(PHILADELPHIA) MintPress – A peaceful day of Occupy National Gatherings workshops and demonstrations turned violent Saturday evening, as the National Parks Departments made one arrest in the midst of clashes between law enforcement and activists.
The confrontation began when Parks Department officers told a man in Second Court Park, blocks from the gathering’s Independence Mall location, that he had to take down and remove his tent from the premises.
Activists resisted demands, leading to shoving between demonstrators and law enforcement officials. Roughly 200 protesters showed up for the confrontation and subsequent occupation of the park.
Law enforcement presence was increased to roughly 100 personnel on site, ranging from federal to municipal officers. Local law enforcement made no arrests of protesters, despite confrontations and taunts that followed arrests.
Gathering at the park following the arrests, Occupy protesters took turns ‘sounding off,’ requesting that anyone with information about more arrests report such allegations. No one stepped forward.
The tension with police also seemingly spilled over into protests, with demonstrators disagreeing on methods of communicating within the group. Some called for the selection of a spokesperson or spokespeople to help lead activists to various actions throughout the city. Others opposed the requests.
Teddy Edwards, an activist on the sidelines, said he believes in the mission of Occupy, but has trouble with a lack of organization and some within the movement who have a negative attitude toward police. Edwards said, in the end, Occupy needs police on its side.
“They’re not fighting for the end game,” Edwards said of activists who don’t see police as necessary to carrying out the overall mission of Occupy
Despite his concern, he said he stands with Occupy and will continue to take part in the National Gathering, in hopes of real change.
“This is what we have,” he said, referring to Occupy. “This is the only movement. Everyone else is at home watching their sitcoms.”
To view pictures from the Occupy National Gathering, click here.