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Jewish Leaders Express Concern Over Anti-Semitic Messages In Occupy Movement

LOS ANGELES (CBS) — The "Occupy Wall Street" movement is now global with protests popping up in cities across the country and around the world, including here in the Southland.

Two people were arrested and two others were cited this weekend at an "Occupy Long Beach" event when protesters refused to leave a public park during prohibited hours.

Police warned more than 70 activists that they weren't allowed to camp overnight, a sign that the "Occupy Wall Street" movement is growing, despite the fact that it doesn't have specific demands or a clear agenda.

Hundreds of protesters remain camped out on the lawn of City Hall in downtown Los Angeles, where things have been much more peaceful.

There were concerns Monday night from Jewish leaders that some of the protesters were expressing anti-Semitic messages. Witnesses say they've seen demonstrators carrying signs that read, "Jews Control Wall Street" and similar statements circulating online.

"I think that the Zionist Jews that are running these big banks and the Federal reserve, which is not run by the federal government, need to be run out of this country," said protester Shirley MacAllister.

Many Occupy movement members went on camera to condemn those sentiments, stressing that they were not representative of the whole.

One woman at the Occupy L.A. site said, "We don't support those people. We don't endorse their statements."

Another protester, C.J. Minster, said, "It saddens me that only controversy gets people interested in our movement."

Internationally, demonstrators have been participating in the "Occupy London Stock Exchange" for three days.

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