http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wwno/local-wwno-996923.mp3
The order allowing Occupy New Orleans to remain in Duncan Plaza expires later today. It's unclear what's next for the group.
Occupy NOLA began in October in conjunction with the Occupy Wall Street movement. The encampment across from City Hall grew to about 150 people demanding social justice and economic equality. University of New Orleans anthropology professor Steve Striffler has been studying the local and national developments of the occupy movement. He says timing can be traced to anger at President Obama for not taking a tougher stand on Wall Street regulations, and the economy remaining stalled.
"It was sort of inevitable that you'd have that kind of have something like this come about because I think folks were disillusioned about the election as well as sort of the growing economic inequality."
Several cities, like Boston, are shutting down the encampments. Striffler says it's unclear what will happen to the protest element of the occupy debates.
"You may be able to occupy the parks indefinitely but that's not the same as acquiring political power. And also I don't think you will be able to occupy them. I mean, eventually, even the most diehard folks will get tired of being in parks."
Occupy NOLA protesters are demanding the city provide shelter for homeless in the encampment, and the return of property thrown away during last week's eviction. The city argues that parks are closed to the public at night, and the encampment has been a safety and sanitation problem.
