Several hundred Occupy Minneapolis protesters marched through the streets of downtown and staged a sleep-in to

protest a new regulation that prohibited them from displaying signs and staying the night at the Government Plaza, on Nov. 14.

The protesters were preparing themselves for confrontations with the police after being told that they were no longer allowed to sleep on the plaza or display signs. They were later informed by Sam Richards, a member of their media team, that the new regulation was not in effect and would not be enforced. Richards told the crowd that the regulation was just a memo that came from the county administrator’s office and that it was not an actual law.

One of the protesters said that he asked the officer who was telling them they could not sleep there to provide a document stating that it was law and that document was not produced.

“They were using the fact that they have to prepare the plaza for the winter as grounds to kick us out,” said Richards.

Later that evening two sheriffs tried confiscating a sign that was lying on the ground and were immediately followed by a group of protesters chanting, “Illegal search and seizure.” Some protesters started filming the incident. One individual who was referred to by other protesters as “Panda” then ripped the sign out of the sheriff’s hands. The sheriff turned around and looked at the protesters and then continued to walk away.

“The police don’t really bother us since we’re on county property,” said media team member Walker Friend. “But the sheriff hates us and wants to get us out of here.”

At 6:00 p.m. the protesters took to the streets and marched up 5th St. and then took Hennepin down to 8th St. until they hit 3rd Ave. which they followed back to the plaza.

“Banks got bailed out, we got sold out,” chanted the marchers.

Some passers-by took out their cameras and filmed the protesters with a few that cheered them on.

The marchers impeded traffic, with several cars waiting for the marchers to go by.

One car bumped into a female protester. She did not sustain any injuries. The incident resulted in an exchange of words between the driver and the protesters who then took out their phones and started filming the man driving the vehicle.

Once the protesters returned to the plaza around 30 sleeping arrangements were laid out under the assumption that they would be sleeping there in protest of the new regulation.

After the march, the several hundred protesters dwindled down to around 30. They started discussing ways in which they could get more people to stay the night at the plaza and suggested that some protesters should stay there in shifts.

“We do also have free food here available to people everyday,” said President of MCTC’s Socialist Alternative Club John Patterson. “And I feel like for the community that’s been very helpful that people do have a place they know they can go to get a bite to eat or get a blanket or something.”

Another “occupation” is currently being held in north Minneapolis. Protesters started camping out at Monique White’s house after U.S. Bank moved to foreclose on her home.

The OccupyMN movement began Oct. 7 and uses a governing body which is refereed to as a general assembly.

“It is a leaderless movement,” said media team member Alexa Lindh. “So we are all leaders, every one of us are leading this movement.”