City denies Occupy Chicago permanent Grant Park home
(AP) — The city of Chicago has turned down a request from anti-Wall Street protesters for a permanent home in Grant Park.
Lawyers for the city and Occupy Chicago met Thursday.
Protesters want the city to allow them to set up a home base for the growing movement in Grant Park without being arrested.
Chicago police made more than 300 arrests the past two weekends after protesters remained in the park after it closed.
Occupy Chicago also asked the city to drop pending charges against protesters who were arrested, a request that also was denied.
A city Law Department spokesman described the meeting as cordial. He says the city respects protesters' First Amendment rights but also has an obligation to enforce its laws.
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