Occupy Charlottesville protesters decided last night to meet with City Council Monday to discuss the expiration date of their permit allowing them to remain in Lee Park. This decision follows confusion about the exact date of the permit's expiration.
The City of Charlottesville granted Occupy Charlottesville permit renewal extension Oct. 26, allowing protesters to remain in Lee Park for 30 days. Protesters began occupying Lee Park last month.
Bailee Elizabeth, an Occupy protester and Charlottesville resident, said she received a phone call from a local news reporter yesterday. The reporter informed her that someone at the Department of Parks and Recreation said the permit will expire Sunday, six days before the end of the scheduled 30 day period.
Elizabeth said after receiving the call and informing the rest of the group, Charlottesville Police Lt. Wendy Lewis and another police officer came by to say the date was not correct.
"She said the City wanted to give us a chance to go to [Charlottesville City] Council to talk about it," Elizabeth said. She added that Mayor Dave Norris visited the park as well, saying there was confusion and the permit would not be revoked Sunday.
"We had differing views of whether the 30 days ended [Nov. 18] or [Nov. 28] and decided to give them the benefit of the doubt," City spokesperson Ric Barrick said.
Council member Kristen Szakos said the council does not have a unified stance on the situation.
"What we can do is offer guidance to staff on how we would expect it to be handled," she said. "I don't know what my colleagues feel about it." She added that this is the first time she has heard about the confusion regarding the expiration date.
At Monday's meeting, Occupy protesters will talk about the expiration date and raise the question of "why we need a permit to stay in a public space," Elizabeth said. The group as a whole has not yet decided whether or not to reapply for the permit after it expires. Elizabeth said some members will probably leave after it expires, though others will likely stay in the park.
"The City can shut down the physical presence but physical space doesn't matter," Occupy protester and University graduate Zac Fabian said. "It's really about the ideology."
The City Council meeting will take place Monday at 7 p.m. The protesters plan to rally at Lee Park at 5 p.m. before marching to the meeting.
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