Occupy SF Takes Over BofA

Protesters pitch a tent inside bank.

Occupy SF protesters marched through San Francisco's financial district Wednesday afternoon in the latest attempt to bring attention to the Occupy movement. This morning police have released about 95 protesters that entered the lobby, stood on desks, wrote chalk messages and caused a disturbance.

During the march, dozens of protesters rushed into a Bank of America branch on California Street. Some of them clambered on to desks and refused a police order to disperse.

A crowd of about 95 people remained. That group pitched a tent inside the branch and refused to leave.

They stood inside the branch chanting, "We are the 99 percent."

There was large police presence at the 500 California St., which is in the heart of the city's Financial District. Police in riot gear stood in front of the bank. There was a scuffle between protesers and police at the beginning of the bank occupation, but no one was hurt. 

The larger group moved on away from the BofA just after 3 p.m. to another location.

Shortly before 4 p.m., police began arresting the people who remained inside the bank. A small group that stood outside cheered as those inside the bank were put in a sheriff's bus. Representatives of the National Lawyers Guild had protesters write  down their names and contact information on sheets of paper before the arrests began.

It took until past 6 p.m. to arrest everyone. The final people to be put in handcuffs were a small group who sat inside the tent in the middle of the bank. Police said they arrested 95 people.

Protesters, students and a "strong union presence" are part of the march, according to the San Jose Mercury News. They said their focus was on three regents: Richard Blum, chair  of Blum Capital Partners; George Marcus, who heads a national commercial real  estate brokerage firm; and Monica Lozano, who is a Bank of America board  member.

Occupy San Francisco protesters met with Mayor Ed Lee this morning, following an overnight raid of an encampment on Market Street. Lee has asked the protesters to leave Justin Herman Plaza, downtown, due to concerns over public health and safety.

The protesters indicated they would self-police the park, keeping it clean, but that they intended to remain in the plaza.

Bay City News contributed to this report.

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