Red and blue lights filled the streets surrounding Occupy Tampa's encampment at Voice of Freedom Park last Friday night, as the Tampa Police Department made its presence known. Officers in body armor patrolled the streets and squad cars stopped passing vehicles for random searches. Occupy activists recorded it all and held a press conference on Monday, claiming that the TPD had overstepped its bounds and infringed on their rights.
Occupiers weren't the only ones to complain about the extra attention from Tampa's finest: some West Tampa residents had less than kind words to say about the intrusion on their Friday night activities.
With the Republican National Convention less than a week away, and protesters flocking to Tampa from across the country, is such increased police activity to be expected?
See the actions and reactions for yourself below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhgmOpzLgbo&feature=youtu.be
