The protestors can come back but they can’t spend the night.

A judge ruled against Occupy Wall Street protesters, upholding a move by New York City and the landlord of the privately owned plaza to clear tents and sleeping bags from Zuccotti Park and prevent protesters from bringing equipment back in. Hours after police cleared the last protester from their encampment Tuesday, lawyers for the city and Brookfield Office Properties faced off with Occupy Wall Street representatives inside a courtroom.

Supreme Court Justice Michael Stallman weighed whether to extend a temporary restraining order that bars the city from enforcing park rules against tents, sleeping bags and other camping equipment. The original ruling came after police and sanitation workers had already swept all personal belongings from the two-month-old encampment, with more than 200 people arrested in the raid. The city, which had expected to reopen the park under the new rules Tuesday morning, held off ahead of the judge’s decision. A sometimes tense standoff between police and protesters surrounding the park lasted throughout the day. Arguing against the restraining order, lawyers for the city and Brookfield Office Properties, the owner of Zuccotti Park, argued that free-speech rights don’t extend to tents and other structures that had been erected inside the privately owned park…Douglas Flaum, a lawyer for Brookfield, said the protesters have the right to demonstrate in the park, but that doesn’t extend to “habitation.” He said the protesters would be welcome to return, just without their tents and other items that lead to a semi-permanent encampment.

Judge Rules Against ‘Occupy’ Protestors [WSJ]

Comments (17)

  1. Posted by Guess | November 15, 2011 at 5:13 PM

    I certainly prefer the odor of disinfectant to that of shit.

  2. Posted by Guest | November 15, 2011 at 5:25 PM

    na na na na hey hey hey good-bye

  3. Posted by I'm a Dude | November 15, 2011 at 5:27 PM

    yes, ironic we have the mr. clean ad here on DB

  4. Posted by @LittleBiggyGirl | November 15, 2011 at 5:38 PM

    stallman's phone number has been posted on twitter as a "fun fact". desperation is not flattering occupiers. have your tantrums in private and keep focused on the greater goals you've set forth. http://littlebiggy.org/4660547

  5. Posted by Anonymous | November 15, 2011 at 5:39 PM

    @OWS We will rebuild it. #EmpathyTable #Hugs #Herpes #PotassiumDeficiency

    -Stacey

  6. Posted by Louis Winthorpe III | November 15, 2011 at 5:47 PM

    I'm long on Snuggies and full-length ponchos.

  7. Posted by early_hominid | November 15, 2011 at 5:52 PM

    Rule 1: Never hire "movement" lawyers to plead your movement's case. They're about as on the ball as dead seals.

  8. Posted by Inspector Gadget | November 15, 2011 at 6:03 PM

    I have a hat with a built in umbrella, so I'm fine.

  9. Posted by Lonely Guest | November 15, 2011 at 6:07 PM

    It just goes to show: you can’t trust the system, man.

    - Guy Who Threw It on the Ground

  10. Posted by You know who | November 15, 2011 at 7:03 PM

    Bess, I want you to come back but you can't move in!

    - Jorge Soros

  11. Posted by 90s reference | November 15, 2011 at 7:41 PM

    "Your honor I object!"
    "Why is that Mr. Reede?"
    "Because it's devastating to my case!"

    Guess the NYLG has been taking strategy notes from the wrong sources.

  12. Posted by Louis Winthorpe III | November 15, 2011 at 9:31 PM

    Rule 2: Literally everyone that has a mustache is a pedophile. Just sayin'.

    -guy who's just sayin'

  13. Posted by confused | November 15, 2011 at 9:37 PM

    Wait, they set forth goals??

  14. Posted by Guest | November 15, 2011 at 11:20 PM

    I'm long bleach

  15. Posted by Guest_of_Honor | November 16, 2011 at 9:23 AM

    Judge: Don't talk to me sitting in that chair!

    Hippie: But he… [points to bailiff] told me to sit here.

    Judge: When you're addressed in this court, you'll rise. Speak to me in a clear, intelligible voice. What are you wearing?

    Hippie: Um… I'm wearing clothes. I… I don't get the question.

    Judge: When you come into my court looking like you do, you not only insult me, but you insult the integrity of this court!

    Hippie: I apologise, sir, but, uh… this is how I dress.

    Judge: Fine. I'll let you off this one time. The next time you appear in my court, you will look lawyerly. And I mean you comb your hair, and wear a suit and tie. And that suit had better be made out of some sort of… cloth. You understand me?

    Hippie: Uh… yes. Fine, Judge, fine.

    <next day>

    Judge: Are you mocking me with that outfit?

  16. Posted by Commuter | November 16, 2011 at 1:19 PM

    Been long pepperspray since September.

  17. Posted by Asst. Jr. Rainmaker | November 16, 2011 at 3:19 PM

    Its Movember … they blend in now :(

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