HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) -
The City of Harrisburg has shut down a tent camp of about 10-20 people affiliated with the Occupy Harrisburg movement.
Police said they told the campers to leave Riverfront Park and remove all their property by 1 p.m. Property that remained in the park was removed by the city.
City spokesman Robert Philbin said the city is sensitive to First Amendment rights, but the camp violated four city ordinances.
He said the city has also received rising complaints from citizens who use the park for recreational purposes.
Members of the group earlier in the day had disrupted a Legislative Reapportionment hearing, but Philbin stressed that the shutdown was not because of any protest or any particular point of view expressed by the campers.
"The city maintains that camping in violation of city law is not a limitation of free speech." Philbin said. "Protesters can exercise free speech in the park all day long, but they must vacate the park, by law, at 10:00 p.m."
Philbin said any private land owner in the city who is interested in permitting the campers should contact the Mayor's Office.
Members of the group had been camping in the park along Front Street for about two weeks.
The group later issued a statement that little notice was given before they were ordered to leave and no warning was provided to their attorney.
