3 Occupiers arrested during attempt to erect 'tent city'
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Three Occupy Austin demonstrators were arrested Saturday as the group attempted to reorganize on the one-year anniversary of their occupation in front of City Hall.
The occupiers were arrested at two difference locations. The first two were arrested when the group initially met up at the Highland Mall in North Austin.
The third protester was arrested after the group marched to the site of a former Home Depot on northeast corner of St. John’s Road and Interstate 35.
The demonstrators intended to establish a tent city for Austin’s homeless population, but Austin police quickly took any tents down.
"We're trying to say that we have the ability as a community to solve the issue of homelessness,” Peter Cooper with Occupy Austin said. “I feel like homelessness is created by the fact that we have vacant buildings and that there's something that's keeping people out of buildings."
Occupiers say they plan to fight for the right to use vacant spaces as shelter so the buildings will be used.
The attempted launching of Tent City was one of many activities Occupy Austin took part in on their one year of protesting anniversary.