'Occupy' Protester Camps Out In Tree Outside City Hall To Fight LAPD Eviction
LOS ANGELES (CBS) — A movement that began as an anti-Wall Street protest is taking to new heights — and sleeping there.
KNX 1070's Claudia Peschiutta reports threats from police to disband the Occupy LA camp has sent at least one protester into the trees outside City Hall.
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"If they want to get my tent, they're going to have to come up to the tree to get it, just like me," said "occupier" Mark.
He's just one of several protesters who claim city officials have failed to respond to any of the grievances voiced by the Occupy movement.
"That's why I came up here, because the longer we maintain our occupation, the longer our voice is out there," Mark said.
As for the day-to-day logistics of camping out in a tree, Mark uses a bucket attached to a rope to hoist food and other necessities up to his spot in the branches — as well to lower down pieces of candy to visitors.
And while he isn't sure how long he will remain up in the tree, he already has a system in place for when nature calls.
"I made sure I took care of that before I came up here last night, and 'number one' is okay," he said.
The city declared last week that residing in the encampment would be unlawful effective on Monday, but the police raid that would have resulted in the removal of the tents and their occupants never occurred.
LAPD Chief Charlie Beck said Monday that a raid could come later this week.
