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<P><SPAN><A
href="http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/local/barnsley/occupy_protesters_urged_to_be_peaceful_1_3946919">http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/local/barnsley/occupy_protesters_urged_to_be_peaceful_1_3946919</A></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN>Published on <STRONG class=pubDate>Tuesday 8 November 2011
06:52</STRONG></SPAN> </P></DIV>
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<P>ANTI-capitalist protesters who have set up tents in Sheffield have been
warned to remain peaceful and not interfere with the running of the
Cathedral.</P>
<P></P>
<P>The Occupy Sheffield camp, outside the Cathedral, has been erected in the
wake of similar protests outside St Paul’s Cathedral in the city of London and
in hundreds of other cities worldwide.</P>
<P>It is unclear how long the Sheffield camp will remain.</P>
<P>Sheffield Central Labour MP Paul Blomfield said: “The Occupy movements
outside St Paul’s, in the heart of the City of London, and internationally are
raising extremely important points about the way that our economic system isn’t
working for the majority of people. </P>
<P>“Not everyone will support the methods of the protesters, but that doesn’t
mean the concerns they are raising should be dismissed. We need a more
responsible economy and the Occupy protests are part of the debate about how we
achieve this.</P>
<P>“I welcome peaceful protest on these issues, but hope that the important work
of Sheffield Cathedral, particularly with the homeless, won’t be affected.”</P>
<P>Sheffield Council’s opposition Lib Dem leader Coun Shaffaq Mohammed said: “If
the protesters cause problems for the day-to-day running of the cathedral, they
will lose public sympathy.”</P>
<P>Protesters have received support from Bernard Little, co-chairman of
Sheffield Green Party, who said: “The Green Party congratulates Occupy Sheffield
and UK Uncut Sheffield in joining with 900 cities across the world to express
their rage against bankers, corporations and crony capitalism.”</P>
<P>Mr Little said his party backed the protest despite admitting the movement is
unclear about what it is demanding as an alternative. </P>
<P>Labour and Lib Dem politicians had some sympathy with the protesters but
urged them not to cause problems for the day-to-day running of the cathedral.
</P>
<P>The protest is on land owned by Sheffield Cathedral, so the city council said
it has no power to intervene and force the campers to move on.</P>
<P>Dean of Sheffield, the Very Rev Peter Bradley, said: “We respect people’s
right to protest. As long as the protest remains peaceful and providing they do
not cause any problems for people using the cathedral we will not be taking any
action against them.”</P>
<P>Mick</P>
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