Occupy Edmonton gets eviction notice 

Allison Salz, QMI Agency

Occupy Edmonton spokesperson Mahad Mohammed stands in front of a tent at the site Saturday. (Ian Kucerak/QMI Agency)

EDMONTON - Heck no they won't go.
Despite an eviction notice from Melcor Developments Ltd., the protesters at the city's Occupy Edmonton camp say they're staying put.
Following a meeting Saturday night, the group has collectively decided that they will not leave the camp by Melcor's deadline of 11 o'clock Sunday night.
"We're going to stand tall until we're forced to (leave)," said Mohad Mohammed, Occupy Edmonton spokesman.
The notice, sent by Melcor Saturday afternoon, gave the group just over 24 hours to vacate the property at 102 Street and Jasper Avenue or face criminal and civil charges.
The company said it will ask police to intervene to remove people and property if protesters continue to stay past the deadline.
Melcor cites "public health and safety," as well as liability issues from unauthorized use of their land.
But the occupiers disagree.
"This isn't about safety, this is about a corporation trying to squash our right to peaceful assembly and to silence a voice that has been silenced for far too long."
Mohammed said the police had suggested meeting with the city, EPS, and the landowners to hash out a timeline on a peaceful end to the occupation.
The general assembly had finally decided to go forward with the meeting, Mohammed said, but before they could agree, they were served with the eviction notice.
Asked if he was surprised that Melcor backed out of the proposed meetings, only to serve them with an eviction, Mohammed just shrugged.
"Of course not. That's what corporations do. They say they are going to do something and then they take it back. That's what our politicians have become so good at doing. They know there are individuals here intelligent enough to maybe change their minds on the issue."
He added that even if they are forced to leave, the movement will continue elsewhere.
The group has created an online petition, protesting the impending eviction.
By 7 p.m., the petition had already netted over 3,700 of the targeted 5,000 signatures, which they say they will present to Melcor, the city and police.
If the occupiers can provide Melcor and police with a timeline for leaving the site before the deadline Sunday night, the company said they will defer the eviction order.
Protesters have been at the Occupy site since Oct. 15.