Chapel Hill squatters return to court today

CHAPEL HILL -- Seven people charged with misdemeanor breaking and entering are due in Orange County court today in connection with last fall's incident at the former Yates Motor Co. building in downtown Chapel Hill.

The incident and police raid that removed the squatters after one day has divided the community.

Supporters of the squatters plan to rally at the Orange County courthouse beginning at 9 a.m. today. Speakers pro and con have spoken at several Town Council meetings.

The debate could return to Town Hall tonight when Town Manager Roger Stancil may provide his recommendation on whether the town should approve an outside investigator to review the incident.

A new town-appointed Community Policing Advisory Committee formally requested the investigator last week to help it compile a factual timeline of events during the Nov. 12-13 incident and to help the committee make policy recommendations.

A majority of council members, however, indicated last week they do not support the investigator because he or she would not be able to compel witnesses to speak or to speak truthfully and because the town could not protect those who spoke with the investigator from civil or criminal liability.

The council's reaction has left committee members "curious," committee chairman Ron Bogle said.

On Sunday, A crowd of about 60 people rallied outside the downtown post office on Peace and Justice Plaza. They were protesting Stancil's proposal to start enforcing restrictions on public gatherings that were lifted during the three-month Occupy Chapel Hill-Carrboro tent encampment. Council member Laurin Easthom has asked for a discussion before enforcing the rules, which restrict overnight gatherings and in some cases require a permit.

The Yates building takeover on West Franklin Street was by "anti-capitalist occupiers," according to their literature. The group said it wanted to turn the long vacant building into a community center with a clinic, daycare and beds for the homeless. Some members also were members of the Occupy encampment and movement down the street.