Local Wall Street protesters who plan to descend on the Hennepin County Government Center plaza Friday met with the Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek and Minneapolis Police Chief Tim Dolan today in separate meetings as the activists geared up for what they hope to be a large multi-day “occupation” of the plaza.

“We have come to an agreement that we will be free to exercise freedom of speech in a safe environment as long as people follow the rules,” said Todd Dahlstrom, a security representative for OccupyMn, one of the protest representatives at the meeting.

The sheriff appeared to be pleased with the meeting. “They’re nice people,” he said. “They’ve got a mission, we’ve got a job to do….As long as we keep the lines of communication open, we’ll be fine.”

One issue on which there were differences is a plan by the protesters to put up tents for sleeping. The sheriff’s office indicated they would review the request, but were not enamored by it.

Dahlstrom said the protesters were told they will not be required to obtain a permit to occupy the plaza and will not be dispersed if nothing illegal occurs. “We are free to spend the night there as long as we want and as long as we don’t break the law,” Dahlstrom said.

Osha Karow, who helped initiate the occupation plan, said he was pleased with the meetings. “We feel that both the sheriff’s department and police department are working with us, not against us,” Karow said. “There are areas where we are going to be pushing for something and they’ll be pushing against it, such as the tent issue, but we are doing our best to work those issues out and maintain communications and get a feel for one another.”

The estimates by the activists of the turnout size have varied widely, ranging from 200 to 1,000. The protest begins at 9 a.m. Friday.

“We told them (the sheriff’s office) we are going to stay until people get tired of it or until we win,” Dahlstrom said.

Just what "winning" would mean is not clear, because the group is still sorting through its demands. But the target of the protest is Wall Street, the big banks and corporations that are viewed as being above the law, and being largely responsible for the nation’s current economic woes.

Another meeting with the sheriff’s office is scheduled for 11 a.m. Thursday.

The sheriff's office has jurisdiction over the plaza, while the Minneapolis police have jurisdiction outside the plaza.

The Hennepin County plaza has been the scene of many protests, including at least three overnight protests over the last quarter century.

Margaret Hastings, who was an advocate for the homeless, estimates that about 200 protesters stayed overnight in 1986 and recalled that then-Hennepin County Commissioner Mark Andrew spoke at a rally. She said another overnight homeless protest occurred in 2003 on the plaza and a portable toilet was brought in, arranged by then-City Council member Dean Zimmermann.

“In 1986 and 2003 tents were erected for sleeping,” Hastings said. “I wound up giving one of my tents away to two homeless guys.”