Occupy Atlanta Group criticizes mayor, vows to remain here

By Rich McKay

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Members of the Occupy Atlanta movement, sympathizers of the much publicized Occupy Wall Street movement, on Saturday criticized Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed's actions that removed the protest group's overnight encampments from downtown Atlanta's Woodruff Park earlier this week.

Enlarge photo

Rich McKay , rmckay@ajc.com Ladie Mansfield (left) and Cailyn Nagle (in bandana) speak to reporters Saturday on behalf of Occupy Atlanta.

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Group spokeswoman La' Die Mansfield said at an 11 a.m. press conference that they are a group dedicated to "peaceful and lawful protest and we will continue to do so."

"We are an occupying protest, so we are going to continue to occupy Atlanta," she said.

But the group will not break the law, she said.

While park rules forbid overnight camping, Reed issued executive orders on Oct. 7 that let protesters stay, so long as they posed no public safety threat. Groups of protesters, sometimes numbering up to 700, have camped at the park for about three weeks.

Reed revoked his permission Tuesday after a non-permitted hip-hop concert and what the city described as fire code violations involving a generator and other safety hazards.

Mansfield said the generator was perfectly safe.

"They are the same type that you'll find at any tailgate party and football game," she said. "You can get them at Lowe's or Home Depot."

A city spokesman wasn't immediately available Saturday, but earlier, Reed defended his response -- closing the park and arresting protesters -- on Tuesday night after a man had been reportedly seen on TV walking around with an AK47. Mansfield said the man with the gun was not associated with Occupy Atlanta.

Police arrested more than 50 demonstrators by early Wednesday, all of whom have since been released.

Since then, Occupy Atlanta has been on the move. They set up camp Thursday evening at a city baseball field. By early Friday, they had moved to the Martin Luther King Jr. national historic site.

A representative from the city wasn't on hand for the press conference, attended by two media outlets and a handful of Occupy Atlanta supporters.

Mansfield said that the group is in the process of regrouping to determine where they will camp Saturday night.