In a tense but orderly exchange, four Occupy Santa Ana protesters were arrested Saturday night for violating a city ordinance against camping at the Santa Ana Civic Center.
The demonstrators had set up tents on a patch of grass across Broadway from the Old Orange County Courthouse, in an effort to begin an encampment like those maintained by Occupy protests in New York and Los Angeles.
“It’s our park. We don’t have to ask,” said Anthony Velloza, an Iraq war veteran and one of the arrested protesters.
Police gave warnings to Velloza and the other campers — Shay Palmer, Timothy Craven and Osama Aresheh — before arresting them without incident.
About 120 demonstrators marched through downtown Santa Ana in the early afternoon, stopping at bank branches along the way to voice frustration at bailouts of financial institutions and what they viewed as “corporate greed.”
“Chase got bailed out, we got sold out,” they shouted in front of a Chase bank branch on Main Street.
The group ended their march at the grassy area next to the Marine Corps memorial plaza, which they intend to occupy continuously.
“Like [Occupy] Wall Street, I’m not moving,” Aresheh shouted from his tent before his arrest.
Occupy OC protesters stop at the federal courthouse during their march through downtown Santa Ana on Saturday. (Nick Gerda/Voice of OC)
Occupy OC protesters march in downtown Santa Ana on Saturday. (Nick Gerda/Voice of OC)
Demonstrators gathered on the steps of a Chase bank branch in Santa Ana, shouting “Chase got bailed out, we got sold out.” (Nick Gerda/Voice of OC)
Protesters march in downtown Santa Ana. (Nick Gerda/Voice of OC)
The march stopped at a Bank of America branch, where the group condemned bank bailouts. (Nick Gerda/Voice of OC)
Anthony Velloza shouts slogans at a Citibank branch in Santa Ana. Velloza was arrested Saturday night for violating the city’s ordinance forbidding camping. (Nick Gerda/Voice of OC)
The Occupy movement seeks to create ongoing settlements in public areas across the United States. Demonstrators contend camping in the Civic Center is a constitutionally protected act of peaceful assembly. (Nick Gerda/Voice of OC)
Occupy OC demonstrators Sam Aresheh (left) and Anthony Velloza write statements to the news media before being arrested. (Nick Gerda/Voice of OC)
A Santa Ana police officer speaks with the demonstrators before citing them for illegal camping. (Nick Gerda/Voice of OC)
Timothy Craven wears a mask before his arrest for illegal camping. (Nick Gerda/Voice of OC)
Timothy Craven speaks with officers before his arrest for illegal camping. (Nick Gerda/Voice of OC)
A Santa Ana police officer speaks with Timothy Craven before his arrest for illegal camping. (Nick Gerda/Voice of OC)
Two Santa Ana police officers stand by while four Occupy OC demonstrators consult with each other before opting to to stay in their tents and be arrested. (Nick Gerda/Voice of OC)
Anthony Velloza is arrested for illegal camping at the Santa Ana Civic Center during the demonstration. (Nick Gerda/Voice of OC)
Anthony Velloza is taken to a waiting police van after being arrested for illegal camping at the Santa Ana Civic Center. (Nick Gerda/Voice of OC)
Sam Aresheh is arrested for illegal camping at the Santa Ana Civic Center during the demonstration. (Nick Gerda/Voice of OC)
Shay Palmer is placed in a police van after being arrested for illegal camping at the Santa Ana Civic Center during an Occupy OC demonstration. (Nick Gerda/Voice of OC)
Santa Ana police officers dismantle a tent after arresting four Occupy OC protesters for illegal camping at the Santa Ana Civic Center. (Nick Gerda/Voice of OC)
An Occupy OC protester calls the Santa Ana city jail to ask when four demonstrators arrested for illegal camping will be released. (Nick Gerda/Voice of OC)
A police car passes by as Occupy OC protesters wait in front of the Santa Ana city jail for the release of four demonstrators arrested for illegal camping. (Nick Gerda/Voice of OC)