Occupy LA: Hundreds of protesters take over downtown intersection

[ellisonz]

Photo: Protesters take over the intersection of 7th and Figueroa streets. Credit: Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times

Hundreds of protesters take over downtown intersection
October 6, 2011 | 1:29 pm

Police said Thursday that the number of protesters that had been picketing banks downtown has swelled to about 500 and that a march had taken over the intersection of 7th and Figueroa streets. Officers in riot gear were dispatched to the scene and arrests may be imminent if the protesters did not disperse, police said.

The march was sponsored by the ReFund California campaign with support from Occupy Los Angeles protesters who have been camping outside City Hall since Saturday.

Protesters initially indicated to police that they would engage in acts of civil disobedience, causing authorities to redeploy officers from around the city to the area.

On Tuesday afternoon, several dozen protesters with signs and a bullhorn picketed outside the Westwood home of a One West Bank executive. About 50 demonstrators showed up outside the home and stayed about 30 minutes as Los Angeles Police Department officers looked on.

-- Andrew Blankstein and Abby Sewell

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/10/bank-protesters-take-over-intersection.html