Occupy Tampa, Occupy Orlando protesters arrested

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All were charged with obstructing streets or sidewalks during an assembly, a misdemeanor charge. They were held on $250 bond; all were bonded out by 4 p.m. Friday.

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Their aim was to Occupy Tampa as part of a larger national “Occupy Wall Street” movement outraged by what they call Wall Street’s “fiscal recklessness.”

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Police say they’ve allowed protesters to sleep along the edge of the sidewalks from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

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They say Friday a handful of protesters violated that rule by not getting up at 6 a.m., so they were arrested.

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Among those arrested as they made a stand for the 99 Percent were an Army Sergeant, two women, and a student in a wheelchair. All were taken to the 33rd Street Station and charged with misdemeanor trespass on property with warning.

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At the time of the arrests there were more than 200 protesters in the area participating in “sidewalk solidarity” which is the lawful occupation of the sidewalk. Those arrested had moved into the park to assert their First Amendment right to freedom of speech and assembly. Police announced complaints of “disturbing the peace” due to chanting but ultimately only charged Occupiers with trespass.

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Occupiers have been using private property across from the park as a campsite area after 11 p.m. nightly. Police warned Occupiers last night of trespass from the private lot as well as the park, however the City Attorney has not produced a signed document by the owner proving direct request of trespass.