Protesters at the Occupy L.A. encampment at City Hall sought a court order Monday morning to prevent police from dismantling the tent city that has taken up the lawn for weeks. 

(Photo by Tasbeeh Herwees)

The protesters assert that Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck have infringed on their 1st Amendment rights by ordering them to vacate the City Hall lawn.

The protesters content in court papers that the order to leave violates "permission" to camp given by City Hall in the beginning weeks of the demonstration.

Occupiers are seeking "determination that the [city has] engaged in arbitrary and capricious action in violation of the First and Fourteenth Amendments by first approving the Occupy presence for 56 days before suddenly revoking permission through [...]"

At a press conference on the City hall steps, James Lafferty, director of the National Lawyers Guild representing Occupy LA said he hopes police will have the "decency" to hold off on a raid until a ruling comes from the court on the restraining order.

"There's no need to rush to judgment here," Lafferty said. 

The Los Angeles Times has the full court document posted at its website.

City officials have pleaded with protesters to comply with the eviction. The mayor on Sunday night reiterated his praise for the Occupy movement for bringing "economic equality" into the public conversation. 

About half of the orginal 500 tents occupying the area have been removed by the protesters themselves.

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