A group of protesters affiliated with the Occupy movement has returned to a Pennsylvania city and that has the mayor questioning if they are allowed to be there.
Easton Mayor Sal Panto Jr. says they're breaking the law.
The Express-Times reports Occupy Easton first came to the city in late 2011, as protests were waged around the country in solidarity with the Occupy Wall Street movement condemning corporate greed and other things.
Panto Jr. says the city decided at that time to let the movement run its course. Now, protesters have returned to Easton and pitched tents on a downtown street. Panto says he's not sure he's going to tolerate it and that they are breaking the law. He says he's ready to take action if necessary.
“It’s no different than a group of people deciding to camp out there at Eddyside. It’s not allowed,” Panto told the paper.
The protesters, however, say they haven't been a disruption and are helping keep the area clean.
“We’re doing nothing negative, only assisting people and helping build the community up,” protester Chris Leaning told the paper. “Neighbors who have never met before come here and talk about issues like politics and the economy, which we think is really important.”
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Panto said a city ordinance that closes public areas at night gives police the right to clean up any unattended tents or other belongings.
