PITTSBURGH,None — A bank that owns a downtown park next to its offices where Occupy Pittsburgh protesters have been camping out wants the group to leave the property this weekend.
BNY Mellon Corp. said in a statement released Friday that it wants the Occupy protesters to remove all structures from the small park known as Mellon Green by noon Sunday.
About 100 tents and varying numbers of people have been occupying the park since mid-October, but those numbers have been dwindling. BNY Mellon had not previously asked the group to leave.
BNY Mellon said the protesters have been camped in the park "despite the fact that it is private property and nothing obligates or requires BNY Mellon to allow such use."
The bank said it has "done our best to pursue a respectful relationship" with the group, in recognition of the protestor's desire to express their views.
But BNY Mellon said it has grown concerned with reports of hypothermia and the use of propane heaters, gasoline-powered generators, and other flammable devices in the tents.
Occupy Pittsburgh had announced plans to clean up the park on Sunday and rebuild and "winterize" tents. The group had also acknowledged problems with its encampment.
"We rushed into Mellon Green without planning. We made use of the space haphazardly. We overlooked the need for clear principles to safeguard inclusivity, nurture civic responsibility, and protect the health and safety of the occupation," the group said in a statement on its website. "Our space is disheveled and many people have left."
David Meieran, a member of Occupy Pittsburgh, said that the group just received BNY Mellon's notice and will discuss possible responses at a meeting Saturday.
BNY Mellon said it intends to go to court Monday to evict the protesters if any part of the encampment remains in the park past the deadline.
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