The City of Orlando changed the rules on Occupy Orlando protesters Tuesday night.
Protesters, who have been camping out at the Senator Beth Johnson Park since the movement began on October 15, would get out each night at 11:00 p.m., leaving their belongings and gear to return at 6:00 a.m., the following morning, when the park re-opened.
But all that changed on Tuesday night when Orlando police officers ordered protesters to pack up everything–gear, placards and supplies–and leave the park.
Police then began removing protesters’ belongings themselves, including an American flag.
As the American flag was being removed, the group broke into singing the Star Spangled Banner, the U.S. National Anthem.
Some members of the group said, they are not phased by the removal of the American flag as it was made in China anyway. There are calls for red, white and blue cloth — old t-shirts, pants, sheets — as the American flag will be replaced, one group member vowed.
Orlando Police Department issued a statement on Wednesday saying, “extensive communication” had been undertaken with protesters advising of state and local laws, “including moving their public speech activities to nearby sidewalks, but some individuals have failed to comply.”
Occupy Orlando protesters returned to the park again on Wednesday morning at 6:00 a.m.
Last Saturday, 19 protesters were arrested for failing to leave the park.
