Police told protesters camping out in Civic Center Plaza that they must leave by midnight Thursday.
UPDATE: Just before 7 a.m., six tents remained in the Plaza in a tight circle. About 100 protesters said they do not plan on removing their tents, and are taking a stand against police demands.
The protesters began occupying the Plaza Saturday as part of a nation-wide movement against corporate greed and income disparity.
Assistant Chief Boyd Long held an open dialogue with the protestors at about 4:40 p.m. He said they must remove their tents and property and cannot bring them back.
“It is unlawful for any person to erect, place, allow to remain, construct, establish, plant or maintain any vegetation or object on any public street, alley, sidewalk, highway, or other public property or public right-of-way, except as otherwise provided by the Code,” the notice read.
“Those who refuse to comply with the above code will be subject to arrest.”
Police presence has increased since the protest started eight days ago. On Thursday, they began wearing latex gloves. In the notice, their stated reason for asking the protestors to leave was to allow Saturday night's scheduled Civic Center event to prepare.
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The notice says that protestors can stay, but their property must be removed.
As the SDPD notice was read aloud to the occupiers, some protested the SDPD’s decision. Most protestors say they will stay but will comply with the code police presented to them. A few were planning on resisting the SDPD order.
A group of about 35 activists from the movement recently branched off from the occupiers in Civic Center Plaza, citing ideological differences. The group moved to Balboa Park, where two other groups have moved as well, said Anthony Muni, a San Diego resident and participant in Occupy San Diego.
"[Resisting] is the most foolish thing you could do right now," Muni said. "SDPD has been nothing but generous to us."
Muni added that he feels the group in Civic Center Plaza has strayed from the original intent of the movement. A handful of the demonstraters who plan on resisting are socialists and anarchists who don't "pull their own weight" in progressing the movement, he said.
The Balboa Park occupiers plan on transporting the property of those who are complying with police demands to their location.
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