Rawlings-Blake Concerned About Crime At Occupy Site
BALTIMORE (AP) -- Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake says she is concerned about reports of illegal activity at the Occupy Baltimore encampment in a downtown park.
The mayor said Tuesday that she is also worried that some of the protesters who have been staying at McKeldin Square for four weeks may be discouraging people from reporting crime to authorities.
Police are investigating a reported assault and theft at the site. A woman told police she stayed in a man's tent Friday night and awoke to find her money gone. Police say there's no evidence of sexual assault.
Occupy Baltimore says it takes such allegations seriously and has a zero-tolerance policy toward assault.
Rawlings-Blake says she respects protesters' free speech rights, but the park is not for camping and should be a space everyone can enjoy.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
