After Portland, Oregon’s “Occupy ICE” protestors were ordered to disperse from their encampment, which was eventually broken up by police earlier this week, they left behind massive amounts of trash and human waste.
“The city has hired private contractors to clean up the mess left behind at the #OccupyICEPDX camp,” said local Fox12 reporter Marja Martinez on Twitter. “They’re calling this site a biohazard.”
“Cleanup has begun at what, for five weeks, was the Occupy ICE PDX camp. Portland Police Bureau officers limited access to the site earlier [Wednesday], calling it a biohazard.” the station reported. “The mayor’s office confirmed to FOX 12, the city will pay for a portion of the cleanup bill, as will TriMet. Both are part of the consortium that owns the land on which protesters set up their camp.”
Photojournalist Mike Warner posted a video showing some of the mess.
“GROSS… a look at the massive amount if ‘items’ left behind by #OccupyICEPDX protestors after @PortlandPolice cleared the camp early this morning,” he said. “It’s pretty disgusting down here. Stay with @KATUNews for the latest info #LiveOnK2”
The squatters were ordered to evacuate the encampment on Monday, but refused. Portland police chased them out Wednesday with the threat of arrest.
“For the most part everything was done with very little incident,” police Chief Danielle Outlaw said, according to Fox News.
There is no estimate on what the cleanup will cost the city.