Occupy Chattanooga protesters to avoid arrests, will stay on courthouse sidewalks

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Protesters with Occupy Chattanooga decided not to camp out at Ross's Landing tonight after Chattanooga Police Chief Bobby Dodd said they would be arrested if they stayed after the city's 10:30 p.m. curfew.

Instead, they'll stay on the sidewalks outside the Hamilton County Courthouse on Georgia Avenue, which Dodd said is fine as long as they aren't impeding foot traffic or sleeping on the sidewalk.

More than 100 Occupy protesters gathered in the City Council meeting tonight and told council members they planned to occupy the green space next to Ross's Landing.

City Attorney Mike McMahan implored the protesters to go to Coolidge Park instead, saying the Head of the Hooch event had already reserved Ross's Landing for Wednesday.

But they still can only be in the park from 6 a.m. until 10:30 p.m., he said.

Check back for more information and read tomorrow's edition of the Times Free Press.