Update on Occupy London Eviction from Victoria Park
The City is pleased and relieved that the occupiers of Victoria Park in London, Ontario peacefully left the park and allowed their tents and belongings to be removed without incident. Speaking at a news conference this morning, London Mayor Joe Fontana and London Police Chief Brad Duncan updated the media on the overnight activities that took place.
The Mayor and the Chief commended the protesters for peacefully leaving the encampment. They also commended police and City staff for their professionalism. The Mayor reiterated the City’s real concern for public safety in the park, including the safety of the protesters as well as concerns regarding damage to public property.
“These decisions are never easy and this has never been about denying free speech or free assembly,” Mayor Fontana. “Anyone is free to gather in our parks during the day and evening but we could not and would not permit people to occupy a public park indefinitely.
We want to work constructively now with Occupy London on some of the issues that they raised during our Committee of the Whole Meeting and would welcome their continued involvement as we seek to better the lives of Londoners.”
“The results speak for themselves”, said Police Chief Brad Duncan. “We were able to peacefully remove the structures from the park without any violence or arrests.”
The City will begin work immediately to repair damages to the park, as well as take care of seasonal maintenance work including purging the sprinkler system and completing the seasonal light features.
On a go forward basis, no one will be allowed to erect any tent, shelter or other structure. Police will continue to enforce the City’s By-law preventing anyone from entering or remaining in Victoria Park between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. Individuals will be warned of the consequences under the Trespass to Property Act if they continued to engage in prohibited activity.
