Property owners reach deal with city
FLINT -- Occupy Flint demonstrators aren't going anywhere for now.
Earlier Monday, they expected Flint Building Inspection to issue code violations, forcing them out of their encampment at the corner of Martin Luther King and Second Street.
“Occupy’s not going anywhere,” said Michael Burton, media spokesperson for Occupy Flint.
Burton had said city officials could find demonstrators’ structure of plywood, PVC pipes and tarps in violation of codes.
It’s become a functional headquarters over the past two months, complete with portable toilets and solar panels, and where members hold general assembly meetings.
Property owners of the lot where they’ve set up shop have no problem letting demonstrators use their land.
“Here we have a group of people participating in this democracy, being good stewards and citizens of Flint, and they’re being asked to leave,” said Ryan Eashoo, one of the owners of the vacant lot at the corner of Martin Luther King and Second Street.
Occupiers say an eviction won’t stop them from furthering their agenda.
“We're trying to get people to open their eyes and see what's going on right now and educate themselves. That's been our message from the beginning - educate yourselves,” Burton said.
"There are a lot of people who don't like this message, because they are the one percent."
