10:37 PM: A large group of Occupy SF protesters who were demonstrating in front of the Federal Reserve building on Market Street this evening have returned to Justin Herman Plaza to “solidify the camp,” according to a protester.
Two people were arrested this evening during the demonstration, according to police Sgt. Mike Andraychak.
Police erected barricades at Justin Herman Plaza earlier today after officers and city officials did a walk-through of the camp, Andraychak said.
According to Andraychak, during the walk-through officers found wooden stakes that had been sharpened on both ends and were believed to be potential weapons.
The barricades “were set up to define the perimeter of the camp,” Andraychak said.
But protesters did not see it that way, protester Derk Pippin said.
Pippin said that while protesters are trying to negotiate with police about a possible relocation to the city’s Mission District, the erection of barricades indicates that the city may not be acting in good faith.
“They barricaded us in without telling us why,” Pippin said. “What we saw tonight is a huge reaction to mixed signals.”
Andraychak said that when the barricades were erected some people packed up and left while others reacted violently.
One officer suffered an injury to his hand, Andraychak said.
Police arrested a man who was kneeling and holding what was later determined to be a laser.
Andraychak said the man was crouched down and aiming the laser at officers in such a way that they believed the man was armed.
The man was arrested and found to be in possession of a knife, Andraychak said.
At around 6:45 p.m. a large group of protesters moved to 101 Market Street, blocking the street to traffic for about an hour.
Andraychak said some protesters attempted to drag police barricades into the street leading to confrontations with police.
The barricades were ultimately removed by police so they could not be used as a weapon or to block the street, he said.
A man was arrested at that time for trying to hit an officer, according to Andraychak.
7:52 PM: A large group of Occupy SF protesters have gathered in front of the Federal Reserve building at 101 Market Street in San Francisco tonight.
Protesters are blocking Market Street as they demonstrate after police set up barricades at Justin Herman Plaza earlier today and then took them down a short time later, according to Occupy SF protester Gene Doherty.
Doherty said demonstrators believed that by setting up the barricades the police were preparing to declare it a no-protest zone and decided that they would reclaim the site on Market Street.
An encampment at 101 Market Street was raided and dismantled on Oct. 16.
Doherty estimated the crowd this evening to be in the hundreds and expects more protesters to arrive.
A police spokesman said information regarding the department’s response and possible arrests was not immediately available.
Muni service has been diverted because of the protest, according to San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency spokesman Paul Rose.
Service on Market Street is being diverted at Fourth Street and service along Mission Street is being diverted at Third Street, he said.
Erika Heidecker, Bay City News
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