The FINANCIAL — Despite a fast-approaching deadline set by the mayor and police chief, very few of the anti-Wall Street protesters from Occupy Los Angeles had begun breaking down their tents on Saturday on the City Hall lawn — and most said they didn't intend to.
The Occupy LA encampment was abuzz with activity, but nearly all of it was aimed at how to deal with authorities come today's 0801 GMT deadline.
Some handed out signs mocked up to look like the city's notices to vacate, advertising an "eviction block party" today morning.
Dozens attended a teach-in on resistance tactics, including how to stay safe in the face of rubber bullets, tear gas canisters and pepper spray.Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa announced on Friday that despite his sympathy for the protesters' cause, it was time for the camp of nearly 500 tents to leave for the sake of public health and safety.The mayor said the movement is at a "crossroads", and it must "move from holding a particular patch of park to spreading the message of economic justice".
But occupiers did not intend to give up their patch of park too easily. Will Picard, who sat on Saturday in a tent amid his artwork with a "notice of eviction" sign posted outside, said the main organisers and most occupiers intend to stay.
"Their plan is to resist the closure of this encampment and if that means getting arrested so be it," Picard said. "I think they just want to make the police tear it down rather than tear it down themselves."
But some agreed with the mayor that the protest had run its course.
"I'm going," said Luke Hagerman, who sat looking sad and resigned in the tent he's stayed in for a month. "I wish we could have got more done."
Villaraigosa expressed pride that Los Angeles has lacked the tension, confrontation and violence at similar protests in other cities. But that peace is likely to get its biggest test today. Police gave few specifics about what tactics they would use for those who would stay.
Chief Charlie Beck said at Friday's news conference that officers would definitely not be sweeping through the camp and arresting everyone just after midnight.
But Beck told the Los Angeles Times yesterday: "I have no illusions that everybody is going to leave. We anticipate that we will have to make arrests. We certainly will not be the first ones to apply force."
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