Protesters representing various groups plan to march in downtown Los Angeles Friday before engaging in a weekend of activity near City Hall.
The Occupy LA protest began last week at City Hall. A scattered encampment grew outside during the week, and protesters said they plan to increase their presence through the weekend.
"It's not so much how we're going to end this week, but how we're going to kick off the weekend," said Thomas Smith, of Occupy LA.
The encampment went from 70 tents to about 125 tents overnight, Smith said. He was asked about the goal of the protests.
"The goal is to have the voice of the people heard," Smith said. "Right now, we've created an environment in downtown Los Angeles where individuals can come together and voice different opinions without any bias from others.
"It is a people's movement -- we are not affiliated with any party. We are grassroots. It's warming to know that we still have that energy within our great nation."
The protests stem from demonstrations at or near Wall Street in New York City that began Sept. 17. As many as 700 people have been arrested since then.
Maintaining compliance with police is a priority for the group, Smith said.
ReFund California March, Sit-In at Bank of America
A protest march Thursday was headed by ReFund California -- a statewide effort that its leaders say is designed to force banks to keep families in homes, pay their fair share of taxes and help rebuild hard-hit neighborhoods. The group marched from California Plaza to 7th and Figueroa streets, where some blocked an intersection and others conducted a sit-down in a Bank of America lobby.
They presented an oversized check to the "People of California" in the amount of $673 billion.
The bank's security called police. Five women and six men were arrested on suspicion of trespassing, said LAPD Officer Richard French. Bail was set at $5,000 a person, according to the LAPD.
Some members of Occupy LA participated in the march organized by ReFund California.
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