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WILMINGTON – City officials have denied a permit for Occupy Wilmington protesters to camp on the City Hall lawn.

The decision came one day after a member of the group was arrested for breaking city rules. Wilmington police charged 16-year-old Shelby Lentz with refusing to leave City Hall grounds after dusk.

Leaders of the protest group got a written denial from the city manager for a new camp site. Sterling Cheatham explained the city is not trying to restrict free speech, but wants to preserve the park area.

"Our beef is not with the police department, but with the city who keeps denying us and keeps refusing to meet with us so we can talk about the permit issue," said Occupy Wilmington member Denny Best.

The group was verbally denied a permit by the Parks and Recreation Department and the city manager before turning in a written request.