LIVE BLOG: The Latest From Occupy LA's Eviction
With the deadline expired for Occupy L.A. to leave their camp on the City Hall lawn, Los Angeles police moved early Sunday morning to clear the streets for traffic but did not dismantle Occupy's tent city. Four arrests were made during the night.
Police declared at 5 a.m. that any protesters remaining on the sidewalk represented an unlawful assembly and moved in to clear them out. Some protesters reportedly started throwing signs and wooden stakes at the line of police officers, but some of their fellow portesters restrained them.
The city-wide tactical alert issued during the night was cancelled at 7 a.m.
LAPD Commander Andy Smith said the department's goal was to clear the streets rather than take down the encampment. "Our goal right now is to try and keep it as peaceful as possible," Smith said.
Live blogging from the Occupy LA encampment:
3:15 p.m., Mon. Occupy San Diego plans to re-stake it tents in Downtown San Diego at 5 p.m. They have already been kicked out once and face arrests this evening if they continue with their plan.
2:45 p.m., Mon. The number of tents in City Hall Park is down as much as 50 percent since Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa announced an eviction order on Friday. Many of the tents and goods have been placed in storage as the movement's future becomes more clear.
11:40 a.m., Mon. Occupy L.A. seeks a court order against police raid. Attorney for protesters says he hopes police will show "decency" by refraining from tearing down the camp until the court reaches a ruling.
10:55 a.m., Mon. The L.A. Times has a pdf of the Occupy LA court order for protection against eviction.
10:45 a.m., Mon. Occupy LA news conference at 11 a.m. to discuss legal action. Occupiers confirmed restraining order had been in the works, but general public was uninformed as to whether it was happening today or tomorrow. Said those in charge of pursuing it were weighing urgency versus time to fine-tune it.
10:44 a.m., Mon. Tweet from Frank Stoltze of KPCC: "BREAKING #OccupyLA seek federal order to stop removal. They cite City Council resolution of support: 1st, 14th Amendments."
9:35 a.m., Mon. Free speech zone at City Hall full of protesters. Tension at the free speech zone. Protesters concerned about distracting from the cause. Daniel Sandate Attempts to mediate: "God is love. We are all love." -Catherine Green
9:10 a.m., Mon. Rumors that protesters are in superior court seeking restraining order.
Our reporter Paige J. Brettingen is on the scene.
8:35 a.m., Mon. The morning after a tense standoff with police, the area around City Hall is calm, with protesters singing and playing guitar. A few police are stationed at the City Hall entrance and accross the street. Occupy L.A. protesters and police have avoided violent conflict. Protesters reportedly learned "non-violent techniques" to deal with police. --PB
Follow Paige on Twitter for continuing updates.
8 a.m., Mon. One man has taken up position in a City Hall tree.
Photos and updates from Saturday:
5:23 a.m. PST -- LAPD announced that they have closed the 1st and Spring intersection. They have ordered all protesters to stand on the curb. — BG
2:19 a.m. PST -- "We have elected not to arrest anyone now," LAPD PIO Andrew Smith. — BG
2 a.m. PST -- Seems like things are calming down. People are moving back to the park. Police have moved up from Broadway all the way to Spring Street and have built a barrier. — BG
1:41 a.m. PST -- National Lawyers Guild advising protesters to get off street, go back to the park. As are police and organizers, to avoid arrests. — DW
1:34 a.m. PST -- At least 50 officers in reserve at 2nd and Spring. Relatively calm at first police line near 1st Street. — BG
1 a.m. PST -- From a police truck, PIO Andrew Smith asks crowd to get out of intersection. Instead, they swarm the truck and block it. — BG
12:40 a.m. PST -- KTLA is reporting that the "LAPD is requesting that all media trucks parked on Main St north of 1st move south of 1st." — DW
12:25 a.m. PST -- A line of police cruisers has pulled up at Broadway and First Street. At least 50 officers strong in riot gear. Their goal is to push the protesters back toward Spring Street. — BG
12:19 a.m. PST -- KNBC reports LAPD has declared citywide tactical alert. A police line is formed one block from occupied intersection. Crowd in the street is contained but for the moment being allowed to stay in street. Some protesters have left but crowd still estimated at more than 1,000.
12:15 a.m. PST -- KNBC reporter Angie Crouch tweets "CONFIRMED: LA MAYOR PRESS secretary Teddy Davis confirms there will be NO RAID tonight at Occupy LA. "— Dan Watson
11:56 p.m. PST -- Human wall at 1st and Spring. — BG
11:37 p.m. PST -- LAPD PIO Andrew Smith: "If people want to get arrested tonight, we will arrest them." I've talked to people in the crowd, and some have said they want to get arrested. — BG
11:28 p.m. PST -- LAPD commander Andrew Smith came over for a press swarm and it subsided. Protest organizers are also yelling at demonstrators to get back on the sidewalk. — BG
11:19 p.m. PST -- Protesters now blocking westbound traffic on 1st Street. Massive drum circle, dancing on the top of the bus stop. — BG
11:15 p.m. PST -- Live video from KNBC shows protesters beginning to block traffic in front of City Hall.
10:55 p.m. PST — Demonstrators are amassing at the southeast corner of City Hall Park, planning to block a police entrance. — BG
10:30 p.m. PST — According to Jim Lafferty, director of the National Lawyers Guild of Los Angeles: "I'd be surprised if people were arrested tomorrow. Tuesday or Wednesday, it's more likely." — BG
10:30 p.m. PST — From LAPD: LAPD told KCAL in an interview from Occupy LA that they are prepared to make hundreds of arrests tonight. — BG
9:45 p.m. PST — The ANSWER Coalition is here, dressed in black, black scarves over their faces and waving black flags. They were part of the reason violence erupted w/ the whole Miguel Jimenez riot/protest. — BG
9:40 p.m. PST — Timothy Morris of the LAPD puts the crowd estimate at "well over 1,000."
— Ben Gottlieb
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