Protesters stay put as deadline passes
Source: Agencies |
November 29, 2011, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
ANTI-WALL Street protesters declared a minor victory yesterday when they defied a midnight deadline to leave their tent encampment around City Hall in Los Angeles and police withdrew after surrounding the camp for six hours without moving in.
Four people were arrested as police cleared downtown streets to make way for morning rush-hour traffic, but police said the event was largely peaceful.
Police Chief Charlie Beck said it is unclear when the near two-month-old Occupy LA camp would be cleared. About half the 485 tents had been taken down by Sunday night, leaving patches of the park around City Hall barren of grass and strewn with rubbish.
"There is no concrete deadline," Beck said, adding that he wanted to ensure the removal is carried out when it is safe for protesters and police officers and "with as little drama as possible."
Speechless
Protesters chanted "we won, we won" as officers wearing riot gear left the scene.
"I am pretty much speechless," said Clark Davis, media coordinator for Occupy LA.
Police turned back after hundreds of Occupy LA supporters showed up at the camp on Sunday night as the midnight deadline for evacuation neared.
As the night drew on, many demonstrators left.
Protester Julie Levine said she was surprised police did not move in as the numbers dwindled. "We were fearful," she said, "but we held our numbers and police were on their best behavior."
A celebratory atmosphere filled the night, with protesters milling about the park and streets by City Hall in good spirits.
Four people were arrested for failure to disperse and a few protesters tossed bamboo sticks and water bottles at officers, according to Commander Andrew Smith.
A court hearing was scheduled for late yesterday on a petition for an injunction to prevent the camp closure.
The Los Angeles stand-off follows police action in other cities - sometimes involving the use of pepper spray and tear gas - that resulted in the removal of demonstration sites.
Some of those encampments had been in use almost since the movement against economic disparity and perceived corporate greed began with Occupy Wall Street in New York two months ago.
Four people were arrested as police cleared downtown streets to make way for morning rush-hour traffic, but police said the event was largely peaceful.
Police Chief Charlie Beck said it is unclear when the near two-month-old Occupy LA camp would be cleared. About half the 485 tents had been taken down by Sunday night, leaving patches of the park around City Hall barren of grass and strewn with rubbish.
"There is no concrete deadline," Beck said, adding that he wanted to ensure the removal is carried out when it is safe for protesters and police officers and "with as little drama as possible."
Speechless
Protesters chanted "we won, we won" as officers wearing riot gear left the scene.
"I am pretty much speechless," said Clark Davis, media coordinator for Occupy LA.
Police turned back after hundreds of Occupy LA supporters showed up at the camp on Sunday night as the midnight deadline for evacuation neared.
As the night drew on, many demonstrators left.
Protester Julie Levine said she was surprised police did not move in as the numbers dwindled. "We were fearful," she said, "but we held our numbers and police were on their best behavior."
A celebratory atmosphere filled the night, with protesters milling about the park and streets by City Hall in good spirits.
Four people were arrested for failure to disperse and a few protesters tossed bamboo sticks and water bottles at officers, according to Commander Andrew Smith.
A court hearing was scheduled for late yesterday on a petition for an injunction to prevent the camp closure.
The Los Angeles stand-off follows police action in other cities - sometimes involving the use of pepper spray and tear gas - that resulted in the removal of demonstration sites.
Some of those encampments had been in use almost since the movement against economic disparity and perceived corporate greed began with Occupy Wall Street in New York two months ago.
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