Cracks form in Occupy Philly

Some Occupy Philly members and Mayor Michael Nutter do agree on one thing — divisiveness within the camp is hardening.

“Occupy Philly is fractured with internal disagreement and disputes,” Mayor Michael Nutter said Sunday. “The people of Occupy Philly have also changed and their intentions have changed.”

While a two-thirds majority voted to stay at Dilworth Plaza on Friday, some longtime residents said that much of the crowd consisted of interlopers who show up when important decisions are made.

“At the Friday vote, you got a bunch of radicals to vote to stay when the majority didn’t want to,” said Occupier Daniel Brouse. “They’re looking for a fight.”

“There’s this hijacking element that is anarchic and wants to basically raze all structures and burn everything to the ground,” agreed Fernando Salguero of the now infamous warming station. “Votes are being stacked,” Salguero continued. “These are outside influences being brought in by a lot of anarchists, essentially to subvert the process.”

“There is concern that the more radical element might be gaining control and that that element is less about social justice and representing the 99 percent and more about something else,” Managing Director Rich Negrin confirmed last week in an interview. “It’s just kind of anti-establishment, anti-government, anti-everything.”

Mayor’s wrath?

Some Occupiers believe Nutter is waging a smear campaign to turn public opinion against the movement in preparation for a police sweep of Dilworth Plaza. “I think the Nutter administration has changed its tone more dramatically than conditions or attitudes at Dilworth have,” member Jesse Kudler said yesterday.