Freedom to Assemble?

The contemptible squatting of Occupy Calgary has outstayed it's welcome for many citizens in Calgary. Not in the fact that they are exercising their right to assemble, but in the fact that they have taken the rights of the people to enjoy Olympic Plaza away with their eyesore of a campground. Trying to manipulate the Charter to include breaking laws and vandalism.

Who is to blame for this infringement on peoples rights to enjoy this public place? I think it is Calgary City Council. Mayor Naheed Nenshi refuses to act on the illegal campground at Olympic Plaza, exclaiming the City has no right to enforce the bylaws and remove the campsites. Pardon me? Since when does freedom to assemble a campground fall under the Charter? Let me explain for you Mayor and City Council. It means people have the right to assemble themselves as people, not build campgrounds and destroy public property. It should absolutely be viewed as a slap in the face to the taxpayers of Calgary to have to cough up an extra $40,000.00 to pay for these dozen protesters. At what cost to the taxpayer will this end?

Mayor Nenshi and City Council has effectively set the precedent for future occupation of our Cities public spaces. How much lawlessness is achievable manipulating the Charter? Stampede is approaching quickly, and I along with many others don't care to pay the parking. By the logic of City Council if we assemble our fifth wheels at Olympic Plaza and make the claim of assembly under the Charter, this is now acceptable. Puts me nice and close to the Stampede Grounds. Hell maybe I will simply assemble the group in discontent that there are not full hookups for our RV in Olympic Plaza and stay parked there until they are met. Nice and close to work downtown too. I wonder if the beer tent goes too far. Nah, it is just a bylaw so he can't enforce it in my assembly, right?

Yes, I know this is ridiculous. Is it anymore so than the current camp out going on at Olympic Plaza? Not in my opinion. For the last month the kids have been camped out down there with less reason than I had pointed out for my Occupy Stampede assembly. They have made rumblings on the inequality of our society and homeless issues, but when Tim Richter and the Calgary Homeless Foundation stepped up to the plate with solutions to the homeless problems, the Occupy Calgary group quickly tried to derail helping those most in need.

 So what is their demands to be met and end the camp out? Well there is none. "The moment we make a demand, is the moment we open ourselves to negotiation with the state. The moment we start negotiations with the state is the moment we claim to have ownership over the ideas that “occupy Calgary” represent. By requesting dialogue with all rather than demanding negotiations with a few, we will assure the inclusive nature of our movement."

How long is our City Council and Mayor willing to let the nonsense continue at the huge expense of taxpaying Calgarians. Without any goal, how does the city expect an outcome that is reasonable? How many laws will the Mayor allow to be broken by manipulating the charter?

My most important question to the Mayor and Calgary City Council, Can I count on fully serviced sites at the new campground by the time my Occupy Stampede assembly begins?