The California Coastal Commission denied Overnight Parking Districts (OPDs) two years in a row and what has changed since are all the new Coastal Commissioners and the real reason behind the Venice OPDs has been virtually eliminated. We hope the new Commissioners will study the OPD denials from both June 2009 and again in June 2010 and maybe even listen to our story to see why so many of us have fought all this time to keep Venice Beach Free and keep our Coastal Zone open to All.

. . . The main reason for OPDs is to remove homeless people living in vehicles from Venice and to help make Venice a more exclusive community. The OPD law is a Los Angeles Municipal Code (an ordinance) brought to life by Councilman Bill Rosendahl after he was first elected and seated in 2005. The intent of this parking permit system is and has always been to make it illegal for homeless people (or other alternative people) to park a vehicle between 2-6am in Venice, because the rules make it so they cannot get a permit.

. . . Even though the Coastal Commission Staff and Attorneys along with the City of LA and Mark Ryavec all reached a tentative settlement agreement to put in the Venice OPDs prior to the June 2010 Coastal Commission meeting, the Commission denied the OPDs for the second year in a row.

Full story: VENICE OPDs ARE BACK! BUT WHY? by Peggy Lee Kennedy

Los Angeles, CA - Activists from Alliance of California for Community Empowerment, homeowners and Occupy Fights Foreclosures gathered on the intersection of 7th Street and Figueroa Street for a Day of Action Against Wells Fargo bank, at 10:30am in Downtown Los Angeles on February 27. The plan for the Day of Action was to shut down four Wells Fargo bank branches around Los Angeles. This Day of Action was organized by ACCE and supported by Occupy Fights Foreclosures activists. Carlos Marroquin, a core member of Occupy Fights Foreclosures said: "We organized this day of action against Wells Fargo bank because Wells Fargo refuses to work with the families. Wells Fargo continues to mislead homeowners while many other banks are already working with the families."

Full story and photos: A Day of Action Against Wells Fargo Bank by Natasha Petrosova

Los Angeles, CA- Occupy Fights Foreclosures activists and homeowners gathered in front of Bank of America branch on North Vermont Street at 12:00pm on Wendesday, February 20. The activists and homeowners held their signs and marched in a circle chanting "B.O.A how many homes did you steal today…. Bank of America, Bad for America." The demonstration lasted for about two hours.

Josephina Perez, a recent victim of fraudulent foreclosure, came to participate with her 3-year-old grandson, Jesus and her husband, Jose Perez. Mrs. Perez said that she was trying to modify her loan with Bank of America, but Bank of America repeatedly claimed that they never received her paperwork. Eventually, BOA foreclosed on her house, and Mrs. Perez and her family, including two small children, Jesus, 3 and Nalanie, 5 were forced to live on the streets.

Sherry Hernandez, another victim of a bank's fraudulent practices (in her case the bank is Countriwide), also came to participate. She is still fighting to keep her home.

Full story and pictures: Occupy Fights Foreclosures Protests in front of Bank of America on Wednesday, February 20 by Natasha Petrosova

LOS ANGELES, January 24, 2013--One more person might end up on Skid Row, adding to the 85,000 homeless in Los Angeles, because of an eviction yesterday. At noon, sheriff's deputies drove into the Broadway-Manchester neighborhood of South Central and changed the locks on the door of 72-year-old Cathelene Hughes' home of nine years.

. . . Mrs. Hughes is another victim of bank fraud. Her income was inflated on her loan application, and her mortgage nearly doubled after just two years. She explained, "I was denied a modification ten times because my loan was adjusting. I had no idea it was an adjustable. A guy from Countrywide called and told me that it was adjusting a couple weeks before they did it. Then he explained the situation to me." Mrs. Hughes has paid thousands of dollars to people promising to negotiate modifications. . . .

Full story: An Eviction in South Central by Ramona

While negotiations between regulators and 14 banks center around dollar figures and conditions, the millions who have lost homes due to financial crime continue to suffer. The ten billion dollar settlement will be effective for keeping the banks out of court, but will not go far among the homeowners foreclosed abusively. The settlement, likewise, does nothing towards restoring the economy, which crashed as a result of such schemes.

Occupy Fights Foreclosures was one of the groups to denounce the proposed settlement.

From the newswire: Occupy Fights Foreclosure Protests $10 billion Settlement by Natasha Petrosova

Occupy Fights Foreclosure (OFF), a subgroup of Occupy LA continues to fight against illegal foreclosures that are currently widespread in the state of California. OFF started the year 2013 by marching and chanting at the annual Rose Parade in Pasadena. The group of activists and victims of illegal foreclosures met at Singer park on January 1st at 6am Tuesday morning to prepare for the parade. They adjusted a 15-foot-high float with "Giant Mr. Monopoly Man" on a wagon and marched the 5 mile route following the Parade. Carlos Marroquin said that the reason for marching at the Rose Parade is not only to protest illegal foreclosure practices of the major banks but also to create public awareness and spread the word about banks' fraudulent actions.

Full story and photos: Rose Parade Completed by Occupy Fights Foreclosure Float by Natasha Petrosova

VAN NUYS December 27, 2012--The Hernandez family, who became local heroes in their determination to keep their Van Nuys home from foreclosure, were evicted by the Los Angeles sheriffs and police at 4:30 this morning.

In what is fast becoming a symbol of the fight against fraudulent foreclosures, the Hernandez family built a barricade across the front of the property announcing "Government By, Of and For the People." They decorated their roof in Christmas lights proclaiming "Evict Banks" with members of Occupy San Fernando Valley, Occupy the Hood, and the Los Angeles Anti-Eviction Campaign. For 123 days, they staved off the Bank of New York-Mellon with the support of grassroots groups across Los Angeles. What is the nation's second-longest occupation ended this morning when the family and their friends were awakened by the sound of the slamming doors of dozens of law enforcement vehicles surrounding the 1400 block of Leadwell Street in Van Nuys.

Javier Hernandez purchased the property for his mother seven years ago. At the recommendation of the bank, he stopped making payments in order to receive a loan modification but was met with repeated rejections. His story is typical of those people, predominantly Black and Brown, who were sold subprime mortgages at the height of the housing boom. Like so many others, Javier's father was deported, Javier lost his job, and the value of the house plummeted. Javier has since found employment, so, just days before the bank ordered the eviction, he came to a settlement with the mortgage trustees and was waiting for court approval. He elaborated, "We presented sufficient income to make the payments, and yet they still came in and evicted us right before New Year's Eve." . . .

Full story and photos: Hernandez Family Foreclosure Sparks Anti-Eviction Outrage by Leslie Radford

Soledad Corona is a single mother who was illegally evicted from her home by Bank of America on December 21st. She was relaxing in her home when she heard some strange noise at 9 o'clock in the morning. She looked outside the window and saw the sheriffs breaking her locks and entering her house. There were also 7 police cars outside. Corona had paper work from her lender, Bank of America, that promised her a loan modification. She tried to show them the paper work, but they did not want to look at it.

Corona said that she got very concerned about her 20 year old daughter, Victoria, who had a final in school that day. Corona said that she was treated as a criminal by the sheriff department and that they forced her out of the house at the gun point. She added, "I am a single mother and I am homeless for the Holidays."

Members of the Occupy Fights Foreclosure group as well as friends, neighbors and activists gathered in Soledad Corona's foreclosed house. . . .

Full article and photos: Occupy Fights Foreclosure Group Re-Occupies the Foreclosed House by Natasha Petrosova

On December 6 a year ago, the groups of activists around the country participated in a day of action for housing justice launching the Occupy Our Homes movement. Since a year ago, activists, homeless advocates, students, homeowners and other occupy groups have come together to fight against illegal foreclosures and evictions.

Today, the Los Angeles based group, Occupy Fights Foreclosure, celebrates a year anniversary and protests together with activists, homeowners and members of other occupy groups inside Wells Fargo branch on 1600 Vine Street in Hollywood. The protesters demand justice, stop of illegal foreclosures, reduction of the principal of underwater mortgages and full compliance with the national Attorney General settlement. After an hour, Walls Fargo bank officials shut down the branch and forced the protesters to leave the building.

Story and photos: Occupy Fights Foreclosure protests at Wells Fargo Bank in Hollywood by Natasha Petrosova

On Friday, November 23, Occupy Long Beach protested in front of the Walmart store located in Downtown Long Beach in support of Walmart employees. The protesters demanded higher wages, health care benefits, and better hours for Walmart employees. None of the Walmart employees joined the strike, and a couple workers reported that they were threatened to be fired on the spot if they joined the strike or engaged in a conversation with any members of the Occupy group.

The demonstration was peaceful until the police saw nineteen year old Honor O'Kane drawing on the cement. O'Kane was taken aside while the members of Occupy group were trying to persuade the police that drawing on the ground with chalk was not illegal and cannot be confused with a graffiti created by spray paint. As a result, Vivian Price, a professor of labor studies at CSUDH was arrested on a charge resisting arrest and obstruction of justice. Price was handcuffed and taken to the Long Beach Police Department.

Report and photos: Occupy Long Beach Strikes at Walmart on Black Friday, November 23, 2012 by Natasha Petrosova

GARDEN GROVE - Niko Black, a Native woman (Apache) with terminal cancer, has been evicted from her Garden Grove home by Wells Fargo, with co-operation of the Orange County Sheriff's Department and complicity of the local police. This, despite Niko posting a Federal Court Order forbidding such action on her front door and filing it with local police agencies.

On the morning of October 10, Niko Black was in bed when her front door was kicked open by the Orange County Sheriff's Department. Black, who has terminal cancer, crawled to her wheelchair as four-to-six deputies entered and proceeded to hold a gun to her face. She was then taken outside sans any of her medication. When she called the Garden Grove Police, they did nothing. Since all of her medication and other means of treatment were in her home, Black got sick very quickly and had to be taken to the hospital.

From the newswire: Wells Fargo Evicts Terminally-Ill Woman Despite Federal Court Order by Rick Panna, photos and video by Naui Huitzilopochtli | | Coverage on American Indian Airwaves (online for 90 days)

Video: Demonstration at Wells Fargo (11-3-12) by Naui Huitzilopochtli

ANAHEIM - July 29th 2012 was a sunny Sunday in Anaheim that brought over 250 protesters from all over California to demand justice for the series of recent officer involved shootings in Anaheim, during the last week and a half alone, two of which were fatal.

People lined the sidewalk down Harbor Blvd from the police station to the corner of Broadway. Many were holding signs with such sentiments as "Am I next" and "Stop Police Brutality". The protesters were not the only ones present. Orange County Sheriffs Department were on horseback lining both sides of the street.

This is the start of an ongoing protest every weekend in Anaheim until justice for the police brutality and the end of such police presence is had. After speaking to a few community members the overall feeling in regards to the police presence is uneasiness, they are tired of the racism and class discrimination that is the deciding factor when officers pull the trigger on unarmed citizens only to be later called "self defense". never seeing justice for their harmed and lost loved ones.
Full Report: Anaheim Police Protest Bring the Camouflage Out by The Lizard Queen | | Also: Demonstration in front of Disneyland by Rick Panna

Commentary: A Letter to the Residents of Anaheim by Federica
Anaheim PD Chief Hints 'Outside Agitators' and 'Occupy Wall Street' Caused 'Civil Unrest' by Duane Roberts

Latest news: "This Is What a Police State Looks Like" by Federica

LOS ANGELES, July 13, 2012 - Friday night, the LAPD shot not-as-lethal projectiles, either bean bags or rubber bullets, at people chalking on downtown streets and sidewalks. One observer reported a woman sketching a stick figure didn't get to finish her street art before she was beanbagged. Her partner lunged at the responsible cop, and he was beaten to the ground. Another witness told of a young man who was dropped from his skateboard by police guns. Some of the amateur and impromptu artists responded to the assault with rocks and bottles. Reports estimate fourteen arrests, four injured police, and an unknown number of injured chalkers. Full Story: Art Walkers Occupy Free Speech by Federica

Video: Chalk Riot by dramakidps2

Commentary: Big surprise: Corporate media fucks up chalk walk story by Rockero

A series of demonstrations drew attention to one of the biggest (and least-discussed) government welfare programs: the Military Industrial Complex. Although Boeing was the main target, demonstrations also occurred in front of Northrop Grumman and Raytheon. By late afternoon, there were about 50 participants. That number increased to approximately 75 by early evening. Most response from vehicular traffic seemed positive.

Emphasis was placed on the staggering amounts of public money spent on weapons (over 50% of government spending) while people here and abroad suffer from hunger, disease, and illiteracy. And despite the huge Military budget, various demonstrators observed that they do not feel any safer. Various participants also spoke out against the current U.S. military build-up in the Pacific--against America's greatest trading partner, China. There was considerable emphasis, too, on flying drones. "We are in secret wars in Yemen [and] Pakistan," read a widely-distributed leaflet. "There will soon be thousands of weaponized predator drones in the United States airspace."

Story and photos: Occupy the Military Industrial Complex (report back) by Rick Panna

Los Angeles residents have been laying siege to the Central City Association for nearly a month. The people have been dutifully operating within the law, pitching tents at 9 p.m. and breaking down camp by 6 a.m. right in front of the "1%'s" lobby here in Los Angeles. In the day, we occupy Pershing Square and outreach, rest, and build our community. The people involved have been arrested and harassed, and it is escalating each day we camp at the doorsteps of corporate power.

Who exactly is the CCA? Their clients include Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Boeing, Target, US Bank, Verizon, Chevron, Walmart, and AT&T. They have the ear of the City Council and mayor as they push pro-business, anti-people regulations and laws. They are the shockingly overt bridge between money and politics.

Full story: Arrests & Terror at #626 Wilshire by RyanRiceLA

RIVERSIDE (California) - Friday, May 18, 2012 - Police arrested a woman for observing a checkpoint Friday evening. The community responded in protest, occupying the area in front of Robert Presley Detention Center overnight, marching, and demanding the release of our comrade. The woman was released to the hospital at approximately eight o'clock Saturday morning, despite having suffered an epileptic seizure some nine hours earlier. Full Story: Police arrest copwatcher during checkpoint, Occupy Riverside responds by Rockero

April 10, 2012

RIVERSIDE - As part of a statewide effort to expose California's 1% and demand retribution from them so that schools can be funded and homeowners protected, community activists gathered for a press conference that was followed by a direct challenge to the managers of the local branch of Wells Fargo. Though the crowd was small, the response--a shutdown of the bank branch--was anything but.

From the newswire: Group of Six shutdown Wells Fargo by the lizard queen

LOS ANGELES, March 30, 2012 - Occupy Venice, Venice Locals, Lawyers with the National Lawyers Guild, and a group called Venice Community Unity all came together on 3rd Ave in Venice to stop a homeless sweep from happening on March 29.

There was tension. Despite public resistance, the LAPD and Street Services were going to throw away belongs that were clearly not garbage until civil rights attorney, Carol Sobel called Councilman Rosendahl and convinced him to intercede. So this time no property was seized. Trash was removed from 3rd Ave but the belongings remained. It was a success. The only problem is that the city just keeps doing the same thing. Full Story: Venice Homeless Sweep Stopped: A Good Day in Venice for Street People by Venice Justice Committee & Rosendahl's Legacy: Gentrification and Sweeping the Homeless Out of Venice? by Peggy Lee Kennedy

Wednesday, February 29th was the national day of nonviolent direct action to shut down the corporations, especially those that comprise ALEC, the American Legislative Exchange Council. Occupy Riverside has called for a community-based picket line at the world's largest Walmart distribution center, Schneider Logistics, at 4100 Hamner Ave in Mira Loma, where workers are engaged in a struggle to recover stolen wages and ultimately, for recognition as a collective bargaining unit.

Calls to Action: #F29 Promo Video | F29 SHUTDOWN THE CORPORATIONS CALL TO ACTION: Occupy Walmart! | Resolution in Support of Warehouse Workers at Walmart Contractor Schneider Logistics

From the Newswire: F29 Walmart Warehouse Shutdown: Victory at Dawn and F29 photos by Rockero | | F29 - Breaking: Protest holding one intersection outside Walmart by LA-IMC | | F29 - Images from Riverside by A | | F29: Club wielding cop trips and falls while chasing flag waving anarchist. by A

VIDEO: #F29 Occupy Walmart Warehouse by occupythischannel | | #F29 Videos by franchiseGH by franchiseGH | | Police Brutality at Occupy Los Angeles F29 by 19Alcibiades87 | | F29 videos by mikepointfive by mikepointfive

VENICE - In the latest wave of government and police repression of the homeless community, a meeting was held, a new policy adopted, signs were posted, and eviction followed. The events were marked by the participation of members of the clergy from the LAPD Religious Outreach office.

In order to justify this clearing out, the city council approved an ordinance banning vending, but also extended a previous ordinance closing the beach between midnight and 5am to include the Venice boardwalk. Advocates have opposed the beach-closing ordinance on the grounds that it was created and enforced without the required California Coastal development permit.

The LAPD's Pacific Division is further attempting to justify the removal of people by claiming that Venice is not subject to the terms of the Jones settlement, which prohibits police from enforcing the ban on sitting and sleeping on sidewalksduring certain hours.

Forcibly removed from their customary locations, the homeless were recommended to go to skid row.

From the newswire: More War Against Venice Street People by Venice Justice Committee | | Power Comes From The Barrel Of a Gun by Calvin E Moss

February 20, 2012
LOS ANGELES and RANCHO CUCAMONGA - With the United States incarcerating more people than any other country on Earth, and with the rampant abuses that occur throughout the opaque detention system, Occupy movements nationwide were eager to heed the call to "Occupy for Prisoners," which issued from prison solidarity activists who have long been in support of the Pelican Bay and Corcoran hunger strikes against solitary confinement in the special housing units, or SHUs.

A protest outside the infamous twin towers jail in Downtown LA, where the ACLU was instrumental in exposing prisoner abuse by LA County Sheriff's deputies late last year, drew large numbers of protesters, and a smaller facility at San Bernardino County's West Valley Detention Center, where inmates participated in the solidarity hunger strike during it's peak last year, likewise drew a loud demonstration.

From the newswire: Occupy for Prisoners by Rockero

LOS ANGELES - Using the budget shortfall in Sacramento as cover, Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Board President Monica Garcia and LAUSD Superintendent John Deasy have recommended a draconian budget that cuts off all funding for adult education--the veritable lifelines for immigrant families, impoverished communities, and students of color. Unconscionable in any circumstances, their proposed budget is even more grievous given the hundreds of millions of dollars of public property and resources they have given away to private charter corporations over the past couple of years.

More than 345,000 students are currently enrolled in various adult education programs including English as a second language, high school graduation, occupational programs, and many others.

Efforts are underway to save these critical programs. So far thousands of signatures have been collected, hundreds of phone calls made, and various other means of trying to convince the LAUSD Board to save Adult Education have been employed. Moreover, it isn't just the students at these schools and community activists supporting adult education. Indeed, many local business support LAUSD Adult Education for reasons including providing workers from the community better prepared for positions.

Supporters are asking for signatures on the on-line petition, as well as for support at a demonstration this Thursday, February 9, at 1:30 at the LAUSD offices, 333 S Beaudry Ave in Los Angeles, 90017.

From the newswire: Even Local Businesses Support Efforts to Save LAUSD Adult Education by Robert D. Skeels

RIVERSIDE (CA) January 19, 2012 - Thousands of students, workers, and community members gathered to participate in the governance of the UC system. When their participation was limited and ultimately shut off, they took direct action to ensure their voices were heard. For this, they were confronted by police from numerous agencies. Police violence broke out, and three arrests were made

Preparations for the event have been going on for months, and have included on-campus general assemblies and discussions of occupation. The camp began Tuesday night and immediately drew support from students and campers from Occupy Riverside and Occupy LA. By Wednesday, a food table was set up, as was an outreach table and a people's library. Students and faculty held many teach-ins and teach-outs to raise the consciousness of students.

But the action really began Thursday morning, when groups of students and unions members spoke to the regents during the public comment section of the meeting. Full Story: UCR Occupied in Defense of Education By Rockero

[Editorial by The Journal of Aesthetics & Protest] Issue 8 of the Journal of Aesthetics & Protest is out. Its forward, recently written but conceived in the afterglow of the 2009/2010 UC occupations looks into the broad strategy of occupying everything.

The chart shows how we editors understand how each writer's article functionalizes distrust/trust of institutionality in relationship to how much mediation they understand is useful in reflecting on the complexity of culture.

With increased institutionality, the work transforms from an isolated autonomous actor towards more socialized formations, be the formations consciously organized community groups or general mass cultures operating with less conscious collective arrangements.

With increased mediation, the project of sharing dreams, ideas, critiques and meaning goes from something very intimate (a kiss, a whisper or a slap in the face) to something that is milled through various representational machines.
Full article: Towards Occupying Everything by the editors of the Journal of Aesthetics and Protest

PASADENA - Occupy joined this year's New Year celebrations by marching at the end of the Rose Parade. They carried float-sized props of the Constitution, the "corporate Constitution," and the Occupy Octopus, made entirely of recycled material rather than the plant material the Tournament of Roses requires.

As Rose Parade spectators dispersed, the Occupy movement held a rally outside Pasadena City Hall with speakers, including Cindy Sheehan, the "peace mom."

Despite recent setbacks for the economic justice movement, including the breakup of all the major encampments, occupiers in the US and the outraged worldwide are hopeful that 2012 is the year of great change.

From the newswire: Occupy the Rose Parade by Rockero | | Did Occupy the Rose Parade Get Air? by nobody | | OCCUPY roses and constitution showed up in media by one of many

LONG BEACH, California - Heeding the call of Occupy Oakland, which called for a shutdown of west coast ports in response to the brutal eviction of occupy encampments nationwide, and in solidarity with expolited port workers and truckers, about 500 militant occupiers and their friends shut down Terminal J of the Port of Long Beach, the home of SSA Marine, an investment of the criminal enterprise Goldman Sachs and the main stakeholder of the US government.

The marchers were eventually split off from each other by the Los Angeles Port Police. However a group of 300 to 500 people successfully blocked a road that led to one of the SSA piers for a few hours causing traffic snarls and the like. At this point the police phalanx declared the march an unlawful assembly and threatened the Gandhian / King-inspired demonstrators with possible bodily harm from batons, percussion weapons, tasers and finally......nonlethal dog bites.

The Port Police eventually physically pushed the people back for 100 yards or so, at which point the nonviolent protesters turned and walked back to Harry Bridges Park. The rain began to fall heavily as the crowd of now about 200 began to disperse.

Some arrests were made. One for failure to disperse, one for resisting and a number of pedestrian traffic violations were issued.The well known Los Angeles organizer Kwazi Nkrumah was arrested and charged with failure to obey a police officer and walking in a roadway. He is out on bail of 10,000 dollars.

Full report: Occupy the Ports - A Day without Goldman Sachs by Rockero

Occupy The Ports Long Beach, part 1 by Robert Stuart Lowden

Occupy The Ports Long Beach, part 2 by Robert Stuart Lowden

UPDATE: Interview with Nathan, arrested at Long Beach Port shutdown by Rockero

RIVERSIDE - Tuesday, Dec. 06, 2011 � A coalition including Occupy LA, Occupy Riverside, ACCE, Refund California, and SEIU teamed up to defend two families who are facing eviction by sheriffs who protect the profits of JP Morgan Chase and Wells Fargo.

Fraudulent mortgages and a refusal by bankers to negotiate with families struggling to get by has resulted in a huge wave of foreclosures. As people are driven from their homes and neighborhoods, their homes are left empty for months and even years at a time. The banks and the capitalist class have shown over and over that they don't care about anything but their profits and their property.

Ana Casas Williams, her husband James, her mother, and her son reached out to community organizations for help in defending their foreclosed home in South Gate after Wells Fargo refused to modify the conditions of their mortgage. Ana has been fighting stage 4 breast cancer which forced her husband to quit his job to provide full time care for her.

Art D. and his family have been refused the opportunity to modify their mortgage by JPMorgan Chase on their home in Riverside. Art is still employed although the recession has cut into his ability to make the payments at the previous rate.

Today, people from around LA stood up for the right of all people to homes by rallying, speaking out to the media, and taking direct action by setting up their tents in the yards of people facing eviction in order to physically defend the families from the sheriffs who will come to evict them. From the Newswire:

Occupy Our Homes: L.A. Joins a Nationwide Day of Action Against Foreclosures by a wobbly

They Are Not Going to Steal Another Home! by LizardQueen

RIVERSIDE - Wed. Nov. 30, 2011 - While all eyes were on the destruction of the Occupy LA camp Tuesday night. In Riverside police evicted the Occupy Riverside mall encampment. 3 arrests have been reported from the raid. There are also reports of police violence. One person, an Iraq war veteran, is said to have sustained a spinal fracture when police bashed his head into the roof of a police car.

Excerpts from an eye witness account: At 6:15 am, the Riverside Police marched approx. 40 troops to the 9th St. sidewalk, lining them up, and then marched approx. 40 troops onto the University Ave. sidewalk to create a sort of loose perimeter such as in a battlefield, leaving the remaining 24 or so of the 104 troops (as stated by Chief Diaz) to organize the removal, demolition, and hauling away of all tents, signs, and personal belongings not claimed. From the Newswire: Report of the eviction and dispersal of the tents and belonging at Occupy Riverside by John Dingler | Occupy Riverside Also Raided Tuesday Night

LOS ANGELES, November 30, 2011 - The Occupy LA encampment at City Hall was raided late last night and destroyed last night by the LAPD. Police mobilized a force of an estimated 800 officers and formed a tight ring around the surrounding area and then an inner ring around the park. When the raid came hundreds of riot police poured out of the South door of City Hall and flooded the camp. Police quickly surrounding those locked in arms in the South Plaza and began making arrests.

Arrests continued late into the night. The exact count is unclear but estimates put it near 200 people. Those not arrested during the raid staged protests on First Street just East of the park. About 1,000 supporters were able to get to the park before police line went up. Those who did not arrive before 9:00 pm were prevented by police lines from getting to the park. Other late arrivers marched around the police perimeter looking for a way in. For a while some people found ways in through some open buildings, but police caught on and stopped it.

Occupiers have regrouped at the La Placita Church and some tents have been set up there. A general assembly is still planned for tonight at 7:30 pm on the West steps of City Hall.

UPDATE, Thursday, Dec 1, 11:30am: Total arrests said to be 292. Most changed for unlawful assembly. Some resisting arrest changes. Hundreds still in jail. Numbers released at this time unclear. Excessive bail set at $5,000. Times 300 arrested means $1.5 million at 10% rate means $150,000 needed in bail money for all arrestees. Bail fund said to be only $12,000. Arraignments expected today, 1:30 pm at 429 Bauchet St. Dept. 80-83. Police claim no force used or injuries but video posted online indicates otherwise. There are reports from Occupy medics of injuries. Unconfirmed reports of rubber bullets fired. Park is now completely fenced off. City is now blaming occupiers for the mess created by police when they destroyed the camp.

LOS ANGELES - November 28, 2011 - The Occupiers at City Hall spent a sleepless night working to defend their camp, armed with only their bodies and their strength of will. Even when surrounded by police with one small escape route the occupiers held their ground. And as dawn broke, staying in the park past the city's deadline turned out to be safer than shopping at walmart this holiday weekend.

It now appears that the city's strategy for eviction is to wear people down with a low intensity slow motion raid, hoping that most will pack up and leave on their own. In classic Orwellian speak, police chief Beck has said, "It's not an eviction, it's the beginning of an informational campaign".

For the most part Beck's informational campaign appears to have achieved some partial success for the LAPD. At morning light the camp looked in disarray with less than half the number of tents from the day before. The 1,000s of supporters that packed last night's general assembly are also gone.

At this time police forces have been demobilized and there is only a small police presence at the camp. Both sides could be awaiting a ruling on an injunction filed by the National Lawyers Guild to stop the eviction on the grounds that the City Council has passed a resolution in support of Occupy that waived the no camping ordinance and that the mayor can not unilaterally order an eviction without the council's reinstatement of the no camping ban.

Last night was a long night for the occupiers and it is thought that most are resting and preparing for the days ahead. The night saw some creative displays of non-violent resistance with some people taking to the trees in the park, others formed a circle around a symbolic last tent. And there was, for a while, the formation of a human chain on the First Street side of the park.

Police riot squads did not attempt entry into the park. There were however 4 arrests reported that occurred during a brief scuffle when police cleared the protest off First Street. A dedicated core of perhaps 200 occupiers still vow to hold their ground and defy the eviction. Reports from the newswire:

The Deadline Passes at Occupy LA by RP

City's Deadline Passes No Sign of Riot Squad

Occupy LA Holding General Assembly Now | Up to 1,000 at General Assembly Now

OLA Protest has Spilled into Street | PHOTOS: Protesters in the Streets - 1st & Main by LA-IMC

OCCUPY LA at 10 PM by Marcus

From the KPFK Archive: Indy Media on the Air (available for 90 days)

LOS ANGELES, 27 Nov 2011 - The Occupiers at City Hall are asking all Angelenos to come to City Hall starting at 10:30 p.m. tonight and secure the space from a scheduled police raid until the Occupation can obtain a temporary restraining order when the courts open in the morning. At this juncture, the Occupiers are calling on all Angelenos to stand with them to protect the Occupation.

Seventy-two hours ago, notices were tacked up around City Hall lawn. Mayor Villaraigosa and police Chief Beck sent out the ultimatum to all of Los Angeles in a holiday weekend press conference timed to reach you on the local evening news: your Occupation of City Hall would officially end tonight. The Occupiers have responded that the City has no right to proscribe the people's right under the First Amendment to peaceably assemble and petition for a redress of grievances.

The current Occupiers are inviting Angelenos to round-the-clock block party with marches around City Hall, bands, and vigils until the space is secured again for the people. The people of Los Angeles are invited to come to City Hall to celebrate and claim their space and keep the police at bay all night and into tomorrow, until the court can intercede. Full Article: Urgent Call To Save the Occupation: Stay Up All Night by Lesile

Latest Report from the Camp: Tierra y Libertad: Occupy Los Angeles, Day 57 by Bradley Stuart

LOS ANGELES, November 25, 2011 - The Mayor announced this afternoon that he is ordering the closure of Solidarity Park (formerly known as City Hall Park). Standing with police chief Beck the mayor said that closure of the park would begin at one minute past midnight this Sunday night.

Reaction from occupiers was swift, with chants of "Hell no. we won't go" heard when the news reached the camp. One occupier is quoted has saying "They can shutdown our location, but they can't shutdown the spirit of the movement". The Occupy LA encampment is now the largest last standing camp in the nation. There are about 450 tents at the camp now with a camp population estimated at near 500 campers.

Occupiers are now mobilizing in two main groups: those prepared to engage in non-violent civil disobedience to resist eviction and those who can not risk arrest but can provide support in other ways. Occupiers are asking supporters to come to the camp this Sunday evening at 8:00 pm to help them defend the space.

From the Newswire: Occupy LA Braces for Police Raid this Sunday at Midnight | Occupy LA, Day 56 - Last Camp Standing | Shots from The GA that said NO by Robert Stuart Lowden

LOS ANGELES, November 17, 2011 - At seven o'clock in the morning thousands of people from the Occupy Los Angeles movement and associated groups converged on the 55 story Bank of America Plaza building in the skyscraper riddled area of the downtown financial district. The crowd was loud and impassioned, chanting "Banks got bailed out, We got sold out" or "This is what a police state looks like". There was every possible age and progressive political viewpoint represented by the inspired crowd.

There was heavy union participation in the first and second marches. Groups such as The Service Employees International Union and United Long Term Care Workers which is California's largest union were in full presence amongst others such Good Jobs LA . The police presence was the heaviest yet presented in the ongoing drama of Occupy Los Angeles. Tear gas weapons, rubber bullets and truncheons were displayed openly. The protest remained non violent throughout the days events and the weapons were not used. Occupiers cried "You are the 99 percent" to the LAPD officers with little visible reaction from the cops.
Full Report from the Newswire: Occupy Los Angeles Ups The Ante on November 17th (part three) by Robert Stuart Lowden

Also by Robert Stuart Lowden: Street sit-in and arrests, part 1 | N17 part two | Occupy BofA action | BofA action arrests

RIVERSIDE (CA) - Sunday, November 6, 2011 - Approximately 25 police in riot gear raided the peaceful encampment of Occupy Riverside yesterday afternoon. They dismantled and confiscated tents to the jeers of the demonstrators. The booth set up for the People's Kitchen and the media table were consolidated in the center of the plaza, and, in attempt to defend these stations and personal belongings, occupiers linked arms and formed a human chain around them.

In total 11 were arrested. There are many reports of police violence during the arrests; Many people were slammed to the ground, had their faced smashed into the concrete, and had the knees of officers applied to their necks and heads.

Reports from the Newswire:

Report From Occupy Riverside Police Raid by Rockero

Riverside Occupy encampment broken up by Kevin Akin

VIDEO: Occupy Riverside Raid November 6, 2011 by fbjr222

RPD Raid on Occupy Riverside 11-6-11 by OccupyRiv

BREAKING: Occupy Riverside getting raided RIGHT NOW by LA-IMC

UPDATE with video: Rally to Protect Free Speech from Police Brutality by Rockero

LOS ANGELES, November 5, 20011 - Saturday morning, fifty fours stories down from the top floor at the Wells Fargo skyscraper, a vigorous crowd protested and marched through the banking district of downtown Los Angeles. The protest was part of a nationwide day of action called "Bank Transfer Day". A coordinated action to move funds from large multi-national institutions to credit unions and smaller community banks.

Kristen Christian is a Los Angles Gallery owner and former B of A customer who started the revolt on her facebook page. Her page that states the case for using credit unions and small non investment banks while punishing the larger banks for their behavior since 2008 and before. She originally sent the her page out to 500 friends and now has 28,000 nationwide supporters. Some demonstrators cut up their credit cards in protest. Reports from the newswire:

Occupy Los Angeles Marches for Bank Transfer Day, set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 by Robert Stuart Lowden

VIDEO: Occupy LA Occupies California Plaza on November 5th by Kevin Lynn

As the Occupy LA camp approached its one-month mark, various issues were being addressed: Participants have been discussing how to create balance between revolution and partying, how to make the camp more engaging and inviting for passersby, and what to do if the Mayor/City Council decide the camp is no longer welcomed. Also, the occupation has agreed to join forces with the South Central Farm. Some of these issues were recently discussed on Uprising Radio.

The numerous world/societal problems being addressed at the occupation, besides the 1%, which affects everything, include legalizing marijuana, the continued dangers of nuclear weapons and nuclear energy, chem trails, impact of the war economy on Americans, and environmentally-sane lifestyles. New signs are being created all the time at the camp.

Photos: Pictures of Occupy L.A. (Oct. 24, 2011) R of the Northeast L.A. Radical Neighbors | Occupy LA / Imagine Fairness by Robert Stuart Lowden Occupy LA / Imagine Fairness /Photoset 2 by Robert Stuart Lowden

Meanwhile, indigenous people around the country are calling on the Occupy movements to represent and support first people's wishes and views. A poster seen at various demonstrations points out that "Wall St. is on occupied Algonquin land." Recently, "Occupy Albuquerque" has been renamed to "(Un)Occupy Albuquerque".

Here in LA (known as Yangna to the Tongva people), the emphasis has been placed on trying to get Occupy LA to support the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People. The US, of course, is among the few countries that voted against it (along with Australia, Canada, and New Zealand). (Although, here in California, San Luis Obispo Country officially recognized it last August 9. More here.) Poltical prisoner Leonard Peltier has also been emphasized, both here and on Wall Street. An issue very close to home is the desecration of Tongva burials at La Placita (aka: La Plaza), and there has been talk of having a march to there from Occupy LA.

Article: Report: The Indigenous Committee at Occupy LA by RP

On October 21, Occupy LA marched on Fox News because of its role in creating so many of our dire problems plus its ridicule of the Occupy Movement. Story and photos: Occupy LA and Others Protest Outside Fox News Shareholder Meeting by A | Video: VIDEO: Protest At Fox Studios by FYI

There has been some criticism about the running and operation of the camp: "In spite of some people's best efforts, OccupyLA has managed to re-create all the ills of the society we purport to change, right down to the do-gooders who want to tweak our system to make the problems less visible." Commentary: OccupyLA Still Here, and Coming Soon to a Hood Near You by Federica Lorca

In Riverside, the occupation that began on October 15 remains vibrant and strong with a reported 60 people participating in daily actions and about 30 camping. There has been a demonstration at a local Wal*Mart and solidarity with the people of Oakland in the wake of the massive police brutality there. One incident of police brutality has been reported in Riverside.

Reports and pictures by Rockero: Update from Occupy Riverside Day 12 Riverside Womyn of Color for Decolonization Spearhead Oakland Solidarity Rally | Video: Occupy Riverside disrupts auction of WWII vet's foreclosed home by Occupy Riverside

Updates by IMC-LA: BREAKING: Occupy Riverside reports three arrests outside of a Chase bank | BREAKING: Occupy Riverside getting raided RIGHT NOW | Photos from Riverside Raid

LOS ANGELES, October 17, 2011 - This past Saturday, October 15th was the day of coordinated worldwide actions in support of the Occupy Movement. Over the weekend more encampments began forming in cities throughout Southern California. In Los Angeles Robert Stuart Lowden reports: An eclectic crowd marched thru downtown starting at Pershing Square surging thru the financial district and on down to the occupied lawn of Los Angles city hall. Cries of "Make the banks pay" and "Banks Got Bailed out We Got Sold out" rang throughout the march.

Demonstrations also took place in Riverside, San Diego, Orange County, Santa Barbara and Long Beach.

In San Diego Mark Conlan reports: Despite attacks by police wielding pepper spray and Mace, confiscation of their possession and a series of threats to evict them forcibly from the Civic Center Plaza, over 1,000 members and supporters of Occupy San Diego reclaimed their downtown space

In Riverside Rockero reports: Just under 100 people of conscience successfully held the pedestrian walkway of the downtown mall, despite police threats of arrest for those determined to sleep in the public thoroughfare.

Reports from the Newswire: We are the 99% World Day of Awareness is a Peaceful Peak for Los Angeles, Set 1, Set 2, Set 3 by Robert Stuart Lowden | Pix of Occupy LA by Rick Panna | Occupy San Diego Draws Thousands Downtown Oct. 15 by Mark Gabrish Conlan | Occupy Riverside Official Launch October 15, 2011 by Rockero

UPDATE Latest News:

Police Crack Down on Long Beach Encampment, Two Arrests Reported, MP3 Audio: The 99 Percent Solution by James Maverick

Police Harass Peaceful Occupiers in Downtown Riverside By Rockero

The occupation of Wall Street, which has turned into an international movement, has prompted much discussion about political and economics systems and possible alternatives to the current ones. However, there has also been critical discourse about the movement itself, its defining characteristics (the slogans, the declaration and principles of solidarity, the imagery, the general assembly, the people's mic, etc.) and the role of race, class, and gender within the movement. LA Indymedia has gathered some of these perspectives from our newswire, social media, and the blogosphere and present them here for further discussion.

From the newswire: Occupying LaLa Land by Federica Lorca

From the social media: Some Thoughts on Last Night's Occupy L.A. General Assembly by Víctor EntrePuertas | | Reflections on Occupy LA, Wall St. and Bel air by Paulina | | Occupy Riverside You Need the Integrated Participation of Womyn of Color! by TepilliUelia Gloria

From the blogosphere: Some thoughts on the Occupation Movement by Joaquin Cienfuegos | | A todos nuestros familiares y compañero s en la lucha / To all our families and companeros in the struggle by RAC-LA

LOS ANGELES, October 8, 2011 - The Occupy LA site at Los Angeles City Hall was visited twice yesterday by Dr. Cornell West and PBS star Tavis Smiley. Friday was the seventh day of the occupation that sprung from the Occupy Wall Street actions in New York City.

West and Smiley inspired the rally and buoyed their hopes by articulating what they were seeing on their American Poverty Tour as well as their stops at other "Occupy " sites. West stressed that the people gathered at Los Angeles City Hall were of a highly diverse group which is contrary to the picture being painted by the mainstream and right wing press which is portraying the movement as fringe , confused and young. As this reporter looked around the crowd and the encampment, West's view was confirmed. There was consensus, diversity, sharing and intelligence.

From the Newswire: Smiley and West Buoy the 99 % at Occupy LA Rally by Robert Stuart Lowden

LOS ANGELES October 6 was the 6th day of The Occupy LA actions. The Refund California Campaign, MakeBanksPay and and the ACCE ( Alliance of Californians of Community Empowerment ) along with the SEIU union staged a protest and march in and thru the downtown Los Angeles financial district.The march went past Chase, HSV and eventually surrounded the Bank of America at Figueroa and Seventh Streets. 11 people were arrested for occupying the BofA branch.

Rose Gudiel, a La Puente homeowner was present at the protest along with her family. She had been arrested the day before for participating in a peaceful sit - in at the Fanny Mae office in Pasadena.
From the Newswire: Refund California Action Results in 11 Arrests, Set 1 & Set 2 by Robert Stuart Lowden

LOS ANGELES, October 7, 2011 – OccupyLA Day Seven. The encampment at City Hall continues to grow. The camp now numbers close to 100 tents with at least two occupants per tent. Rain on Wednesday failed to discourage the occupiers, and the encampment is now larger and more organized than ever. Tomorrow the camp will have completed its first full week. It has been an action packed week and has drawn much media attention even competing with the Jackson murder trial just down the street.

Everyday there has been a march kicking off from the encampment to the financial district or a government building in the downtown area. Yesterday, Thursday, saw the occupiers teaming up with a group called Make Banks Pays for a march and a civil disobedience action at a Bank of America office. Ten arrests have been reported from Thursday’s action.

Today the camp was visited by Tavis Smiley and Dr. Cornell West who are in Los Angeles as part of their nationwide poverty tour. The camp has received support from the Los Angeles City Council in a resolution adopted on Tuesday. And unlike the police behavior in New York, San Francisco and other cities, the Los Angeles Police Department has to date been uncharacteristically restrained towards the protesters.

This weekend more actions are expected and occupiers say they are planning to stay indefinitely. Selected Reports from the Newswire: Occupy LA: One Week Old and Going Strong | Photos by Robert Stuart Lowden: Day One: Occupy Los Angeles Photo Set 1, Set 2, Set 3 | Day Two: Occupy Los Angeles Day 2 | Day Three: Occupy LA Day 3 UTLA Teach- In Photo Set 1, Set 2, Occupy LA Day 3 Evening Speeches |
PHOTOS: OCCUPY LA & DAY 2, Occupy Wall St LA by Marcus

AUDIO: Indymedia on Air - Occupy LA Day 3 by LA-IMC | Occupy L.A. 4 Oct 2011 by Yvonne de la Vega; James Maverick

VIDEO: Occupy Los Angeles Day 2 Video by by Alex de Cordoba | Occupy LA - Day 2

Commentary: Brief Anaylsis Of LA and Seattle Occupations by Al | We Pay for Their Crisis by Holger Marcks