Occupy Memphis protesters given the boot, tents torn down - Action News 5 - Memphis, Tennessee

Occupy Memphis protesters given the boot, tents torn down

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MEMPHIS, TN -

(WMC-TV) – Action News 5 has breaking news this morning happening right now on Civic Center Plaza in downtown Memphis. Police are tearing Occupy Memphis tents down.

They started taking down the tents around 4 a.m. Friday.

Memphis Police Director Toney Armstrong is on the scene.

George Little, City of Memphis CAO, talked with us live a few minutes ago. He says it had basically become a homeless encampment.

"The law has never really allowed for a permanent encampment," said Little. "We certainly will embrace freedoms of expression and we'll work with them if they want to express themselves through other means but as far as an encampment on the plaza, that will not be allowed."

Some members of the movement have been there since October 2011.

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