Cops Storm Occupy LA, Arrest 200

More than 1,000 police officers moved in late last night to clear out the Occupy LA encampment on the lawn of City Hall. Police swarmed into the camp from several directions and began dismantling tents as protesters chanted, reports the Los Angeles Times. By early this morning, the site was in shambles, with police dragging out the few remaining protesters by their arms and legs. Some protesters also remained in trees, but police were working to remove them—with the assistance of a cherry picker.

The AP reports that more than 200 were arrested; police loaded them onto buses headed to jail. No injuries were reported and the arrests were mainly peaceful. Police also stormed Occupy Philadelphia in the wee hours of the morning, razing the camp and arresting about 50 some 56 hours after the city ordered them to clear out of Dilworth Plaza. Officials in Los Angeles and Philadelphia had hoped to avoid the violent confrontations happening in other cities. The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that at least three police officers suffered minor injuries in that city’s raid. (More Occupy Los Angeles stories.)