There has been an update, extending the deadline to today 9pm:
The city of Newark has extended the deadline for Occupy Newark protesters to remove their encampment from a downtown park.
The group has occupied Military Park since mid-November. The city clerk's office sent the group a letter on Tuesday telling them they would have to leave by 9 p.m. Thursday. Newark City Clerk Kenneth Louis says the eviction deadline has been extended until Saturday at 9 p.m.
Louis says it's up to the police department whether they will evict the protesters.
A police spokesman referred inquiries to the mayor's office, which referred them to the city council, which referred them back to the city clerk.
From
Blue Jersey:
Tobias Fox is proud of what Occupy Newark has achieved over the last three months, "We organized rallies against corporate greed, spread awareness about homelessness, fed hundreds of people, spoke out against the Newark police layoff, opposed the closing of post offices, supported many rallies organized by key Newark activist groups, and spoke out against the expansion of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement plans in Newark."
Although the encampment may come to an end, Occupy Newark has empowered residents to speak out and take action. For the future Fox sees Occupy Newark becoming "more organized into working groups where people become focused on specific issues such as Occupy Newark Public School, foreclosures, homelessness, prison industrial complex, and alternative energy."
Occupy Newark, like other occupy groups across the nation and the world, took on the concerns of the 99%, a huge undertaking, and have achieved success in raising the consciousness of Newark residents while confronting systemic problems which benefit the 1% and hinder the greater progress needed. It has not been easy nor a complete success. As Fox says, "Unfortunately, there are so many deep rooted, systemic issues that we do not fully understand, so we are stuck on the surface." The word "Occupy" is now ingrained in our vocabulary, but the story of the movement and its impact is still being written.
Occupy Newark:
Facebook,
Website,
Live Stream.