City Officials Keeping A Close Watch On Occupy Wall Street Rally At Union Square Park

Parks Commissioner Adrain Benepe visited Union Square Park Friday evening with the Park Enforcement Patrol (PEP) Urban Park Service head Michael Dockett. Liam Kavanagh came by a bit later in the evening. The Parks Department has pulled PEP officers from other parks and deployed six officers for the Occupy Wall Street movement in Union Square, officers they can not spare. (Nice overtime) On Saturday, OWS is planning to march from Liberty Square (Zuccotti Park) to Union Square Park. (Photos: © Geoffrey Croft/NYC Park Advocates)

"As long as they are not interfering with the rights of other people who are enjoying the park they can stay, as long as they are not blocking access they can stay," Benepe said of the protestors on Thursday.

When asked if they would be allowed to have their large Saturday rally planned for the park without a permit Benepe replied, "I really can't comment on what might happen in the future."

The City is not allowing protestors to sleep overnight in the public park. - Geofffrey Croft

Manhattan

The city will be watching like a hawk Saturday as Occupy Wall Street protesters rally in bustling Union Square, according to the New York Daily News.

“We’ll speak with the Law Department, the Police Department,” Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe said. “We’ll handle situations as they arise.”

Benepe, who made the comments after a City Council budget hearing, said some protesters have been rallying in the park the past few days without a permit.

He said the protesters have been allowed to gather as long as they follow the rules because they haven’t been an “organized group.”

“If it’s an organized group,” he said. “that brings up other things.”

There is a midnight curfew in the park and protesters will be expected to leave by then, he said.

Councilman Jumaane Williams said the cops haven’t always been clear about what the rules are.

He said he was in the park on Wednesday and was told that it was illegal to hold up a banner.

“Let everybody know exactly what the rules are so the protesters can make informed decisions,” he said.

NYPD officers keep a watchful eye on activities in Union Square Park on Friday Night. For the past two nights police have enforced the park's 12:00am curfew. The have placed barricades around the southern plaza and prevented protesters from staying overnight.

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City officials will be keeping a close watch on Occupy Wall Street rally at Union Square Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe said he will ensure that any demonstrators have proper permits

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