Occupy relaunches protests

Small groups of protesters reoccupied downtown Minneapolis on Saturday, pitching tents at Peavey Plaza and Loring Park in hopes of revitalizing the Occupy movement that swept the country last fall.

Starting at noon, about 40 demonstrators began to congregate at Peavey Plaza near Orchestra Hall to resume protesting against corporate greed, income disparities and other issues. Some set up tents to shield themselves from the rain. Others held signs near the intersections of Nicollet Mall and 11th and 12th Streets, within sight of passing cars.

"I think it's important that we remain in the public eye," said a 25-year-old man who called himself Gonzo Sky-Walking.

Sky-Walking participated in the Occupy movement during last year's protests at the Hennepin County Government Center plaza.

"I think that it just started to shed light on how many people across the globe realize there's a problem," he said of the earlier protests.

A few blocks away at Loring Park, about 20 protesters milled about near a canopy on the park's edge.

Elias LaVelle, 28, of Minneapolis, said he thought it was important that the demonstrations continue. "It's not a movement that intends to go away anytime soon," he said.

"Park police will be enforcing our ordinances, and people will not be able to stay in the park after midnight," said Dawn Sommers, spokeswoman for the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board.

Despite the warnings, Ben Egerman, 25, an organizer with Occupy Minneapolis, said protesters planned to stay at both locations indefinitely.

Saturday night, on police orders, protesters removed their tents in Peavey Plaza and marched to Loring Park. On the way, they blocked traffic at 10th Street and Nicollet Mall, chanting, "Who is scared? Never scared. Occupy everywhere."

Egerman attributed the small number of protesters to the inclement weather. "I think it's going to build over time," he said.

During the fall, the anti-Wall Street demonstrators set up tents at the Hennepin County Government Center plaza, but over the ensuing two months, county officials tightened the rules, limiting overnight camping. Sheriff's deputies removed tents in early December, which effectively shut down the protest.

A national Occupy protest is scheduled May 1, and the Minneapolis group said it will participate.