Deadline arrives, protesters remain at Occupy LA

Members of Occupy LA protest on the street in front of City Hall in downtown on November 28, 2011 in Los Angeles, California.

The Associated Press:

Los Angeles — The deadline for Wall Street protesters to vacate their encampment outside Los Angeles' City Hall has passed and they appear to be staying put.

The park was still packed with hundreds of Occupy LA demonstrators and supporters despite the order by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa that the grounds would be closed at 12:01 a.m. Monday.

The atmosphere was celebratory around the encampment. A group of protesters on bicycle circled the block, one of them in a cow suit. Organizers led chants with a bull horn.

Villaraigosa says police will not immediately begin making arrests to provide ample time for protesters to leave.

Still police say they doubt if everyone will go and they do expect to make arrests at some point.