ATLANTA,None — The city of Atlanta says it has spent $451,000 on the Occupy Atlanta movement. Protesters told Channel 2's Erica Byfield it was a waste of money.
Occupy Atlanta protester Ladie Mansfield said, "I think it is ridiculous."
GALLERY: Occupy Atlanta protesters removed from park
Huddled in a large group in the middle of Woodruff Park on Wednesday night, Occupy Atlanta supporters were strategizing about this weekend's protest. Earlier this week, organizers vowed to re-occupy the park on Saturday.
"This was a peaceful protest. It is a peaceful protest and to have that much money spent, literally, sometimes to have the police just watching the park, almost as if it is baby-sitting the park," Mansfield said.
Protesters occupied Woodruff Park for 18 days last month. In that time, the city said it racked a large bill.
"I don't know what they are getting done just living in a park," resident Jake Demaris said.
The city said police costs set the city back $365,000 and fire crews cost $11,000.
The night the protesters were thrown in jail, it cost the corrections department $65,000 and $9,500 for parks department.
The city of Atlanta said that comes out to $451,000.
"I think the city should be involved in the protest and they might have taken it too far," resident Chelsea Weyler said.
"That was a lot of money to get them out of there. But I feel like that was the only thing you could do," Demaris said.
Atlanta resident Caitlin Barrow said the police "were a little extreme. I don't think they needed that many cops for the amount of peaceful protesters."
So will the cost make Occupy Atlanta supporters think twice about this weekend? No.
"It won't stop Occupy Atlanta from what is planned on Saturday," Mansfield said.
Organizers told Byfield they will have a rally at 8 p.m. Saturday and then plan to re-occupy the park.
WSBTV
