It's day six of the "Occupy Phoenix" demonstration in Cesar Chavez Plaza, and there are now officially more protest signs than there are actual protesters.
We dropped by this afternoon to see how the occupation was going -- we weren't shocked to find the crowd dwindled from about 1,000 when the occupation began Saturday to roughly 16 this afternoon.
How long do they plan to "occupy" downtown Phoenix?
"'Til ever," one female occupier tells New Times -- after screaming "they took my house, but I feed my kids. I'm a good mother" at a passing car.
We didn't have the heart to tell her that hanging out in a public plaza and screaming at cars probably isn't going to get her house back.
According to the protester, things are looking up for the occupiers, though -- word around the occupation is they'll soon be allowed to spend the night in the plaza.
We asked Phoenix Sergeant Steve Martos if there's any truth to this.
Martos says the Phoenix PD asked a legal team for advice on how to handle the occupation. According to the attorneys, Cesar Chavez Plaza is more of a "public forum" than it is a "public park." That means the occupiers are allowed to stay in the plaza as long as they want, but must adhere to other city ordinances about obstructing public spaces.
In other words, the occupation can go all night as long as the occupiers don't set up a shanty town and fall asleep. That is, as long as the occupiers are awake and not in a tent, they can remain in the plaza as long as they want.
Phoenix police also have "become aware" that some of the "99-percenters" have put the phone numbers and addresses of people who've spoken out against the occupation on various websites. Word is they're encouraging occupiers to to go to the homes of the opposition and hassle people.
Check back tomorrow for another update on the occupation of Phoenix.
