CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Charlotte-Mecklenburg police returned to the old City Hall lawn early Tuesday morning to wake and evict sleeping protesters.
Police warned several protesters that sleeping or camping on the lawn was prohibtied. No one was arrested.
A city work truck and clean-up crews were also on the lawn cleaning up and emptying trash cans early Tuesday morning.
Occupy Charlotte protesters and their attorney plan to ask a judge for an injunction Tuesday against a new city ordinance banning camping on city property.
On Monday, enforcement of that new ordinance ended with seven protesters arrested for refusing to remove their camping gear and belongings from the old Charlotte City Hall building on Trade Street.
City council members adopted the new ordinance last week in anticipation of the Democratic National Convention coming to Charlotte in September.
Police gave protesters three warnings on Monday before moving in. Then officers went tent by tent breaking them down and hauling them off city property.
Protesters gave police an earful with a barrage of chants and songs as well as reading the new ordinance out loud.
"I wanted to be here for the raid. I've been occupying for a long time, this happens pretty much everywhere you go,” said a protest or who didn’t want to be identified.
Occupy protesters say five of the seven arrested are locals who have been camping at the site for a while.
Several protesters chose to pack up.
"Because it's everything that I own and I don't want it to get destroyed, but I'm here in solidarity with everyone else,” said Bobby LaMorte. “I can’t stay or I’ll get arrested.”
Malachi Vinson packed up as well.
"We're still going to get the point across no matter. This is part of the beginning, not the end."
One tent remains at the site. Police approved it because it is for information and first aid.
