Yesterday, a new rule introduced to Fort Lauderdale's policy and standards manual was posted in a courtyard in front of City Hall -- where the Occupy camp has set up shop.
Check out a slide show of the Occupy camp here.
The rule bans tents from the area and bans people from being in the public space between 2 and 6 a.m.
A messenger for City Manager Lee Feldman told the Occupy folks that the tents had to be gone at 5 p.m. today, and the few dozen protesters there this afternoon said they were prepared to peacefully resist any attempt by law enforcement to remove them after 2 a.m.
When we arrived at the spot shortly before 3 p.m., a man helping out the Occupy group, Peter Dybing, said he had just come back outside from Feldman's office -- where the two were attempting some mediation over the new rule.
Politics of the matter aside, it was clear Occupy wasn't happy with anything the city offered it short of revoking the new rule entirely.
By around 4 p.m., a lawyer helping the Occupy group filed a motion for an injunction against the rule, claiming it was made with the sole intent of keeping the protesters away.
At 5 p.m., the tents were still up, and the cops hadn't arrived.
A few minutes shy of 6 p.m., police still hadn't arrived, but the phone call came into the camp that a temporary injunction against the rule had been granted.
Dybing explained that the purpose of the temporary injunction was to hold over until a full hearing could occur on the matter.
Until then, the protesters -- and their tents -- stay outside City Hall.
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