Hennepin County Provides OccupyMN Water, Power, Shelter

Hennepin County is providing the OccupyMN protestors at the Government Center with electricity and water for a limited time each day, as well as an open-air canopy, according to a county news release.

Hennepin County’s announcement follows a meeting between county staff and protest leaders in which the demonstrators asked for permission to pitch tents and access to electricity and water—and were again rebuffed.

OccupyMN published a plan to erect tents Saturday, according to the county. Friday afternoon, the could be seen on their Livestream chanting “We want tents!” in unison.

But county staff, working with the Sheriff’s Office, say allowing structures is unsafe.

The Government Center straddles Sixth Street in downtown Minneapolis. Demonstrators have been sleeping along Sixth Street for shelter—which the county says hinders public access and blocks fire, police and medical access.

Hennepin County describes the canopy as a 20-foot-by-30-foot structure with a roof and no sides. With the canopy set up, the county will  no longer allow sleeping on Sixth Street beneath the building.

The county news release also spelled out the process for what would happen if demonstrators do erect tents. Security staff will first ask them to stop. If they don’t stop, deputies will seize the tent, inventory it and return it later.

Hennepin County is also banning demonstrators from putting signs on county buildings and requiring them to store bags in a designated area.