Occupy Fort Lauderdale protesters told to go

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (WSVN) -- They've been allowed to camp out at all hours of the day for weeks, but now members of the Occupy Fort Lauderdale movement have a limited time to get out.

The rules have changed Wednesday night, and the demonstrators inspired by the Occupy Wall Street movement are not going down without a fight. Baring an injunction from a Broward County judge, those hanging around later Wednesday night could be arrested.

For the last two weeks, demonstrators outside Fort Lauderdale City Hall have pitched tents, hanging out picket signs protesting close links between corporations and the government. They have said they feel elected officials no longer show a vested interest in the people that have placed them in office.

Now the city is preparing to evict them, saying camping is not allowed, even in city parks and signs cannot be placed around city hall. They must be held by a pair of human hands. "Originally, when they were out there, we even let them go underneath the building, if they needed shelter or cover," said Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jack Seiler, "but now they're erecting tents and things of that nature, and we can't allow that. I mean, this is a city hall."

"I think it's an infringement of these folks' right to have free speech," said attorney Jim Lewis. "It's an infringement upon the First Amendment. I've lived here in the City of Fort Lauderdale for 25 years, and I've never known the city manager to issue a specific policy or procedure overnight."

"Until yesterday there was no violation of the rules here," said Peter Dybing, one of the protesters. "There's an expos facto change in the rules that was posted over here. There are a brand new set of rules that are designed to affect just this protest."

The city argues that the rules are in place to keep the homeless from camping wherever they want. "So we can't allow Occupy Fort Lauderdale to sleep in the parks and tell the homeless not to sleep in the parks," said Seiler. "We have to treat everyone the same way, and so this is really a manner of fairness and respect."

Broward Circuit Judge Mark Gold is now considering both arguments.

The judge will revisit the issue next week.

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