Photos and words by RusselDaniels.com
At sundown on Sat. Nov. 13, over 70 police officers marched into the Occupy Salt Lake City encampment at Pioneer Park arresting 18 protestors and handing out one citation. The day before, Salt Lake Mayor Ralph Becker ordered a sundown eviction for the Occupy protestors. By 8:30 p.m. police had removed the remaining tents and personal belongings left in the encampment. Resistance was minimal.
Approximately 150 protestors had been living in the downtown encampment since the movement occupied it on Oct. 6 and for over five weeks, it had been relatively trouble free.
The day before a homeless man was found dead in the encampment. Salt Lake City Police Chief Chris Burbank said the death was likely a combination of drug overdose and carbon monoxide poisoning––the police had found drug paraphernalia and a propane heater in the man's tent. The man's death seemed to have prompted the eviction.
Recent reports have connected nationwide police crackdowns on Occupy encampments as to have been coordinated by mayors, FBI and the Department of Homeland Security.