Occupy LA Protesters Defy Deadline to Vacate
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Jason Redmond/AP Photo
Occupy Los Angeles protesters stayed on past a midnight deadline to vacate their encampment, refusing to leave the grounds of City Hall. An LAPD commander told the Los Angeles Times Monday the deadline for arresting Occupy L.A. protesters still on the streets has been postponed until 4:30 a.m.
Los Angeles Police Department officers in riot gear moved into the Occupy LA area overnight, while protestors spilled onto the street, having ignored police requests to move onto the sidewalk. The crowd was estimated between 1,000-2,000 demonstrators just after midnight PT.
Hundreds of protesters still remain with their tents and belongings, carrying signs and chanting, making it clear that they have no intention of moving any time soon.
A celebratory atmosphere filled the area, with protesters milling about, cyclists riding around the block and chants led with a bullhorn.
“The best way to keep a non-violent movement non-violent is to throw a party, and keep it festive and atmospheric,” Brian Masterson, one of the demonstrators, told The Associated Press.
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said that police will not immediately make arrests in order to provide time for protesters to leave. ”[The city] will allow campers ample time to remove their belongings peacefully and without disruption,” Villaraigosa said in a statement just after midnight Monday.
Police Chief Charlie Beck said that authorities expect to eventually make arrests, according to ABC News affiliate KABC.
Occupy L.A. protesters said they’ll be moving to the Ports of Los Angeles Dec. 12, KABC reported.
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YAWN.
Posted by: grumpopolis | November 28, 2011, 6:48 am 6:48 am
People who are peaved and people who never worked to begin with striving for legitimacy.
Posted by: newcountryman | November 28, 2011, 7:54 am 7:54 am
If they are protesting corporations, shouldn’t they be wearing anything other than corporation produced clothing? How about all their gadgets? I can’t take anyone seriously when they are wearing the latest $150 BKE jeans while holding the latest iphone.
Posted by: angie | November 28, 2011, 8:46 am 8:46 am
1000 to 2000 protesters, Really? Come on let’s see some real news worth reading.
Posted by: Ed Gruberman | November 28, 2011, 9:16 am 9:16 am
A couple hundred protesters here….a couple hundred there and these are in major metropolitan areas. OWS is dying fast.
Posted by: allen | November 28, 2011, 9:45 am 9:45 am
why is it that the immigrants that are here illegally are able too protest,yet the mayor evicted occupy LA what happen to the freedom of speech.and fighting for the rights of Americans and when are the American going too wake up in L.A and evict the mayor who thinks he is the president anytime immigrants have more rights than Americans.they say they do not have enough money to send them back to their countries but you have enough cost of living for a family of 4,5 and 6for 18 years .and you people say they are not committing a crime they are committing a crime they are here illegally people need to realize in these trying times Americans are homeless and we as Americans need too stick together and clean up our own back yard before cleaning up somebody else is
Posted by: m | November 28, 2011, 10:04 am 10:04 am
If 226M Americans, or about 70% of the population, flocked into those megastores this weekend to buy all those offshored products produced by big corporations, just who are the 99% these protestors represent?
Posted by: MyTake | November 28, 2011, 6:29 pm 6:29 pm