Photo: Langelle/GJEP
Burlington, VT–Occupy Burlington and their supporters, to pay their respect to Joshua Pfenning, a homeless man and a participant of Occupy Burlington, who once served in the military, held a candlelight vigil and memorial tonight. Pfenning committed suicide yesterday.
At this point the Occupy Burlington encampment is cordoned off by by police tape. No one is allowed to stay in their tents.
The Burlington Free-Press reported that earlier in the day: “Police Chief Michael Schirling, speaking at a press briefing at the police department’s North Avenue headquarters, said the shooting Thursday afternoon and the near-riot later that night had convinced him that the public’s safety cannot be assured unless the encampment is disbanded.”
Tina Goldman an Occupy Burlington supporter said later, ” So I guess this means if a homeless person commits suicide at a homeless shelter, officer Shirling would have everyone in the shelter thrown out on the street and have the shelter shut down. This is utterly ridiculous.”
Occupy Burlington, now all homeless, will discuss their next steps tomorrow.
–Orin Langelle
