Judge Says Occupy Pittsburgh Movement Must Leave Mellon Green Camp
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Occupy Pittsburgh protesters will have to pack up their tents and vacate their premises downtown within three days' time, as ordered by an Allegheny County judge.
Since October 15, the downtown open parklet owned by BNY Mellon has been home to as many as 100 protestors.
But now, a judge has decided that their time is up, saying, "There is no law that permits a group of people to take over someone else's private property."
Allegheny County Sheriff William Mullen says his office will enforce the order, but that it could be a long legal process if the protestors decide not to vacate.
BNY Mellon will have to obtain an eviction notice from the court if protestors continue to occupy the space.
Several protestors expressed that they do not see the order as a failure in their movement.
"We faced being asked to leave the day we started," said Don Carpenter of Mount Lebanon. "It was just a matter of time."
"We did what we set out to do: raise awareness," said Celeste Taylor of Point Breeze.
"We will continue working toward change," said protestor Laney Troutman. "Just because we don't have a park doesn't mean we don't have a cause."
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