Bout time ...


State orders ‘Occupy’ tents out of Heritage Park



State officials ordered the Occupy Olympia campers to remove all tents and equipment from Heritage Park by 12:01 a.m. Friday. The order, signed by Department of Enterprise Services director Joyce Turner and posted this morning, cites health and safety concerns at the two-month-old protest site.

It remains to be seen what will happen next. Robert Whitlock, a supporter of the encampment, said he was just getting to the park this morning and had only heard rumors of the state’s action. But he questioned the wisdom of driving out the homeless people who have pitched shelters at the protest site.

“I think there’s some real concerns, in terms of the ability of the people who are here to take care of themselves. Last night there was one of the sort of domestic disputes that have happened, and a woman said ‘I don’t want to go back in the woods.’ … People feel safer here,’’ Whitlock said.

“I don’t think kicking people out is the best thing. … The best thing for the state is to take the situation more seriously and see how to support the people who are here and get them the support they need,’’ Whitlock added.

Turner has said the encampment poses a humanitarian challenge that her agency does not have the purview to address. And DES spokesman Steve Valandra said it is up to other groups to deal with the social needs of those in the park for reasons of shelter.

"We understand people need some help. We can't do that. It has to be up to other organizations,'' Valandra said.

Gov. Chris Gregoire said recently that the encampment could not go on indefinitely, and Occupy activist Leon Janssen said he agreed: that the conditions of wealth imbalance that gave rise to the original encampment can’t go on either.

Protesters began their action at state-owned Sylvester Park on Oct. 15 and moved a day later to Heritage Park. Asked why the eviction action was being taken now, Valandra said:

"We just think it's time to have it come to an end. We had more concerns about unsanitary conditions down there. We just noticed ... there are people defecating in the park. The restrooms had a lot of graffiti yesterday. And we've got to take a look at that turf.... We feel it's become less of a protest and more of an encampment. It just seems like the right time to bring it to an end.''


An interfaith group did a survey of the encampment recently and had been working with nonprofits and local governments on ways to open more shelters.

Camping is illegal on state grounds, and DES has let the protest go on despite a lack of permit. The State Patrol could arrest any who resist the "cease and desist" order, but Sgt. J.J. Gundermann referred all questions to Valandra of DES. Under Turner's order, those leaving personal belongings at the site can claim them up later.