Occupy Atlanta Regroups, Roreys Move

(Editor's Note: This article was originally published November 10, 2011.)

By early Thursday afternoon, Occupy Atlanta had packed up their tents and most of their signs at Shoreside Circle in Snellville. And, the family was preparing to leave -- for good.

The move to leave the Rorey family's lawn in an official "occupation," came on the heals of a "new threat," according to Occupy Atlanta.

"We have moved our camp from the Rorey family and moved our campaign into the neighborhoods, house to house, of Snellville," said Tim Franzen, an organizer with the social movement group, Thursday morning.

Franzen said the "threat" came from Gwinnett County Sheriff Butch Conway, and that it involved a possible accessory to trespass charge for the Roreys come eviction time. That charge, Franzen added, would have meant dire implications for Lt. Christopher Rorey's employment with DeKalb Police. 

Instead of blocking the home with their bodies, Occupy Atlanta decided to help the family in a different manner. Monday, for example, the group plans to march on Fannie Mae's regional offices.

Conway, who has served as Gwinnett County sheriff since 1997, did not speak to any possible or specific charges. However, he did issue a press statement.

“I am not going to address accusations made by Occupy Atlanta," he said. "Evictions are never pleasant for anyone, but I have a job to do and I’m doing my job."

Back at the Rorey home, located in unincorporated Gwinnett County, they were packing up to leave early Thursday afternoon. Family members carted a few last things from the house, black trash bags lay full at the curb, and items sat piled in the back of vehicles.

The Roreys did not want to talk. By, mid-afternoon, the family had been evicted.

However, Lt. Rorey still remains employed despite the eviction and attention from Occupy Atlanta and the media.

"We are aware of the situation, and it is being closely monitored," said Pamela Kunz, a spokeswoman for DeKalb County Police Department. "There is currently no administrative investigation of this situation. Lt. Rorey is in a normal work status."

For Occupy Atlanta, the Roreys' case continues to be an example of what can happen to families in the state of the current economy.

"We understood that we were standing up against an entire corrupt system as we have done from the beginning," he said. "We were prepared to do our utmost, and still are."