Oakland Protesters Defy Eviction Notice

OAKLAND (AP) -- Protesters camped out in front of Oakland City Hall in support of the Occupy Wall Street movement showed no signs of going away Saturday despite warnings from city officials that they were breaking the law and should not stay there overnight.

The lawn in front of the building remained crowded with tents, as hundreds of protesters rallied at the site in the afternoon before marching through downtown with signs that read, "Tax the Rich and Their Corporations" and "The 99 percent Too Big To Fail."

Police blocked traffic for the marchers.

The city issued a letter a day earlier that threatened protesters with immediate arrest. But authorities did not forcibly clear the encampment after the 10 p.m. deadline.

There was no visible police presence around the nearly two-week old encampment Saturday afternoon, and several people staying there said no city officials had come by asking them to leave -- not that they would.

"I'm committed to protecting our First Amendment rights and not let us be pushed around," said Reyko Kikage, 31, who described himself as a member of the camp's security committee.

City officials have cited concerns about rats, fire hazards, public urination and acts of violence at the site, which has grown to more than 150 tents and includes health, child-care and kitchen areas. Emails from The Associated Press to city and police officials Saturday were not immediately returned.

Kikage said although some troublemakers had come to the camp, the vast majority were peaceful.

Other California cities have also tried to prevent protesters from camping out overnight. In San Jose, two people were arrested and another person cited Saturday morning for camping out in City Hall Plaza, police said.

Eight people were arrested and another cited earlier in the week.

"What we're trying to do is nip this problem in the bud," said Sgt. Jason Dwyer. "If they keep setting up shop, we're going to keep taking them to jail."

Arrests have also been made in Sacramento and San Francisco.

In Southern California, authorities have warned the organizers of a protest planned for Saturday in Santa Ana that they can't stay after their permit expires at 8 p.m., said police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna.

"They say they're going to set up camp, but they're going to have to leave when it gets dark," he said.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)