The Occupy San Fernando Valley movement, with about 20 people, began its protest on Saturday by targeting major banks in Van Nuys.
After forming up outside Van Nuys City Hall at 12:30 p.m.,the protesters marched north on Van Nuys boulevard, and stopped in front of the Wells Fargo Bank branch on the corner of Vanowen Street.
The group, composed of men and women, began shouting slogans and holding up signs that said things like," Stop The Greed," and "Capitalism Must Go."
The leader of the group, David Klein,who said he was a mathematics professor at California State University Northridge told the crowd," People should take their money out of the large banks. They are totally corrupt. The democrats and the republicans are in bed with these banks, " he added.
About 10 police officers on bikes and motorcycles monitored the crowd.
Next stop was the Bank of America branch at 6551 Van Nuys Blvd.
The group stood in front of the closed bank doors, held up signs and several began making speeches as the police looked on.
Twenty-seven-year old James Delaloza held up a sign that said,"Stop Corporate Greed."
"I'm doing this because we just can't stand by and let the banks get a hand-out after losing so much money because of their own corrupt practices. People are hurting all over the country, and the only people who get major help from the government are the big banks," said Delaloza, a graduate of the University of California at Santa Cruz, who works part-time as an English tutor.
A common critique of the Occupy movement is that protesters are not offering solutions.
"That's not true," Delaloza said," We want to see many more regulations on the big banks, they need to be held accountable for their failure to work with people who are facing foreclosure," added the Pasadena resident.
"We're asking depositers to take their money out of greedy big banks, they should put their money in credit unions," said David Klein to the crowd as police stood and watched.
After the rally at Bank of America, the group headed back to their starting point at City Hall Plaza.
Earlier in the day,Los Angeles Police Department officers handed out notices to the protesters. The police-handout was a long list of rules entitled, "Rules For Community and Expressive Events-Van Nuys Civic Center Complex."
The "General Property Rules," indicated that the Civic Center Mall would be open from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00p.m. daily, and the area would be closed from 7:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. daily.
Other rules include," No tents, no camping, no cooking, no blocking buildings."
When asked if the police would be strictly enforcing these rules, LAPD Captain Paul Snell replied, " We 're going to handle this on a case by case basis."
As for the protesters, both David Klein and James Delaloza said they were not sure if they would attempt to spend the night at the City Hall Plaza in Van Nuys.
"I don't think so," said Klein.
