Charlottesville Police arrested 18 members of Occupy Charlottesville late Wednesday night and early Thursday morning when they refused to leave Lee Park after the group's permit expired.
The police acted pursuant to the City's 11 p.m. curfew when officers began arrests nearly half an hour after protesters broke the curfew, Charlottesville Police Lt. Ronnie Roberts said. Arrests continued until 1:45 a.m.
"Everything was peaceful and orderly," Roberts said. He said those arrested were taken to the Charlottesville-Albemarle Regional Jail.
"Almost all were charged with trespassing in the City park, except for one who was charged with indecent exposure," Roberts said.
Occupier and University alumnus Zac Fabian said the arrested occupiers broke curfew symbolically to protect their constitutional rights.
"While I cannot speak for those arrested, I believe these were symbolic arrests," he said. "They stood their ground to stand up for their right to free speech and assembly, which have no curfew."
He said the police were courteous and professional.
"They did their job as the protesters did theirs," Fabian said. He added that he was dismayed by a small group of hecklers shouting obscenities and trying to provoke conflict during the arrests.
The cases of the arrested occupiers will be heard Friday, Dec. 16 in the Charlottesville General District Court.
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