Police: Iowa City Won't Stand in Way of Wall Street Protest

Iowa City police do not plan to issue citations or take action towards protestors who plan to occupy beginning at 6 p.m. this evening in solidarity with the Occupy Wall Street movement.

Iowa City Attorney Eleanor Dilkes sent an email to city staff and police advising that "A permit is not required (to assemble) due to the exemption in the ordinance for spontaneous events."

Her staff will be contacting the organizers of Occupy Iowa City and putting out a news release to clarify, she said in an email to Patch.

Occupy Iowa City organizers met for a planning meeting in which more than on Wednesday evening.

Word from the city initially was that permits are required for gatherings and that police may issue citations to those that don't vacate when the park closes at 11 p.m. Organizers said they had no plans to get a permit, and pointed to the same code as Dilkes, which set up a possible confrontation.

Iowa City Police Sgt. Denise Brotherton said now they don't plan to issue citations.

"It's your right. We all knew when we came to work for a police department in a university town, there will be protests," Brotherton said. "We support your right to protest. We just want to keep you safe. We are part of the community, too."

Brotherton described some potential risks, and didn't rule out that arrests could be made if things get out of hand.

The park is frequented by transients and late night crowds, often intoxicated, walking home from the bars. However, she said, the police do not plan to consider intervening unless they start receiving complaints from the community, the parks department or if there are problems.

"If they are trying to start something with police, that’s different. But, this is about Wall Street. We’re not Wall Street," Brotherton said.