Occupy Louisville Demonstrators Move Locations

Occupy Louisville demonstrators are moving in preparation for the city’s Light Up Louisville holiday event later this month.The demonstration mirrors Occupy Wall Street in standing against corporate greed and the influence of money in politics.On Thursday morning, a few demonstrators were packing up supplies and preparing to move (pictured) while city workers began putting lights on trees in Jefferson Square Park.For the past several weeks, demonstrators have remained at Jefferson Square Park with permission from the city. The permit requires demonstrators to temporarily leave the park for Light Up Louisville.Demonstrator Jason Whirlwind said rather than move for just one day, the group has now acquired a permit for Founders Square, two blocks away.“The city bureaucracy here has been on our side. They’re not making us move because they don’t like our movement. That’s why we’re getting a spot immediately like half a block down the street," he said.Demonstrators who currently stay overnight want to remain at Founders Square until the end of the year, said Whirlwind. But that conflicts with others who want to move back to Jefferson Square Park after Light Up Louisville, which the permit allows, he said.“I cannot speak for Occupy Louisville on that. I can tell you that people that you are looking around and see helping us move that have been here staffing our kitchen and cleaning up the trash and have been pretty much the only people living here, they want to stay there," said Whirlwind.The permit also suggests that Occupy Louisville accommodate other events that wish to use the Jefferson Square Park Space. And there are several others who are interested, which would cause demonstrators to move again, he said.Communication issues still exist between Occupy Louisville supporters, said Whirlwind.This coming Sunday will kick off Occupy Louisville's "7 Days of Solidarity," which includes a series of marches, rallies and discussions.Whirlwind said he doesn't know much about who planned the event, or what's involved.Click here to see a copy of the new permit.