Tensions high at Occupy after police take sink

BOSTON -- Occupy Boston protesters clashed with officers Thursday night because police removed a kitchen sink that someone was bringing into the encampment.

One protester, Gary Williams, was arrested. He faces four charges including assault and battery on a public employee -- a Boston police officer.

“The suspect grabbed the Lieutenant with his right hand and ripped the police officer’s police issued radio off his duty belt. In doing so, he damaged the radio,” said Prosecutor Larry Bates.

The incident also damaged relations between the city and Occupiers, who have been pushing the envelope and ignoring the city’s regulations.

“They’ve had a huge issue with us bringing in winterized tents and other different resources that will keep us safe,” said Elizabeth Holmes, a spokesperson for Occupy Boston.

Boston Mayor Thomas Menino says protesters have a right to be in Dewey Square, but they don’t have a right to defy the law.

“They can’t just keep on rubbing it in our faces and say ‘we’re going to do all this stuff and you guys are bad,’” said Menino.

Menino is losing patience with the protesters’ demands that are going against city rules. Police say protesters are not allowed to bring anything that is considered a building material into the camp -- the kitchen sink falls under that category.

“I’m not going to allow them to put up a kitchen sink in the occupy area in the city of Boston. We’re looking for the judge to give us some clarity of what’s going on, what we can do and what we can’t do,” said Menino.

Temperatures continue to drop and tensions keep rising as both sides wait for a judge’s ruling on whether the movement can stay in Dewey Square.

“We have a lot of members of the community who live there full time and we need to support those members,” said Holmes.

Menino says Occupy Boston can remain in Dewey Square for now as he waits for the judge’s ruling. He said they cannot build their own city.

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