BELLINGHAM - Police in riot gear cleared the Occupy Bellingham camp at Maritime Heritage Park, arresting three protesters who refused to leave and one who had moved his tent into the street Wednesday afternoon, Dec. 28.
About 40 Occupy members were at the camp Wednesday morning as police lined up to start their slow sweep through the park to enforce an eviction notice issued the day before. Dozens of people watched from sidewalks, some shouting at the protesters and some shouting at the police, until the park was cleared at about 1 p.m.
"I was heartbroken when the police in riot gear showed up. It was so unnecessary," said protester Tee King. "We have been nothing but peaceful and they know that."
Three people were arrested for trespassing in the park sweep: Russell Rollins, Debra Cantrell and Herbert Goodwin, who was also booked for obstructing an officer. Goodwin also was arrested at the Occupy Bellingham protest on the train tracks Dec. 12.
The portion of West Holly Street in front of the park was closed before police moved in, and when protesters saw the barricades go up, many moved from the park to the street. One protester, Shea Field, moved his tent into the street and stayed until he was arrested for disorderly conduct.
After police cleared the park, Bellingham Parks and Recreation Department workers began cleaning up the encampment, throwing away trash and raking up bark paths created by the campers.
"Our interest is trying to get the park restored as soon as possible," said parks employee Marvin Harris.
Remaining tents and personal property were impounded, said police Lt. Rick Sucee, and owners will be able to claim their belongings.
Campers said they would have been able to clean up the camp if given more than 24 hours notice of eviction.
The arrests began about 12:30 p.m., 31/2 hours after the 9 a.m. deadline the city had given the campers in an eviction notice Tuesday.
Mayor Dan Pike and Bellingham parks director James King signed the notice. Campers were ordered to leave the park, clear out all belongings and trash, and repair any damage by Wednesday morning. It warned that those who refused could face arrest.
City officials had allowed the camp since Occupy members set it up in late October in support of the national Occupy Wall Street movement against corporate greed. But Pike said Tuesday that the city needed to enforce the laws and that the movement needed to find a new way to spread its message, one that didn't cost the city money.
No figures were available Wednesday for the cost of the park clearing and cleanup.
Occupy members were angered by the city's move to evict them; their legal adviser claimed the city's actions were illegal.
Other cities across the state and country have evicted Occupy camps from public spaces.
Bellingham Occupy member Jim Robitaille described the day as sad, lonesome and depressing. But removing the camp won't put an end to the Occupy movement in Bellingham.
"The problem we all camped here for is still a problem. The system is still broken," he said Wednesday morning. "We've only scratched the surface so far, but we're not giving up."
After the police cleared the park and the street, protesters marched to City Hall, where they met in the lobby to decide their next move. They voted to seek a house or commercial space in foreclosure and occupy it, with permission from the owner.
"This is forcing us to reorganize, rethink and plan for the next objective and the next direct action," Robitaille said earlier in the day. "The mayor, the city and the police department have not seen the last of us. We're here for the long run."
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