Occupy Raleigh weighs another move

Published: February 20, 2012 

— The Occupy Raleigh movement may move from its downtown camp and seek a new home – its third – as its protest against social and economic injustice enters its fifth month.

The Raleigh occupation began in October outside the State Capitol along Morgan Street. Demonstrators moved a few blocks west, to a wedge of land between Edenton and Hillsborough streets, in November, seeking a place to sleep and eat while keeping a 24-hour presence. They set up tents around a campfire on the site, which also has a library, kitchen and portable toilet.

Since then, the occupiers have leased the land from a private landlord on a month-to-month basis. Recently, they learned they would have to seek their own insurance at roughly $700 for a year, said Kurt Zehnder of Occupy Raleigh.

They have raised enough money to cover the insurance, Zehnder said, thanks to a donor who wanted them to have a space. But they aren’t certain they want to stay and spend the money there. Eviction at the end of February is a possibility, he said, but not certain.

“Everything is up in the air,” he said. “There’s a fairly popular idea floating around to get an indoor space, but we have to put it to the whole group.”

The movement, which mirrors the Occupy Wall Street movement in New York, marked its 100th day downtown in January. They hold daily assemblies at the Capitol along with frequent rallies, including one starting Friday which may involve occupy groups from around the state.

Last week, a Wake County prosecutor dropped charges against an Occupy Raleigh protester who has a disability and was charged with trespassing in October after she refused to move her chair from the sidewalk in front of the Capitol.

Shaffer: 919-829-4818

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