The Occupy San Jose encampment was dismantled and its occupants arrested in the early morning of Oct. 21, causing a strong reaction from the remaining demonstrators who gathered in front of city hall to express their outrage. 

Two paddy wagons accompanied by five police cars arrived at the foot of San Jose’s City Hall around 3 a.m. to take down the tents and arrest the activists who had held camp there for almost four weeks. 

Bail had been set at between $100 and $500 for those arrested. Protesters said eight demonstrators were arrested.

“They didn’t read us our rights; they just took us,” said Chris Candia, a San Jose State University student and occupier currently out on bail. “I’m no quitter. My family is all from Chile. I want to stand up for my own rights.”

A crowd of more than 100 people gathered at City Hall Plaza around 4 p.m. in reaction to the arrests. The group marched down the street to the local Bank of America chanting slogans such as, “They got bailed out, we got sold out,” and “Change your bank,” as people withdrew money from the ATMs. 

City officials have since said that the occupiers had broken the city ordinance, which they said states: “No person shall camp on the City Hall plaza … or remain on the plaza after closing time … unless authorized to do so by the director.”

Protesters said the occupiers have the constitutional right of assembly, and therefore their arrests were unwarranted.

On Oct. 24, a demonstrator scaled the side of the City Hall Wing Building displaying a banner reading: “10 idling vehicles, 14 police officers, four peaceful protesters, is your money being spent wisely San Jose?”

The protester remained on top the building until the next day when San Jose Police again dismantled the Occupy San Jose encampment, confiscating tents, food, signs, markers and cookware. Protesters were arrested for the fourth time within five days.

“To me, it is obvious that the city does not want to have these protesters here,” said Gus Gonzales, a demonstrator and San Jose resident. “The cops are not the bad guys. It’s the city that tells them what to do.”

A police representative said the officers were acting at the discretion of city officials.

In response, the movement issued a written statement to City Council signed by 25 signatories. 

“The occupiers are following all laws, remaining peaceful, respectful, anything and everything we can do just so that we may be allowed to exercise our First Amendment rights to freedom of speech,” read the statement. 

The statement also said the police should respect the rights of the occupiers, called on the City Manager Debra Figone to retract false accusations that the protesters have conducted themselves in an uncivil manner and complained that police and city officials have done nothing to protect the occupiers from outside harassment and death threats. 

The movement seeks donations in the form of boxes, markers, water, nonperishable foods, tents and sleeping bags from citizens to replace items confiscated by the police. 

Organizers said donations could be dropped off at the curb of City Hall in downtown San Jose, on the corner of Fourth and E. Santa Clara Streets.