Occupy Frederick’s weeklong stint camping along Carroll Creek in downtown Frederick ended as planned Saturday, according to participants Andrew Vache and Malgorzata Schmidt.
The idea for the temporary encampment, Vache said, was to announce the group’s presence in the area and reach out to residents concerning issues that affect people on a local level.
“It all went according to plan,” he said.
Staying longer could have caused the group to lose momentum, or be perceived as an annoyance, he said.
“We hope to continue in Frederick, and we just want people to know we’re here,” Vache said.
Issues of foreclosure were an important focus of the weeklong encampment, he said.
On Saturday, a group of about 50 people rallied in Frederick and then marched through some of Frederick’s neighborhoods, he said. They spoke with residents and handed out copies of a zine they published which gives individual perspectives on the movement.
What often happens in Frederick protests, Vache said, is that people wind up gathering downtown in an attempt to get the attention of people driving by.
This time, organizers really wanted to get out into Frederick’s working class neighborhoods to show they are in solidarity with the people who reside there, he said.
“People seemed very supportive,” he said.
Occupy Frederick’s next move will be to hold a daylong foreclosure support workshop Saturday at the Hillcrest Community Center, he said. Lawyers will be on hand to offer their advice. The event, which will be held from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., is free to the public.
The Hillcrest Community Center is located at 1150 Orchard Terrace in Frederick.
