The Occupy protest in the UC Davis quad swelled rapidly after the group was quietly removed from Mrak Hall this week. The Chancellor warned on Friday that police would remove the camp if it was not cleared out by 3pm. Safe to say, it was not.

So dozens of police in riot gear descended on the scene. They gave several verbal warnings as they closed in on the protesters at the camp. Many of the occupiers grabbed the tents and left the scene so that the tents could not be confiscated. Other occupiers remained there with their arms locked, forming a circle around some of the police. Live video was streamed for most of the time.

Ten people were arrested, according to a Davis Enterprise article by Cory Golden. The received misdemeanor citations and were released. Many others were hit with pepper spray. The Occupiers held a general assembly in the quad after police left, but have since cleared out. They said that they intend to return on Monday, tents and all. They even discussed the possiblity of bringing a dome.

Lt. John Pike, who gave several orders for the crowd to disperse, has been pointed out specifically in several YouTube videos as the officer who discharged the pepper spray.

Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi wrote this open letter following the events, which have now gained national media attention. UC Davis began trending on Twitter in San Francisco Friday night.