‘Occupy’ Protesters and Police Not Happy

TAMPA, Florida (AP) – Relations between the Occupy Wall Street protesters and police in Tampa are souring.

As the demonstration in a downtown Tampa park enters its second week, protesters tell the St. Petersburg Times that police are harassing them. A Tampa police spokeswoman denies it.

Protesters claim police are waking them at 6 a.m., videotaping them while they sleep at night, driving by more frequently and preventing them from sleeping in the park during the day.

Police spokeswoman Laura McElroy said Wednesday that officers are “turning the other cheek” and letting protesters sleep in the park at night, but they are not allowed to sleep there during the day.

One protester said it appears police are “tightening the screws.”

St. Petersburg Times