EUGENE, Ore. — A deadline comes and goes and protestors wait and wonder.
The Occupy Eugene permit to stand in the Federal Building plaza came to an end at 3 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon.
Occupy Eugene had a permit for 72 days.
Emily Semple, a Eugene resident and member of Occupy Eugene came prepared to face the consequences on Wednesday.
“At 3 p.m. today we are no longer welcome or allowed to be here and we should have ourselves and our belongings gone,” said Semple.
Homeland Security issued the final warning around 4 p.m.
The tents and signs slowly came down and protestors backed away to the sidewalk, but Semple stood strong.
After hours of negotiations, Semple was arrested just after 7 p.m.
However, she was only in police custody for about 20 minutes.
Semple says it was everything she expected.
“We worked hard both within occupiers to make this a peaceful event for its ending. We worked with Homeland Security for the same reasons, so it was everything we expected,” said Semple.
Semple was cited a Class C misdemeanor. Failure to comply with a federal police officer.
She will attend court for her citation on September 13. She could face 30 days in jail and a fine of more than $2,000.
As for where Occupy goes from here?
“We are still occupying and still talking. Stay tuned,” said Semple.
