Some 'Occupy' Protesters Willing To Risk Arrest

Ryan Cartwright is prepared to be arrested for what he believes in.

The 21-year-old College of the Desert student was one of more than 30 protesters that gathered at Palm Desert’s Civic Center Park Monday night.

Cartwright was initially willing to spend the night in a section of the park that closes at 11 p.m., in violation of Palm Desert’s camping ordinance, and risk being arrested for standing up for his first amendment right to protest.

“The first amendment doesn’t end at 11 p.m.,” Cartwright said.

However, the city gave organizers a temporary permit -- two hours before the event began -- to hold a protest at Civic Center Park's amphitheater, but they were required under the permit to leave the amphitheater area when the park closed at 11 p.m., according to Jayel Aheram, another COD student.

The city set up an area for the occupiers to protest nearby, near the park's western entrance at San Pablo Avenue, Aheram said.

The group held a vote around 7:30 p.m. Monday, agreeing to leave the amphitheater part of the park and continue at the designated area to avoid arrest.

"They broke their own law to provide us with this,'' Aheram said, calling the permit a "victory for Occupy Coachella Valley."

The permit issued by the city expires at noon Tuesday, but Cartwright said he wants to stay at the park indefinitely as do other protesters. More than a dozen said they plan to stay overnight. (.)

Not all protesters were willing to stay the night or even past the park’s curfew. 

Claire Carsman of Palm Springs said she’s happy about the protest, but isn't willing to risk arrest.

“I’ve had my share of being busted,’’ Carsman said, adding that she plans on stopping by in the coming days.

Learn more about why they are protesting in the video to the right.