Protesters with the Occupy movement in Halifax called on the city's mayor to resign Saturday after demonstrators who had camped out at a public park were evicted in a testy clash with police.
A few hundred protesters rallied outside city hall Saturday, chanting "Peter Kelly has got to go" and demanding that both the mayor and the city's chief of police explain Friday's events.
Protesters who had relocated their camp from Grande Parade, a downtown square, to Victoria Park to make way for Remembrance Day ceremonies were served notice early Friday that they would have to leave.
Fourteen people were arrested, and many were charged with obstruction of justice for clashes with police as they tried to dismantle the dozens of tents.
Protest organizer Kyle Buott said protesters were given a few hours to clear out of the park.
"The mayor ordering a peaceful, democratic protest removed on Remembrance Day, which celebrates the veterans who fought for democratic freedoms in the first place, is absolutely shameful," he told The Canadian Press.
"He and the police chief need to be held accountable for the police brutality that happened yesterday."
Protester Courtney Redden said officers grabbed her neck and punched her as she tried to protect her tent.
"They were pushing and shoving us and pulled me up by the throat," Redden said. "But I'm very empowered by this -- it's much stronger."
Another protester, Miles Howe, said he was dragged through the mud at the park before being detained for 12 hours. He was charged with obstruction of justice.
Police spokesperson Theresa Rath disagreed with the protesters' characterization of events, saying they were resisting police officers as they dismantled the camp and tried to make arrests.
"They were refusing to allow us to arrest them, so we had to use force to do that," she said, adding that no complaints had been filed.
"It's certainly not how we wanted it to go, but they forced us to arrest them."
Halifax Mayor Peter Kelly said protesters at Victoria Park were in violation of a bylaw that prohibits camping in a municipal park without written consent from the city.
Kelly told CTV News Channel Saturday that protesters can continue their demonstrations in public parks. However, they will not be permitted to set up camp.
"They can continue to protest each and every day. They are welcome to come to the Grand Parade or any other park, but they cannot bring their tents," Kelly said. "We won't impede their democratic right to bring forth their opinions, but they will not be allowed to bring their tents."
Kelly also disputed protesters' claims that they had been told they could return to Grand Parade after Remembrance Day.
"They may have thought they could, but at no time were they told they would be able to," he said.
Rath said three people were arrested on Saturday, two for breaching the conditions of their release and another for trying to prevent police from taking them into custody.
Two had been ordered to stay away from municipal parks.
Halifax Regional Police Chief Frank Beazley said going forward, protesters will be prevented from setting up camps in municipal parks.
Kelly said the city cleared out protesters after officials received numerous complaints about protesters taking up public parks.
"People want to be able to use the public space without impediment and without concern," he said.
Toronto protest branches out
In Toronto, some Occupy protesters who have become disillusioned with the original effort briefly set up camp outside the provincial legislature.
Protesters pitched their tents in St. James Park about a month ago, but a half-dozen demonstrators moved Saturday to the north side of Queen's Park.
Protester Christopher Lambe told CTV Toronto that demonstrators believed they were safe from the city's efforts to clear tents because they were in a provincial park.
"If they want to kick us out of a city park we'll go to a provincial park," Lambe said. "And now it's out of Rob Ford's hands. If he wants to kick us out, look a little higher."
However, bylaw officers moved in later Saturday evening and cleared the protesters from the area.
With files from The Canadian Press and a report from CTV Toronto's Colin D'Mello
