Hennepin Co. Removes Occupy Tarps From Plaza
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Hennepin County authorities have removed tarps and chairs used by anti-Wall Street protesters from a plaza outside the government center in Minneapolis.
The county's director of property services, Judy Hollander, says protesters were told to remove unattended items. But Hollander says crews found the protesters' property on the sidewalk when they tried to shovel snow last weekend, so the county decided to clean the plaza.
County facilities staff removed tarps, chairs, tables and bedding Tuesday morning. There were no arrests.
Organizer Sam Richards says the protesters are not leaving. Members of OccupyMN have been at the plaza since Oct. 7.
Last week authorities seized about 30 tents after protesters defied a judge's order and set up an overnight camp on the plaza, then took their demonstration to Minneapolis City Hall.
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