Arrests after Occupy Seattle defies eviction

Some arrests have been made at the Occupy Seattle protest at Westlake Park, as police moved in and removed tents Monday morning, Oct. 17, 2011. / KIRO

Last Updated 12:27 p.m. ET

SEATTLE - Police moved in Monday to evict Occupy Seattle demonstrators who were camping out in the city's Westlake Park.

Protesters had defied an order to remove dozens of tents and not to camp overnight in the park.

Demonstrators had vowed to remain in Westlake Park to carry on their protest against corporate power.

On Monday morning police began arresting demonstrators. Police spokesman Mark Jamieson said officers started going through the park at dawn telling campers they had to move their tents so city employees could clean the park. Some campers complied. Those who refused are being arrested and their tents are being moved.

KOMO Radio reports there have been a half-dozen arrests for obstruction.

A Twitter message from #OccupySeattle said police were using bikes to push through the crowd.

A few minutes later a follow-up tweet read, "All tents are down."

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"Occupy" protests enter their 4th week

On Saturday at least 3,000 people crammed into Westlake Park before marching to the city's Pike Place Market, where about 200 sat down in the middle of 1st Avenue and blocked traffic for about 10 minutes, reports CBS Affiliate KIRO.

/ AP Photo/Ted S. Warren

Other protests in Washington State were held in Tacoma, Olympia, Yakima and Spokane.

KIRO reports that one protester in Seattle, Mark Taylor-Canfield (left), learned an important lesson: Debit cards don't burn as easily as draft cards.

It took five cigarette lighters working together to burn and melt his Bank of America card, which he did in protest of high fees.

In Vancouver, Wash., about 700 people demonstrated against what they described as undue influence by corporations in American life.

In other "Occupy" developments:

"Mass account closure" protest planned at bank: Members of Occupy Providence accused the Bank of America of "immoral banking and lending practices," and are asking Rhode Island residents to join them on Monday at 9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. to withdraw their money and close their accounts at the Bank of America building located near the encampment site in Kennedy Plaza.

Bank of America's average deposit balances in the 2Q were $1.04 trillion - up $44 billion (4 percent) from 2Q 2010.

Protesters are also critical of the bank's plans to lay off 30,000 employees.

Although the bank earned net income of $3.7 billion in the 2Q, the bank's agreement to resolve legacy Countrywide-issued mortgage-backed securities and other mortgage-related costs resulted in a net loss of $8.8 billion.

Activists have been in Burnside Park since Saturday evening, when they launched their protest with a march through the city.

Occupy Wall Street hits 1-month mark, has raised $300K: The month-old anti-Wall Street movement is still growing, and organizers are intent on building upon momentum gained from Saturday's worldwide demonstrations, which drew hundreds of thousands of people, mostly in the U.S. and Europe. Nearly $300,000 in cash has been donated through the movement's website and by visitors to the park, said Bill Dobbs, a press liaison for Occupy Wall Street.

Occupy Greensboro wants to meet with Obama: Members of the Occupy Greensboro movement will ask to meet with President Obama when he visits North Carolina. The group will send a delegation bearing letters of "individual grievances," and want to tell the president why they're so upset with the U.S. government. The announcement came Sunday evening, a day after about 600 people marched through Greensboro protesting financial inequities.

Cincinnati Police Officers issue citations to Occupy Cincinnati protesters for being in Platt Park after 10 p.m. Friday Oct. 14, 2011.

/ AP Photo/The Enquirer - Joseph Fuqua II

Occupy Cincinnati protesters want mass trial: An attorney for protesters facing trial over police citations said he will request a delay so that the cases can be combined. Geoffrey Miller told The Cincinnati Enquirer a mass trial, drawing potentially hundreds of people to court, would have more punch. About 200 protesters who've refused to leave Platt Park in downtown Cincinnati at closing time have been cited, with each ticket carrying a $105 fine.

Among those attending an Occupy Cincinnati protest Sunday was Tony Anaya, a 47-year-old attorney, who told the Enquirer, "I don't believe corporations are inherently bad - I help form corporations. My concern is they have taken over the political process."

Protesters camp at government building in Miami: A small encampment with dozens of protesters has sprouted up at the Miami-Dade Government Center over the weekend. The Occupy Miami protesters say they're planning a concert at the encampment Monday evening.

An Occupy Orlando protest Saturday drew more than 1,500 people, while about 300 people marched in downtown Fort Lauderdale.

Maine protesters digging in for "long occupation": In Augusta more than two dozen people camped out over the weekend at Capitol Park, and are vowing to stay indefinitely. Representatives of Occupy Augusta said they were working with local and Capitol Police to prevent any problems - the protesters did not have a permit.

Paul McCarrier, of Belfast, said the group was preparing for a "long occupation."

"Occupy" news from abroad:

U.N. chief sympathizes with "Occupy" protesters: In Bern, Switzerland, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Monday he understands the spreading Occupy Wall Street movement, given the frustration that financial crises are causing, and told reporters that rich and developing nations should listen to the people and come up with "actionable plans" to fix the problems.

"Business as usual, or just looking at their own internal economic issues, will not give any answers to a very serious international economic crisis," Ban said, as G-20 talks were being held in Paris.

"That is what you are seeing all around the world, starting from Wall Street, people are showing their frustrations, are trying to send a very clear and unambiguous message around the world," he said.

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"Occupy" protests go global

China: Occupy Wall Street's issues "worth pondering": China's foreign ministry said Monday the Occupy Wall Street movement highlights issues that are worth considering, but that debates generated by the protests should promote global economic growth.

"We feel that there are issues here that are worth pondering," said Liu Weimin, a foreign ministry spokesman during a regular briefing in Beijing. "We have also noticed that in the media there has been a lot of commentary, discussion and reflection. But we think that all of these reflections should be conducive to maintaining the sound and steady development of the world economy," Liu said, without elaborating.

In China, online calls for similar protests did not appear to elicit any responses.

The state-run Global Times newspaper said in an editorial that the Chinese should "calmly observe the protest movement and the global situation, and not be confused by extreme points of view."

Earlier in the year, anonymous online calls for protests in China inspired by those that have swept across the Middle East and North Africa spooked the Chinese government into launching one of its broadest campaigns of repression in years.

Is it a trap? A masked protester from Occupy London offers passing business people "Free Hugs" as they continue their demonstration near the London Stock Exchange Monday, Oct. 17, 2011.

/ AP Photo/Matt Dunham

London protesters remain at cathedral site: The head of London's landmark St. Paul's cathedral says it is important that tourists and worshippers are not blocked by protesters camped outside.

Several hundred demonstrators gathered outside the cathedral over the weekend as part of the global "Occupy Wall Street" protests and many have stayed on in tents around the cathedral.

The cathedral Dean Graeme Paul Knowles said in a statement Monday that prayer services had continued as normal over the weekend, but the "last few days have not been without various challenges." He says the heavily-touristed cathedral's daily life must continue uninterrupted.

Police tried to move protesters away on Sunday but a senior priest, Giles Fraser, said protesters were welcome to stay and asked police officers to move instead.

After riot, Italy cracks down on anarchists: Italian police conducted raids Monday throughout the country against suspected anarchists and their sympathizers following riots in Rome that marred a march against Wall Street greed, a top security official said.

Interior Ministry Undersecretary Alfredo Mantovano told Sky TG24 TV that the crackdown targeted far-left suspects. He gave no details because the operation, which included house searches, was still being carried out.

[FrankBlourtango]

It would be a lot more effective to pay attention to which Congressmen are voting for what and vote them in and out of office. Money talks in D.C., not the constituents.

[Zann-Zel]

After riot, Italy cracks down on anarchists: Italian police conducted raids Monday throughout the country against suspected anarchists and their sympathizers following riots in Rome that marred a march against Wall Street greed, a top security official said.


Interior Ministry Undersecretary Alfredo Mantovano told Sky TG24 TV that the crackdown targeted far-left suspects.
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Now that part's a bit scary!

[sandiegopete]

Anybody who does not like the idea of 1% of the population ruling 99% is far left.

[morriswise]

Unemployed blue collar workers and less than smart whites are holding hands demanding a return to the good old days. Protests will not help, they must accept two jobs at the local fast food restaurants. Better days will not return.

[KnowerseekerReturns]

They will if we start the Second American Revolution and kick the current government's arse!

[miami_don]

Ugh??? You are an American?

[sandiegopete]

The 1st Amendment gives people the right to peaceably assemble. What the 1% says is that the people cannot peaceable assemble on private property because that infringes on the property rights of landowners and they cannot peaceably assemble on public property because that infringes on the rights of those who want to use the public property for a reason other that the protest. The 1% want's to prohibit public assembly, notwithstanding the 1st Amendment.

The 1% have a justified fear that if 99% of the population were to stand up in opposition to their rule they will lose the stranglehold they have on our government.

[KnowerseekerReturns]

Absolutely. You hit the nail on the head.

[miami_don]

Well stated.