#OccupyDenver Discusses The Importance Of Tents To The Occupy Movement (VIDEO)

In cities all over the world, Occupy movements have started tent cities in their local parks causing many of which to be evicted or arrested. Whenever even a handful of tents appear in a park, Denver authorities have lately been responding with extreme force. And despite the opposition, protesters continually come back to their local parks in hopes of being able to erect tents again. Ever wonder why the tent so important to the occupiers?

Occupy Denver has put together a video that explains the protesters position on why the tents are crucial to the movement, both symbolically and practically.

One unnamed protester in the video says, "Denver is now going to spend over a million dollars because of tents, for a fine that was probably less than 100 dollars. If [the city] would instead invest that money into the local community they could house all of the Denver homeless population for a year. But instead, they decide on this: riot police, they're going to tear gas us, they're going to hit us with batons."

Last week, it was reported that the city of Denver has already spent $360,000 for two weeks of police action against Occupy Denver. DPD then asked for an additional $200,000 to help cover more costs. Fox31 reported.

Another anonymous protester says, "If you're not allowed to have tents in the middle of a housing crisis -- for a lot of us that shows you're not allowed to have anything unless you have considerable amounts of resources -- then you’re just going to be left out in the cold, literally."

 

 

Comments

[mlasser]

01:25 AM on 11/29/2011

The millennial generation's sense of entitlement is so annoying.

[thepointoforigin]

11:31 PM on 11/23/2011

Isn't it funny how the big bad government with its multitude of laws is only out of control and in need of dismantling when they are helping people. When they are imposing what amounts to marshal law they are just protecting the new deity Capitalism.

[gold7246]

07:34 PM on 11/22/2011

Go let the "Occupiers" occupy the lawn of the WH. This is where the real problem started.

[ZGuile]

07:04 PM on 11/22/2011

Of course they want to pitch tents. It's part of the core philosophy of the Occupy movement: opposition to private property. Their very name "Occupy xxxxx" indicates the intention of taking over a location, whether it is someone else's property or not. At the core of the Occupy movement is the same anarchist philosophy that has been around for years, with the goal of destroying global capitalism and banks to create a socialist utopia that does not, and cannot, exist.

[gold7246]

07:30 PM on 11/22/2011

Excellent point and explanation

[Candide33]

03:00 AM on 11/23/2011

People like you who stand for nothing, fall for anything... keep repeating your Fox Lies talking points... one day soon you will find yourself outsourced or downsized and then you will change your tune.

[GNO65]

03:13 PM on 11/23/2011

Brainwashed...

[LIbislife]

11:47 AM on 11/22/2011

where in the first ammendment does it say people have a right to pitch a tent on public property? How is this a violation of free speech?

[thepointoforigin]

11:40 PM on 11/23/2011

where dose it say they can't? and where is it that it says only during business hours?

[LIbislife]

10:07 AM on 11/25/2011

thsi is not a constitutional issue. local cities have their ordinances governing what property can and can't be used for, You cannot just decide to pitch a tent anywhere you please and call it your constitutional right. Get serious. There are laws.

[No Longer Amused 25]

12:28 AM on 11/26/2011

Where in the First Amendment does it say people have a right to wear their pants down around their a**, but they do.

[LIbislife]

10:54 AM on 11/28/2011

actually there have been local municipalities that have passed laws against it.

[Donald Kinge]

11:37 AM on 11/22/2011

Are the police going to start (assuming they haven't been already) macing and beating homeless people now too?

[LIbislife]

12:03 PM on 11/22/2011

why would they? they generally do not block traffic.

[sugacan1]

06:07 AM on 11/22/2011

Want to make a change? Occupy congress, the senate and anywhere else lobbyist congregate and rule. Stop harassing the 99% who are trying to enjoy their few parks or get to WORK. Go where the problem is and I bet your numbers will multiply and do more than showcase how much YOU care and are willing to sacrifice.

You are not part of the civil rights movement. All you middle class kids have had lives a hundred times better than the people who were fighting for their lives during that movement. You have no idea how hard their lives were. People died during the civil rights movement. They had fire hoses turned on them, were beaten to death in the streets, shot down like dogs. Their leaders homes were bombed.

You are not part of the Arab Summer. People are dieing in those Arab countries that you keep comparing yourselves to. Their lives are and have been a hundred times worse than anything you have EVER faced in the USA. They are being shot to death. People are disappearing without a trace. Tanks are being turned on them.

Either regroup, find leaders to speak on your behalf, pick a damn cause and go to the source OR go home and take care of your families as best you can.

[Donald Kinge]

11:37 AM on 11/22/2011

I think you're neglecting the fact that we're in an economic crisis that hasn't been seen in 80 years - yes, it's that bad.
I think you're neglecting the beating, macing and attacks at the hands of unscrupulous police - yeah, it's that bad and not unlike the civil rights era
Things are always going to be worse somewhere else, that doesn't mean we shouldn't fight to make things better here.
I don't think the 84 year old woman who was maced fits your "middle class kid" stereotype. It's amazing that when our youth actually mobilize and try to change society they are chastised for it...go figure.

[sugacan1]

03:53 PM on 11/22/2011

I have neglected nothing. There is no comparison to the civil rights movement. There is no comparison to the Arab summer. No, it is not that bad Mr. Kinge. How dare you even attempt make the comparison.

[LIbislife]

12:03 PM on 11/22/2011

well said

[rubrducky999]

02:24 AM on 11/22/2011

The ACLU went to federal court over this very subject in 1981 and failed. Tent's aren't part of 1st amendment rights. Aside from Occupy, on the subject of the homeless I totally agree that we, as a nation could do more besides constantly kicking them to the curb and then telling them they can't be at the curb.

[karlhungus08]

03:51 AM on 11/22/2011

Great post. While I don't approve of the idea of "occupation" as a protest tool (it doesn't strengthen the message, breeds conflict with the police, inconveniences workers from all classes, and isolates the protesters from moderates) I have NO problem with homeless people setting up tents to stay out of the cold. You can disagree with OWS and still have compassion for people down on their luck.

[Kevin Rayburn]

02:20 AM on 11/22/2011

tents keep the protesters from getting rained on.

[LIbislife]

12:04 PM on 11/22/2011

tents are great. Go find a public campground that allows them

[No Longer Amused 25]

12:29 AM on 11/26/2011

I make a tent in my pants.

[beerbagger]

02:07 AM on 11/22/2011

It ain't about tents. It's bigger than tents and even 1st Amendment rights. The sad music in the middle of the video doesn't help much either. Why the occupy movements keep trying to message with this style of PR make little sense.

These movements should have rally's, teach-in's, communal resources & services anything the makes forward progress against these winds of economic inequality. Tell the stories of ALL that have been weathering the storm. Demonstrate means to show... show the world we can do this on our own. That would be a great Youtube video!!!

[LIbislife]

12:05 PM on 11/22/2011

they need leadership

[beerbagger]

04:57 PM on 11/22/2011

Not entirely... but they / we need to believe in more than tents. Nothing ever changes unless people understand that they can be it. Otherwise it's just business as usual.

See exhibit A:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=xkmo4ygPTjc

[catboycolo]

01:41 AM on 11/22/2011

Go ODenver! Stay safe and warm and "Intents"!

[Lunamoth]

11:15 AM on 11/22/2011

Love your micro bio!

[bbriani3842]

07:13 PM on 11/21/2011

If they would have enforced Banking Regulations with the vigor and diligence as they are enforcing Park Regulations, we wouldn't be in this mess to begin with.

[debekniss]

11:17 PM on 11/21/2011

hear Hear !!!

[basta]

11:26 PM on 11/21/2011

Property is more valuable than people in a capitalist world.

[debekniss]

11:28 PM on 11/21/2011

before Occupy Protesters it ws filled with drug pushers they did not use batons and pepper spray on them now did they?

[shooter486]

06:42 PM on 11/21/2011

Obamavilles are needed everywhere. Way to Go!!

The Community Orgainzer-in-Chief is so amazing!!

[sugacan1]

05:34 AM on 11/22/2011

you imply he's behind the whole the thing...

they are mad because he won't back them...

Pres. Obama is going to get blamed no matter what, huh?

[Donald Kinge]

11:39 AM on 11/22/2011

Of course, it's just like his foreign policy. Republicans disagree when he won't bomb Iran but the disagree when he does use force in Libya. The party of no continues...

[nhr 215]

05:53 PM on 11/21/2011

Sorry but a $1 million will most certainly NOT house all the homeless in Denver for a year. That is a ludicrous statement. Just a reflection of the naiveté and ignorance of the protesters.

The first amendment does not give you the right to pitch a tent anywhere in the country. There are laws that govern where you can and can't set-up shop. Yes, cities will vigorously enforce a minor statute when 100s of people decide together to willfully disobey it. I would also send in the police, as the alternative is mob rule and anarchy... .Oh wait, I forget their goal is anarchy...

[jacurtis88]

08:18 PM on 11/21/2011

I was essentially going to write this exact comment. These occupy movements make absolutely no sense to me. I can understand the homeless people that are banding together, because they have nothing else to do. But what about the last guy in the video that is going to lose his "corporate job" so that he can stand in the street, and then as he states, he will not be able to pay his bills or support his son any longer? So you are going to stick it to the top 1% of americas rich by intentionally losing your job to stand in the street and get arrested for an illegal protest?

How about instead of being a nuisance to society, you go out and prove that you have what it takes to become the 1%. How about you show up to your job and excel, and get promoted. How about you start a business and live the american dream. I still don't understand his parallel with Marin Luther King Jr. since the way they are going about this is completely different.

[debekniss]

11:16 PM on 11/21/2011

well keep learning more of what the Occupy Movement is about and see for yourself in the long run he might be saving his child grief from this country being turned into a third world country if Corporate America gets away with the crap they have been doing.

[Jim Spittle]

10:06 AM on 11/22/2011

So he's willing to risk his job for something he believes will make the future better. Is that a real problem for you? Ever read the last line of the Declaration of Independence? The signers had slaves back home making them money so they could leave "work" as it were.
The Tea Party is named after people who dressed in a decieving fashion to destroy private property. Is the Boston Tea Party a problem for you?
I can only assume that Gandi didn't impress you either. MLK era protests were illeagal too. Water hoses and dogs attacking them in the street ringing any bells?

Protesting is what brings change. If they weren't a nuisance (poor you) you wouldn't care...you already don't.

[debekniss]

11:14 PM on 11/21/2011

first how long were the tents there before excessive force was used? And a link to learn by is as follows : http://www.hrea.org/index.php?doc_id=411 then try reading this little ditty here : http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/Robert-Reich/2011/1116/Occupy-tents-removed-The-hijacking-of-the-First-Amendment as you will see the tents are symbolic of what the movement is trying to say and as the weather gets more harsh it is also a safety factor for the protesters. Why after weeks of allowing it does it need to get so ugly? Simple solutions to problems could have been made with less cost to the city by way of riot police and use of excessive force. It all comes down to choice here. Either you beleivie in free speech and peaceful protest or you think we should live in a polie state. Sorry I love our constitution as it was written not the weak leadership who fail to understand it.