The city could get cluttered this weekend as organizers of two protests plan to pounce on the Financial District with allegedly thousands of people in tow.
If the numbers of those who attended general assemblies on the Boston Common this week match those who plan on camping out near South Station, a field of at least 200 tents will be visible in Dewey Square starting Friday.
On Wednesday night, members of “Occupy Boston,” a group of activists echoing the movements demonstrated on Wall Street to fight the corporate system, declared that Sept. 30 would be the day to “take back the city.”
Backed by lawyers, members of the ACLU, students and parents, the group decided to skip the legal permitting process and set up near the Financial District.
“If we get a permit it’s not an occupation, it’s called camping,” said ‘Winter,’ an activist at the assembly Wednesday.
A spokesperson for MassDOT, who owns the property, said “we hope folks appreciate its value and respect [it], and help to keep it as an attractive destination for everyone who visits.”
In a statement, Boston Police spokeswoman Elaine Driscoll said commanders met Thursday to go over logistics for all protest scenarios from both “Occupy” and “Right to the City,” the other protest planned.
“We [are developing] a deployment plan with a goal of respecting everyone’s right to protest but also ensuring the public’s safety,” she said.
“Occupy” members said they are ready for police.
“We will be peaceful when staring police in the face no matter what weapon they are wielding,” a protestor shouted to the group Wednesday night.
That’s ‘Right’
The Right to the City March and Rally, a group of residents who face home foreclosure and unemployment, is taking place Friday at 2 p.m. With a large protest at the Federal Street headquarters and 1,000 folks geared up to attend, families will be fighting against Bank of America near South Station.
“It’s going to be massive,” said Brandon German, an activist with the group. “This movement is about real victims — people dealing with foreclosure and eviction. They are marching and protesting because they are fed up with Bank of America’s practices.”
