What a difference a week makes. A week ago representatives from Occupy London met with City Council to discuss the occupation of Victoria Park. All sides were friendly and eager to find some common ground.
Fast forward to Friday November 4th and Mayor Fontana has clearly had enough of the occupation of London's beloved park. He wants the occupation ended. Remembrance Day ceremonies are a week away. Although the tents are at the other end of the park some Veterans have let it be known that they would like Victoria Park cleared.
There was also controversy during the lighting of the purple lights on one of the trees near the encampment. The purple lights signify a greater awareness towards "woman abuse." Tents were moved by the protesters to accommodate this event but there was still controversy.
Occupy London still has the option of using the grounds of St. Paul Church which is next to Victoria Park. Now that we are into November, snow, ice and very cold temperatures are a certainty. The persons involved in the occupation seem unwilling to move. The Mayor and many Councillors as well as City Police are reluctant to forcefully remove the encampment. It remains to be seen just how the impasse will be broken.
Meanwhile in cities like Toronto, Ottawa, Calgary and Vancouver, similar Occupy protests are also heating up. Civic leaders seem to be in agreement that these protests must end for a variety of reasons such as public health and general law and order. The problem is that most Canadian Mayors seem reluctant to use force to end these occupations.
Television and radio interviews of the general public show some sympathy for the causes that the occupiers stand for but they are almost all in agreement that these types encampments cannot go on indefinitely.
