Police enter 'Occupy' camp, ready to enforce eviction order

Police enter 'Occupy' camp, ready to enforce eviction order

Protesters affiliated to the the Occupy Toronto movement fortify a pavilion in St.James Park in Toronto on Tuesday November 22, 2011 as they continue to defy an eviction notice amid rumours of a Police raid. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

Busloads of police officers are inside St. James Park, ready to enforce an eviction order and end the 'Occupy Toronto' encampment.
Police significantly increased their presence around the park at around 4 a.m. At around 6:30 a.m., officers asked protesters over a loudspeaker to vacate the park and comply with a city-issued tresspass notice.
At 6:45 a.m., police walked into the park with flashlights and began looking into tents. According to reports, the plan is to ask protesters to leave the premises. The officers will then regroup and re-enter the park with city staff to begin removing structures.
About 50 protesters who are in the park are shouting "Whose park? Our park!" as officers walked through the grounds.
St. James Park remained peaceful overnight as protesters tried their best to stay awake amid fears police would move in and enforce an eviction order that would bring the Occupy Toronto movement to an end.
Many protesters have packed up their belongings after the courts upheld a city decision Monday to enforce a trespass notice and clear the park of any people between midnight and 5:30 a.m.
However, dozen of demonstrators said they won't leave without a fight and are ready to be arrested for their cause. Others have said they are ready to launch a hunger strike if they are forcefully evicted.
Road closures
Meanwhile, police have shut down several roads in the area and police say those closures will remain in effect until further notice.
The road closures are:

• Jarvis St., between Richmond St. East and King St. East
• King St. E., between Jarvis and Church St.
• Adelaide St. E, between Jarvis and Church St.

The protesters have been camped out on the property for more than five weeks since Oct. 15
Twelve people have chained themselves to a large yurt that has been used as a library. There are several more people inside. Protesters nailed together wooden boards around the yurt in an effort to make things difficult for police attempting to raid it.
About 30 demonstrators huddled under a gazebo in the park, seeking shelter in the rain and playing drums in an effort to keep the spirit of the 'Occupy' movement alive.
Despite the court-backed eviction order, police have not moved in on protesters for the past two nights though there were rampant rumours that authorities would move in on the camp site at some point Wednesday morning.
The 'Occupy' movement started in New York City's Zuccotti Park and has since spread to cities across North America.
In Canada, protests have been dismantled in Victoria, Calgary and Quebec City this week. Camps were evicted in London, Ont., Saskatoon, Regina and Halifax earlier this month.
Protesters say the current distribution of wealth leaves only one per cent of the population with financial security.