Despite an order that the lawn around Los Angeles City Hall be cleared at 12:01 am, protesters at the Occupy LA Camp remain after a long night.

I began watching various live streams and monitoring the twitter right before midnight Pacific Time. My sources in Los Angeles indicated that it was not expected that any forceful police clearing would not actually happen overnight and that has proven true. Despite that, people inside the camp prepared for the worse, some locking arms, others meditating and chanting.

The bigger issue overnight was protesters and others in the streets, especially on First Street, Broadway, and Spring Street. Those people were met with rows of police in riot gear. From my point of view it seemed like alot of confrontation from both sides for show as opposed towards any goal (i.e. protecting the camp).

As rush hour in Los Angeles approached, the issue became one street and if protesters would clear it for traffic to flow through. There were a few arrests, but nothing major, as both police and protesters backed off from the streets.

The eviction order still stands, although a forced police eviction as we have seen in NYC and other Occupy camps does not seem to be imminent. What will probably happen, is that some legal case may be filed this morning asking for an injunction against ejecting protesters.

It should be noted, that the LA Occupation has always been marked by some sort of cooperation between police and protesters, in striking contrast to other Occupy encampments. This morning’s tensions indicate a shift in that relationship.

Stay tuned.