More than a dozen Occupy Los Angeles protesters were arrested late Thursday at the Bank of America Plaza in downtown's financial district, the second protest dispersement of the day.
Thirty to 40 officers in protective gear remained on site into the evening, followng their order at 4:10 p.m. for protesters to disassemble.
"It's been a group that has been not difficult to deal with. I know that it is a lot of frustration on the part of the public on both sides, the people of Occupy LA and also on the general population side because they're inconvenienced by all this activity. The police department's always caught in the middle," LAPD Chief Charlie Beck said.
Earlier in the day, union members and protesters associated with Occupy LA and other groups marched from the Bank of America Plaza to 4th Street and Figueroa, where police arrested more than 20 protesters who remained in the street after an order to disperse.
One woman was carried from the street by four officers.
The protesters gathered at about 6:30 a.m. at the Bank of America building. A march, which began at about 8 a.m., wound through the Wells Fargo Plaza and down Grand Avenue.
At about 8:30 a.m., marchers arrived at 4th Street and Figueroa, where protesters set up three tents under an overpass. They stood under a banner that read, "We are the 99 Percent."
A police order to disperse was issued at about 9:15 a.m. The protesters surrendered peacefully and were arrested for unlawful assembly.
Some wore shirts with the message, "Arrest Wall Street Bankers."
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Bond was set at $500 apiece.
Two other people were arrested when some protesters attempted to march along a non-permitted route, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
"The march started splitting, and because of the public safety issue the concern for traffic (safety), the officers were trying to stop this march from going to streets that were not cordoned off,'' said Lt. Andrew Neiman.
The marchers held signs and chanted, "This is what democracy looks like" as they walked through downtown streets.
The march -- which organizers said would be peaceful -- began during the morning commute. Protesters were warned not to block intersections, but drivers can expect slow traffic near the 110 Freeway.
A protest banner was draped from the 4th Street bridge early Thursday. CHP officers closed a freeway ramp to remove another bridge banner.
Labor groups and immigrant rights supporters will join Occupy LA in the protest, according to organizers. They plan a larger march for Dec. 17.
The center of the Occupy movement in LA is a tent city outside City Hall. A group from the encampment marched earlier this week after raids on an encampment in a New York City park.
"No plans right now for late night raids," said Commander Andrew Smith. "No plans yet for an end date."
Several cities, including Portland, Berkeley, Oakland, El Paso, and Tulsa have cleared out their encampments.
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