As Occupy LA deadline nears, vows to stay

LOS ANGELES - The protesters whose tents line the lawn of Los Angeles City Hall made it clear that they received the eviction notice issued by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Whether they'll heed it is much less certain.

With hours left before the Monday at 12:01 a.m. deadline the mayor and the police chief gave for Occupy LA, very few of the occupiers were packing, and many were instead making plans for what to do when they stay.

Some handed out signs Saturday mocked up to look like the city's notices to vacate, advertising a Monday morning "eviction block party."

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.

Police gave few specifics about what tactics they would use if protesters ignored the deadline.

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.

In an interview with the Los Angeles Times published Sunday, Beck said that despite the lack of confrontations in the camp's two-month run, he's realistic about what might happen.

"I have no illusions that everybody is going to leave," Beck said. "We anticipate that we will have to make arrests."

But he added, "We certainly will not be the first ones to apply force."

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Villaraigosa announced 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 showed no signs of giving up the patch of park too easily.

Will Picard, who sat Saturday in a tent amid his artwork with a "notice of eviction" sign posted outside, said the main organizers and most occupiers he knows 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 seen at similar protests in other cities. But that peace was likely to get its biggest test on Monday.

Ue Daniels, 21, said as an artist he's "as nonviolent as they come" but he planned on resisting removal any way he could.

"I think we'll comply as far as putting our tents on the sidewalk maybe, that's something that's been going around."

But as far as leaving altogether?

"They would probably have to drag me away," he said.

In other "Occupy" developments:

Philadelphia: The clock is ticking down for Occupy Philadelphia, whose members have been ordered to dismantle their City Hall camp by 5 p.m. Sunday to make way for a $50 million construction project.

Officials hope the ultimatum is met with the same spirit of cooperation that has made for a largely peaceful movement since Occupy members first set up tents on Dilworth Plaza nearly two months ago. But as of Sunday morning, dozens of tents still remained.

Some demonstrators have already agreed to leave and continue their activities across the street under strict conditions that forbid camping. But internal strife within the protest made it unclear whether the rest of the tents and personal belongings would be removed on time.

It's also unclear how the city will react if the deadline is not met.

"I'm not going to try to predict what's going to happen on Sunday at 5 p.m.," Mayor Michael Nutter said Friday in giving protesters 48 hours' notice to vacate the property.

Jeremy Patten, 27, of Philadelphia, who was manning the medic tent at the camp Sunday morning, said he expected some civil disobedience at 5 p.m. He said he'd like to see Occupy members show solidarity in purpose but use many different tactics and strategies.

"People are as committed as they have been to seeing this conversation continue," Patten said.

Austin, Texas: Occupy Austin protestors' first attempt to expand from city hall to the Texas state capitol grounds has been limited by Department of Public Safety troopers. About 30 protestors left the capitol peacefully after the troopers cited State Preservation Board regulations on Saturday afternoon that limit protests without permits to three hours during a 24-hour period.

Protester Ihor Gowda told the Austin American-Statesman that the group hoped to establish a long-term presence at the capitol. Protesters have been voicing their concerns outside city hall since October.

He said it was disturbing that there was no zone for free speech on the capitol grounds.

Seattle, Wash.: A U-District bank is cleaning up thousands of dollars worth of damage that police say may be tied to the "Occupy" movement.

According to Seattle Police someone broke out nearly all the windows at this US Bank on Northeast 63rd Street some time after 3 this morning. There was also damage to the ATM, and the words "Revenge for Occupy Oakland" were spray painted on the building.

Police say no one entered the bank, and no one's been arrested.

Longview, Wash.: The International Longshore and Warehouse Union is saying thanks, but no thanks to a call from some Occupy protesters to shut down West Coast ports on Dec. 12. Occupy Oakland passed a resolution last week calling for a "mass mobilization" in support of the union's fight against the owners of a new grain terminal at the Port of Longview, Wash.

Union President Robert McEllarth said in a written statement that the union appreciates the support from Occupy protesters but hasn't authorized any shutdown.

The Daily News of Longview reports that the union is already facing heavy court fines for vandalism and blocking trains to the port in September, and a federal judge warned the workers to stop violating their contract.

Augusta, Me.: Occupy Augusta protesters have been told to get a permit or move their tents out of the state-owned Capitol Park. Capitol Police have allowed the protesters to stay in the park near the State House since Oct. 15 out of respect for their rights.

But Capitol Police Chief Russ Gauvin has now told demonstrators they need to apply for a permit by Monday. He told the Kennebec Journal that the campers have damaged the ground and other people are complaining they can't use the park.

Jim Freeman, of Verona Island, said the group has no intention of applying for a permit or moving from the park.

Allentown, Pa.: Police have disrupted an attempt by Occupy Allentown demonstrators to set up a second campsite in the eastern Pennsylvania city. The Morning Call reports police chased two activists from a traffic island in the city's West End on Friday night.

Assistant Police Chief Daniel Warg says occupying the island at Ott Street and Hamilton Boulevard would be a traffic hazard.

Bloomington, Ind.: Southern Indiana business owners who say they're sympathetic to the Occupy Wall Street movement are losing their patience with a protest that they say has attracted homeless residents, drug use and other problems.

Fred Rose, manager at the Bicycle Garage in Bloomington, says he has written letters to Bloomington Mayor Mark Kruzan, the city council and the city's parks department, asking for proper trash cleanup, sanitation and time restrictions on a 24-hour camp at the city's Peoples Park.

Rose said he is concerned about open fires and intoxication just feet from his workplace and is tired of finding human waste in his recycling bins.

The concerns likely won't go away anytime soon. Organizers of the Peoples Park protest say they're looking for military tents and wood stoves to keep warm in the winter, The Herald-Times reported.

Supporters of the protest say their presence downtown has improved the plight of the city's homeless by offering food, shelter and compassion to many who have frequented the park for years.

The demonstration does not violate city code, and officials have said they support the "peaceful protest."