Occupy L.A. Raid: LAPD Moves In To Clear City Hall Camp [Live Video]

By Gene Maddaus Wed., Nov. 30 2011 at 1:07 PM

Dennis Romero

With reporting from Dennis Romero. Occupy this awesome Ted Soqui slideshow of the night's festivities here.

Tonight's the night for the LAPD raid of Occupy L.A. Updates from the top. Images and live video after the jump.

1:05 p.m. [Wednesday] LAPD Officer Bruce Borihanh says there were 292 total arrests, including 290 for alleged failure to disperse, one for allegedly interfering with a police officer and one for allegedly battering a police officer. No injuries among cops were reported.

4:25 a.m. LAPD Chief Charlie Beck told reporters there were 1,400 officers on-hand and more than 200 arrests made. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa praised the restraint displayed by officers and said the operation was an example of good constitutional policing. "In my life I've never seen a more professional, restrained police force in very, very trying circumstances," the mayor told reporters at a 3:30 a.m. press conference. (See video of the press conference at the bottom).

Dennis Romero

Occupy barricade.

2:40 a.m. The plaza sitters still slowly being arrested, telling cops about issues
like the cost of the war in Afghanistan and sexual assault, before they are led off, per L.A.
Times pool. Tents have been flattened. Signing off...

2:26 a.m. And here comes the cherry-picker. But you can't cherry-pick an idea.

2:13 a.m. LAPD are slowly removing and arresting the plaza sitters, per Daily News pool. Arrestees are going limp. Very calm scene. The guys in the trees will be the last to go. 25-30 arrests total so far, per LA Weekly's own Dennis Romero.

1:47 a.m. LAPD has a cherry-picker for the guys in the trees. Chants of: "We are unstoppable! A better world is possible!"

occupy la protesters last night romero.JPG

Dennis Romero

99 percenters.

1:43 a.m. Chief Charlie Beck seen walking through the plaza, per Daily News pool
report. Four protesters injured, two transported to hospital, per LAFD. In addition to 1200 cops, about 130 fire personnel on scene. In the plaza: "Lock arms!"

Dennis Romero

Occupying the street.

1:31 a.m. Clergy brought over to try to convince the seated protesters to relent. Police aim rifle with rubber bullets at the guys in the trees, per L.A. Times pooler, but do not fire. "Hard block the gun!"

1:21 a.m. Chants of "Don't shoot!" as officers try to get protesters out of trees. About 15-20 arrests so far, per LAPD media relations. Park is mostly clear, as officers go tent-by-tent.

1:07 a.m. Livestream shows a group of Occupiers seated in a circle in the plaza at the
center of City Hall Park. Zip ties coming out. La Placita Olvera Church has opened its doors to evicted Occupiers.

REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/Pool

An LAPD officer takes aim at the guys in the trees with a rubber bullet gun. No shots fired.

12:58 a.m. "I ask that anyone who remains in the park to please leave voluntarily." -- L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

12:52 a.m. Moving people east down 1st Street. Tents deflating. More arrests. Pooler Frank Stolze of KPCC gets this image of an arrest.

12:45 a.m. Mic check! Cops should have tried the people's mic.

REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/Pool

In the "circle of peace," Occupiers await arrest

12:38 a.m.: 10 minutes to disperse. Officers in hazmat suits. Some technical difficulties with loudspeakers.

12:31 a.m. Crowd moving back into park, per Reuters pool. "I have the right to be here!" "Is this about the grass?"

12:26 a.m. Cops announce an unlawful assembly. Officer warning to non-pool media: "This is gonna get very dangerous."

REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/Pool

12:19 a.m. Officers converge from all directions. Arrests.

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Tags:

Chief Charlie Beck, LAPD, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Occupy L.A.

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Bob

You're right... the constitution doesn't prohibit you specifically from forming on the LA City Hall lawn. How could it? The city municipal codes do though. If you want to obtain a permit, go right ahead and form peacefully, otherwise, parks close at 10:30, kids. Remember? Damn, if i hadn't done the responsible thing and paid off my student loans, I could have gone down there too! I'm sure while the "99%" were running the streets, the real 99% were at home, sleeping to go to work the next day... and the LAPD was probably laughing at "you" while they earned overtime. Time for a refresher course on Govt.

thehuntress144

Bingo! Bob you are the man...exactly what I came here to say!

Jake Werner

So where was the live video?

SpySarahPalinExposedClickHere

They should be protesting our last election. Our next election could be as big of a sham as the last. Do you know why Sarah Palin's bus tour was really canceled? Know what leaked out? Do you know why she stayed 30 miles away from the second debate and chose the death of Steve Jobs to announce that she's not running? She's dodging the media now because of thishttp://PalinsDirtyLittleSecret...

Guest

The whole idea of 'unlawful assembly' really gets to me. Where in the consitution does it dictate where and when our freedom of assembly is and is not a right? I don't remember reading about the part in the constitution where it says that we're only allowed to gather in protest of a thing how and when the thing we're protesting allows.

On the other hand. Kudos to the LAPD. NOT for dragging people off when they aught to have been respecting their rights under the constitution, but for NOT firing those rubber bullets. Protesters still got hurt, but it's much MUCH better than the police in other areas have done. I still think they're serving the wrong people, but at least that service seams to lack much of the sadism and brutality displayed by other law enforcement all across America.

Bob

You must have read over it then, cuz its right there... next to the section mandating that at some point in time all candy bars must come out in "fun size". It can't cover every detail, thats where the lower levels of government come in... duh.

Sib

By that logic, the constitution guarantees me the right to assemble in your living room. After all, I don't remember reading in the constitution that I can't.

First

About time....

zungtoo

Should be interesting to see how that all turns out. WOw.anon-toolz.tk

zungtoo

Sooner or later the Sheeple are going to have to realize that its gonan take a LOT more than some silly protest to get any real results. Total-Privacy.us

Ecriterre

As long as there are no longer checks and balances on the 3 branches of govt. They are all composed mostly of lawyers, so laws are made by lawyers, passed by lawyers, enforced by lawyers and executed for the benefit of lawyers. The more complicated, the more tricks and loupholes, the more small print, etc. the more we need lawyers to keep from drowning in the bureaucracy. They'd never tolerate transparency in business or in government. I'm afraid the system too corrupt for repair

Greg791

I could have not stated this any better as briefly. Democracy is broken & we Americans need to go beyond voting, for the masses have been pushed to far. Our tax dollars are spent supporting the minorities interests to overthrow the masses votes & interests. Let's not forget the billions spent to care & provide for illegal aliens because we somehow cannot afford to secure our borders, but miraculously have funding to secure other countries. I could go on for days. I listen to all sides, but it appears one sided from the outside looking in!.