Occupy Cedar Valley activists will pull down tents

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — Occupy Cedar Valley activists will pull down their tents but say they will continue pushing their message about economic inequality.

The Waterloo/Cedar Falls Courier reports about seven people have been spending nights in tents at a city park, with people rotating in and out.

Activists voted to remove the tents by Thursday, when they also will hold a rally and serve a community meal.

Chris Schwartz, one of the organizers, says they opted to end the occupation after deciding the energy expended to remain at the park could be better channeled elsewhere.

The month-long protest was among hundreds of similar protests that began around the country after an Occupy Wall Street effort in New York City. Similar efforts are continuing in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids and Iowa City.