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Encampment will come down Friday, city tells Occupy St. Louis

This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, Nov. 10, 2011 - City officials will take action tomorrow afternoon to take down Occupy St. Louis' encampment at Kiener Plaza.

Local members of the Occupy movement -- which is protesting economic inequality, among other things -- have been at loggerheads with the city over its protest site at the downtown St. Louis park. Slay and his administration argue that the protest area, which includes a number of tents, violates city ordinances. Protesters sayany move to disassemble their site would violate their freedom of speech.

At a meeting between administration officials and the protesters earlier this week, Jeff Rainford, Slay's chief of staff, said the city would move "sooner rather than later" to enforce ordinances. He also said the protesters would get 24-hour notice before any action was taken.

On Thursday, a message was posted on Occupy STL's Facebook page stating that the group received an e-mail from Gary Bess, St. Louis' parks and recreation director. According to the group, the e-mail stated: "I would like to give you notice that effective 1 p.m. tomorrow, Nov. 11, 2011 or any time thereafter, the city of St. Louis will begin strict enforcement of all ordinances and regulations pertaining to the use of Kiener Plaza."

Kara Bowlin, a spokeswoman for Slay, confirmed to the Beacon that the message was accurate. After a reporter read the statement on the group's Facebook page, Bowlin said she believed the city would enforce the ordinances at 3 p.m.

In a post on his blog, the mayor indicated that the city "soon will resume enforcement of the 10 p.m. curfew at Kiener Plaza."

Jason Rosenbaum, a freelance journalist in St. Louis, covers state and local government and politics.

Jason is the politics correspondent for St. Louis Public Radio.