Des Moines wants protesters to leave city park

DES MOINES - The city of Des Moines has told Occupy protesters they have to pack up and leave a park just blocks from the state Capitol by Jan. 31, but some demonstrators are vowing to stay.

It's been relatively peaceful at Stewart Square Park, but the protesters' continued presence has fueled growing frustration among some residents and members of the City Council who say they were not consulted before the protesters were given permission to set up camp.

An email from council member Chris Coleman prompted City Manager Rick Clark to set the deadline for the Occupy protesters to leave. Clark has promised a new policy on how the city will deal with such demonstrations in the future.

“I know it is not reasonable to think they would be out in the next couple days, but there should be an endgame that is this month,” Coleman wrote in the email, which was obtained by the Des Moines Register.

Council member Christine Hensley responded by placing the issue on the City Council's agenda for Monday.

“Citizens are upset about it, and rightfully so,” Hensley said. “We would not allow this with any other group. But the fact that we've allowed it now, I really think, is problematic because I think it sets a bad precedent.”

Protester Julie Brown is among those vowing to stay. “I believe Occupy is about reclaiming public spaces that we, as taxpayers, paid for,” she said. “The tents are our town halls and our voices are megaphones.”

She said she is grateful for what the city has given the group but said maintaining the camp is important.

“Occupy is about occupying public space, not just getting together in an office for a meeting,” she said.

Protester David Goodner said members of Occupy Des Moines believe “everyday people” have a right to indefinitely occupy public space as a form of protest.

But Goodner said he doesn't begrudge the city its position “because reasonable people can disagree on this point.”

“Many of us have anticipated this outcome for some time and that is why we've taken proactive steps to secure long-term indoor office space that can meet our movement's needs,” Goodner said.

Protesters were granted their first seven-day permit for the park in mid-October. Since then, city leaders said the permits have been renewed every week following consultation with police, fire and park officials.

But leaders acknowledge that they never expected the camping to last three months. Now that the Iowa caucuses are over, officials believe it's time for protesters to go.

“My concern is that the park is available to the residents of Des Moines,” Coleman said. “It was 65 degrees (Thursday). There's a school a block away. The park should have been available to the residents of Des Moines, and it wasn't.”

Mayor Frank Cownie acknowledged it may be time to rethink the arrangement but is concerned about a policy that would give control of permits to the City Council.

“Are we going to vote on whether or not someone has a right to have a public discourse in a park?” Cownie asked. “I don't think there should be political overtones on open discussion.”