Police vehicles spread for 1/10 of a mile as the Eviction Forces gathered. Unbelievable.
Thankfully, the protesters remained peaceful while their camp was destroyed. 19 were arrested. But from the show of force, you would have thought a Al Capone and his gang had been reincarnated in Pioneer Park.
The news covered the event somewhat balanced, but ended the evening with the Police Chief reporting that they found toilet paper with feces, bottles of urine, and drugs in tents. It was a risk to the heath of the community. And crime was up. But the eviction notice was given after one of the many homeless residents of Pioneer park died in a tent. That was the reason given to start with. 58 homeless people died last year, some in this park. Nothing new.
Each Occupy Camp is a microcosm of our society. If people die, they will have some die in a camp. If people do drugs, some will in the camps. If people rape, rape will happen in the camps. Good grief, in my world the police would have PROTECTED THE CAMPS from harm. Day dreaming again.
The show of force:
Protester stands with his protest sign while the police tear down his tent. Listen to his stand:
This is what a police state looks like
Dumptrucks and Bulldozers, starts at 1:23
Arrests, love the spunk of OccupySLC
Great discussion between Chief of Police and a Protester about homelessness in Salt Lake City - There were 58 homeless deaths in Salt Lake City last year.