Edward Jude (center) joins others on the North Ave. bridge over I-43 during an economic protest on Thursday. After a couple of hours, demonstrators marched off the bridge to the east. Four arrests were reported. Credit: Mike De Sisti

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Protesters who blocked traffic Thursday and invited arrest declared victory and marched off after Police Chief Edward Flynn said that officers wouldn't help them fulfill their "martyrdom fantasies" and that they could stay "and freeze their butts off."

Hundreds of protesters sat or stood on the North Ave. bridge over Interstate 43 for two hours.

Flynn, speaking to TV cameras as protesters chanted "We are the 99%," said he was withdrawing most of the couple dozen officers who had been watching the protesters "so we can answer 911 calls and protect the community."

The demonstration demanding economic justice coincided with others around the country on the two-month anniversary of the first Occupy Wall Street protests in New York.

Asked about the economic issues in the protest, Flynn told reporters, "If they're angry about the economy, go to Wall Street. There's 35% unemployment in this neighborhood. Who are they disrupting?"

Referring to below-freezing evening temperatures, Flynn said, "They can sit and freeze their butts off, I don't care."

Four people were arrested at the demonstration, according to a police spokeswoman.

Protesters said there were 600 demonstrators at the event's peak, but the number at the end was closer to 100.

Demonstrators said a number of groups were represented on the bridge, including at least two labor unions, Wisconsin Jobs Now, Move On, Occupy Milwaukee, Citizen Action and Voces de la Frontera. Recall Scott Walker signs could also be seen.

A flier promoting the bridge occupation said there is an "economic emergency" because Congress hasn't passed President Barack Obama's jobs bill.

The bridge was symbolic of public jobs that could be created to fix the nation's infrastructure, said Janet Veum, who was with Wisconsin Jobs Now.

Several demonstrators expressed frustration with the deficit-cutting "supercommittee" in Congress.

"Everybody is keeping a million people out of work, to get one guy out of a job," said Randy Bryce of Pleasant Prairie, referring to Republicans who want to defeat Obama in next year's election.

Bryce, political coordinator for the Ironworkers Local 8, said there are plenty of bridges and other infrastructure around the country that need fixing and could provide work for the unemployed.

For a while, it looked as if the protesters were going to stay on the bridge for the night, as five tents went up in the westbound lanes. Some protesters wore red arm bands to signify they were willing to be arrested in a case of civil disobedience, said Peter Rickman, a University of Wisconsin-Madison law student who was with the protesters.

But Flynn told the media, "We're not going to fulfill the martyrdom fantasies of people who insist on being arrested while they disrupt the lives of this neighborhood."

After Flynn and most of his officers left, the protesters convened a meeting on the bridge to discuss their next move. Brennan Balestrieri, a protest marshal, described it as "group democracy."

"It's completely organic," he said.

Using a bullhorn, Balestrieri proposed that the group declare victory and then march about six blocks east to N. 2nd and W. Garfield streets, where the group Milwaukee Inner-city Congregations Allied for Hope was holding its annual meeting at Mount Zion Baptist Church.

As they discussed their options, a white van somehow skirted police barricades on the west end of the bridge and sped past, close to the demonstrators. Police halted the van on the other end of the bridge and arrested its driver.

Assistant Chief James Harpole said police were still investigating as of 7:30 p.m.

It was unclear if that was one of the four arrests related to the demonstration.

After the meeting, demonstrators moved east in the eastbound lanes of North Ave. Police only observed, though about 20 motorcycle officers arrived, sirens blaring and lights flashing. The motorcycle officers followed the marchers toward the church.

The motorcycles peeled off on N. King Drive at W. Garfield Ave., a block from the church, but they apparently regrouped a few blocks west of the church. Police trailers with horses were on hand.

One protester, who identified himself as Matt Van Grinsven of Appleton, complained that one motorcycle officer ran over his ankle, but there didn't appear to be any serious injuries in the march.

MICAH organizer Mandela Barnes came out to meet the demonstrators as they arrived at the church and told them he wished he could have been with them on the bridge.

Next on the docket for the demonstrators: More protests and town hall meetings on the issues raised Thursday, Balestrieri said.