By Courtney Gousman
St. Louis (KSDK) - It's been one month and seven days since Occupy St. Louis set up shop in Kiener Plaza.
Now the mayor's office is stepping in, preparing to give protestors an ultimatum.
The action comes after a number of complaints came in to the Mayor Slay's office over the last week.
There's now a meeting set between those backing the Occupy St. Louis movement, and the Mayor's office, in the hopes of coming up with a peaceful resolution.
Since October 1st, those backing the national Occupy Wall Street movement have set up in Kiener Plaza.
They call themselves "Occupy St. Louis." They eat, sleep, and even pitch tents in the plaza.
"It's been wet sometimes. It's been mostly dry and it's been cold mostly too. But it's been great," said Occupier Johnathan McFarland.
"We have been very patient," said Jeff Rainford, Chief of Staff for Mayor Francis Slay.
After weeks of silence, Mayor Slay's office is now prepared to offer this group an ultimatum, amid a number of complaints.
"People who work downtown, live downtown, who have businesses downtown have started complaining about them monopolizing the space, about the way things look," said Rainford.
Rainford says, for the most part, the group has been peaceful, but night after night, has been violating a number of city ordinances and regulations by breaking the park's curfew, and erecting tents. Now the city is asking for cooperation.
"We're really at a point where we're kind of caught in the middle. We have people trying to express their first amendment rights and we have people who want to use the park and enjoy the park. Let's try to find an accommodation, and if we don't then we'll enforce the law," said Rainford.
"When they tell us to leave the park, in fact they're telling us not to use our right to free speech and our right to peacefully assemble," said William Smith, another Occupier
"We'll be removed I'm sure, but we'll be back. We won't fight the police, but we'll be back," said McFarland.
"We're never going to leave this space. This space is the icon of St. Louis," said Brett Alexander, also a part of the Occupy St. Louis movement.
Protesters say they will not use violence if confronted by police. Occupiers say they're also looking into occupying space under the Arch.
Tuesday's meeting between Occupiers and the mayor's office starts at 3 p.m. at America's Center
KSDK
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