#atlantapd

“Let these people remain here, let them stay in the streets, let them express their grievances cause they have a right to be pissed off” ‘But over there they don’t feel the same way!’ “Thats why I told them to shut the fuck up”

Officers swarmed the park around 12:45 a.m. The arrests were orderly and peaceful, though some of the protesters had to dragged out. By 1:30 a.m. the park had been cleared and by 2 a.m. onlookers and demonstrators  who watched from the perimeter had largely dispersed as police maintained a significant presence downtown.

Reed said Monday he wouldn't evict Occupy Atlanta from the park until a group of clergy met with the demonstrators to try to work out a solution.

Reese McCranie, Reed's spokesman, said early Wednesday morning the clergy members tried to engage protesters and were rebuffed. After that the mayor made good on his vow Monday to "clear the park" if no resolution was reached.

"No one's really listening to me," said the Rev. Darrell Elligan, pastor of the True Light Baptist Church, following his meeting late Tuesday afternoon with Occupy Atlanta representatives. Elligan, president of the Atlanta chapter of the Concerned Black Clergy, was among a coalition of 30 faith leaders asked by Reed to meet with the demonstrators, though the pastor said they were not representing the mayor.

An Occupy Atlanta spokeswoman said she didn't believe the clergy were neutral.