Future of Occupy Burlington encampment uncertain; police clear City Hall Park to investigate death

[garybeck]

Future of Occupy Burlington encampment uncertain after police clear City Hall Park to investigate man's death

The city closed half of City Hall Park and put a halt to all camping at the Occupy Burlington site Thursday night while police investigate a shooting in a tent that cost a 35-year-old man his life. Meanwhile, the movement’s participants mourned a member of their community and planned the future of the encampment.

Just a day after the joyful spontaneity of a Gogol Bordello performance Wednesday night at City Hall Park, Thursday’s shooting that police believe may have been self-inflicted spiraled into a tense confrontation between Burlington police and some protesters over access to the park.

The evening culminated in this surreal scene nearly five hours after the shooting: Mayor Bob Kiss, standing hatless and coatless in a cold rain, talking a group of close to 100 City Hall Park occupiers down from a near riot.

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20111110/NEWS02/111110019/occupy-burlington-shooting?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE