Occupy London: St. Paul's Cathedral Authorities Seek Legal Action to Evict Protesters
Officials at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London have announced that they plan on taking legal measures to evict the group of Occupy London protesters that have camped out since Oct. 15 outside the historic landmark.
The cathedral reopened today following a week’s long closure and plans on attempting to remove the protesters from outside the cathedral grounds due to their “unreasonable user of the highway.”
Cathedral officials will be taking legal action along with local government officials and has said, “legal action has regrettably become necessary.”
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Yesterday, a cleric at the cathedral, Canon Chancellor Giles Fraser, decided to step down amid worry of the plans to evict protesters.
Fraser resigned and said via Twitter, “It is with great regret and sadness that I have handed in my notice at St. Paul’s Cathedral.”
However, Fraser did not give a reason for his resignation, although many believe that it was due to the cathedral’s plans to go to court over the protest.
Fraser alluded to that concern, telling the London Evening Standard that he believed the cathedral was set on a course of action that “may lead to violence."
Fraser was supportive of the movement and many protesters expressed their gratitude for the bold move on behalf of the cleric.
Other clergy members have also criticized the way cathedral officials are dealing with the protest.
George Caret, former Archbishop of Canterbury told the Daily Telegraph, “My paramount concern throughout has been that the reputation of Christianity is being damaged by the episode, and, more widely, that the possibility of fruitful and peaceful protest has been brought into disrepute.”
As a result of the growing Occupy London movement cathedral officials were forced to close its doors for the first time since WWII last week amid concerns over the potential hazard that the hundreds of protesters camped outside cathedral grounds could represent to visitors and worshipers.
Occupy London protesters originally attempted to occupy the London Stock Exchange but failed to occupy that area of the city and moved over to the monumental cathedral where they have established an information center, a makeshift kitchen, and set up toilets for themselves.
