An Occupy LA demonstrator tapes his passport to his mouth in protest (Photo by Tom Dotan).

"I believe in a better future and I believe this is right," she said. "This is what we should be doing every single day until corporations are held accountable to working people, to the unemployed…to youth missing out on their education."

The University of California, Los Angeles graduate who now works with the Janitors' Union was one of 23 protesters who were arrested Thursday morning during the National Day of Protest in Los Angeles, according to police.

Occupy LA had predicted 1,000 protesters would attend. Approximately 300 police officers were present.

The protesters, who willingly greeted their arrests, held hands as they surrounded tents set up on the intersection of Figueroa and Fourth Streets where the Good Jobs LA march had come to an end.

"We certainly support the right to protest…we have worked hard to establish a dialogue [with Occupy LA]," said LA Police Cmdr. Andrew Smith.

Those remaining in streets once police arrived were given five minutes to leave and given warnings about the force that could be used.

"We have worked really, really hard at establishing a dialogue with the people at the camp," Smith said. "I’m over there three or four times a day, we have officers over there every day. They’ve been a generally peaceful protest, we’ve had a handful of arrests [at Occupy LA's City Hall camp], probably half a dozen for different felonies, but they’ve been protesting peacefully and nonviolently and that’s what it’s all about for us.“

Lt. Andy Neiman, LAPD media relations, said two were arrested for interfering with lawful order, the 21 protesters surrounding the tents were arrested for unlawful assembly. Both charges are misdemeanors and come with $500 bail.

The first one to be arrested was an 83-year old woman, and 70-year old Bill Frartas wasn't too far behind.

"We've got to take a stand and show corporate America that we're not going to take it anymore," Frartas said.

Nancy Linehan Charles, 68, was not part of the circle at first, but she decided to join in as the police approached.

"I'm not going to go hide over there," Linehan Charles said, pointing to the sidewalk which was considered "safe" territory from the arrests. "I was never arrested in the '60s, so it's about time."