Occupy Los Angeles: Peaceful And Determined

Read Turnstyle News’ Full Occupy Wall Street Coverage

While a few thousand marchers are estimated to be walking the streets of New York today, the numbers representing Los Angeles’ Occupy movement aren’t yet as impressive: The Southern California group has been about 200-to-300 people strong, camped out in front of City Hall since this Saturday.

Occupy L.A. is mobilized and networking with local unions, much like the Occupy Wall Street movement in New York. But what’s different about this West Coast incarnation of OWS is there have been no arrests, as an LAPD representative has confirmed with Turnstyle News.

I met with many of L.A.’s OWS supporters, who described the city’s police as being laid back. “The police realize that they’re part of this percentile,” says Chase Watkins, referring to the so called 99 percent of people in the U.S. who are financially struggling (or who are, at least, not extremely wealthy).

The following photo essay highlights some of their perspectives and motivations for joining the occupation and offers a snapshot of the goings on at this one-block-length of lawn in downtown Los Angeles.