NEW: Occupy Providence Claims Victory over City

NEW: Occupy Providence Claims Victory over City

Occupy Providence has voted unanimously to suspend the group’s overnight tent protest in Burnside Park if the city opens a day center for the next three months.

In a statement released today, the group called the decision a “victory for Rhode Islanders who are the hardest hit by this economic tsunami caused by the culture of corporate greed.”

"This is a huge victory for Occupy Providence and for the entire Occupy Movement," said Jared Paul, an Occupy Providence member. "We won the day center but this is just the beginning. Our movement is growing and we've got big plans for RI in 2012."

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The day center will ensure that people who have lost their homes will have an indoor place to stay during the day instead of being on out on the streets unprotected from the weather. .

It will also offer computers and internet access so that Providence residents can get on-line easily, utilize resources, and apply for jobs.

The day center will be located at Emmanuel House and will be staffed by the Diocese of Providence, which already operates a nighttime homeless shelter on the first floor of the building, with support the Rhode Island Housing Advocacy Project and the Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless, Occupy Providence will not be running the center, however Occupy Providence participants will be helping out as volunteers to continue the non-institutional culture that was started in the People's Park (aka Burnside.)

Sarah Quenon added "We will continue our protest against corporate greed and economic inequality. While we consider this a great win on our part, it does not signify a conclusion to the mission of Occupy Providence."