Occupy protesters leave New Haven green

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) - Police arrested 13 Occupy New Haven demonstrators Wednesday as authorities cleared out the protesters after the city won a court battle.

A federal appeals court ruled Tuesday that the protesters do not have the right to stay on the city Green. Many of them packed up their belongings within hours, but police said about 50 protesters still were in the area when they arrived to clear the camp.

Some of the protesters had to be carried away after refusing to leave, police said. No injuries were reported.

Those arrested were charged with disorderly conduct, interfering or both, said Elizabeth Benton, a city spokeswoman.

"It's a blow for democracy," said Jennifer Drury, a protester who was not arrested. "This is the people's space."

A sign left hanging in the park said: "You can't evict an idea." A Hazmat team was called in to check for dangerous materials after the protesters were evicted. The empty camp was surrounded by yellow police tape.

City officials said the protesters are welcome to return to the Green but can't erect structures and must leave by 10 p.m.

The protesters, adopting many of the techniques and aims of the Occupy Wall Street demonstration in New York against financial inequality, lived in tents on the Green opposite the gate of Yale's Old Campus. The New Haven protest celebrated its six-month on Sunday.

Protesters vowed to continue demonstrating. Ty Hailey, a protester and a plaintiff in the court case who shivered on the cool morning, said the protesters who were arrested passively resisted to show their determination.  

"Today is a transition day into the next phase of the Occupy movement," said Hailey, who held up a sign, "Save taxpayers money and evict Congress."

Debbie Elkin, another protester, said she felt inspired by the protests and sad that they were removed.

"I was inspired to believe we actually can work to change the way the society is structured with 1 percent owning so much of the country's wealth and having so much power," Elkin said.