have shown considerable restraint to avoid the physical confrontations that have happened in other cities, where the scenes of arrest have attracted support for demonstrators.

Sheriff Rich Stanek said today he had not seen the news relase. "The representatives (of the Occupy group) have assured us they will be peaceful and law abiding," he said. "They went to court and to all indications, they will follow the judge's order."

Based on previous actions by the county, one possible tack it might take is to wait until early morning on Thursday, or even delay action for a day or two, until many Occupy supporters leave the plaza. Then authorities would move in to dismantle the tents and make arrests, if necessary.

Earlier this week one protest organizer told me that the plan was to set up the tents with people inside, and surround the tents with people holding hands, creating a "human chain." The organizer said the county has been briefed on the protesters' plans so that the acts of civil disobedience will go smoothly and other protesters can watch from the sidelines and not risk getting arrested.

The speakers at today's rally, according to a news release issued today, include Minneapolis City Council member Cam Gordon of the Green Party; Rep. Karen Clark, DFL-Minneapolis; Michelle Sommers, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1005; and Cliff Poehler, treasurer of District Council 5 of the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees.

The rally is set for 5:30 p.m. and after that, the protesters try to put the tents up.

The county has said for some time that protesters can stay overnight, they can't use tents and they can't go to sleep. The protesters say they need the tents to protect themselves from the snow and cold. Some of them say they have gone to sleep on the plaze, and while authorities have walked around with flash lights looking at them, no one has been trespassed for sleeping.

It is unclear whether this is a last stand for the Occupy movement on the plaza. Protesters have talked about moving their occupation to another site in the city, or indoors, to either a foreclosed property, which would likely provoke a confrontation with law enforcement once again, or some indoor venue that would welcome the protesters. But if they have made a decision, they aren't saying.