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The Occupy movement has resumed a permanent presence in Downtown Easton as an encampment moved today from Centre Square to North Fourth Street.

(Express-Times Photo | MATT SMITH)

The Occupy movement is trying to find its legs again as a small group set up camp over the weekend in Downtown Easton.



After three days back living in tents, the group was asked to move from Centre Square and took up residence in the first block of North Fourth Street where protesters camped in late 2011.

"Nature" Dave Gorczynski said the group wanted to reorganize, adding that anyone can protest anything. The goal is to make people aware that all issues can be solved with education and unity, Gorczynski said.



This time, the occupiers will consist of protesters from not only Easton, but New York, New Jersey and Ohio, he said.

The city will review ordinances and speak with its solicitor Wednesday before again engaging the people at the new Downtown encampment, Mayor Sal Panto Jr. said.



Police today directed that tents be moved out of the northwest quadrant of Center Square. Protesters asked police where to go, but they did not get a response, Panto said.

Chris Leaning, one of the protesters, said the police told the group this morning to move to another spot in the city.

“The police were nice and professional about it and gave us a chance to pack up,” Leaning said. “So we came to this spot.”

The city can't give anyone permission to stay long-term 24 hours a day on city property, Panto said. If it were a city park, the occupiers would have to leave at dusk, he said.

The city is preparing for a new parking lot on the former bank property adjacent to the strip of grass where the Occupy tents went up today.

"I don't consider it appropriate behavior for a city park," Panto said of the encampment.

Since there was a national movement the last time protesters set up an encampment on North Fourth Street, the city did not immediately force the people living in tents to leave, Panto said. Once "the wrong group of people" who were coming to the encampment for food and warmth instead of political goals, the group eventually left, he said.

As for the new encampment, Panto said the city will deal with it on "a case-by-case basis."

Assistant managing editor Tony Rhodin contributed to this report.