Video: Scenes from the final hours of Occupy L.A.
The last hours of Occupy L.A. began with protesters singing, chanting and playing musical instruments as darkness descended on City Hall. But the festive mood ended with a forceful and overwhelming action by more than 1,400 Los Angeles police officers.
The video above captures some of the scenes in the final moments of the two-month protest, which ended early Wednesday with police arresting nearly 300 protesters.
Occupy L.A.: Photos | Videos | 360° photos | Live webcam
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa told reporters Wednesday that the cost of dealing with the Occupy L.A. encampment, the police action and the cleanup could exceed $1 million.
But the mayor defended the decision to allow protesters to take over the City Hall park, saying that ensuring the right to free speech is expensive.
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-- Robert J. Lopez
Video: Scenes from Occupy L.A.
Credit: Robert J. Lopez/Los Angeles Times