The " Occupy Raleigh" protesters have taken their cause to a sidewalk near Fayetteville Street for days now, non-stop. That means that the police are having to patrol them, 24-7. Raleigh Police say that's costing the city $1500 a day in taxpayers' money for overtime.
Protester Anthony Raters was arrested for trespassing as a result of the original protest. "I went to jail for an hour, I got out and we came back over here, once the 19 of us all got out of jail," said Raters.
But he said he's grateful for the police protection. "We need the police here for security, because a lot of us have issues, women have been assaulted and things have been stolen," said Raters.
Another protester, retired Ft. Bragg Missile Technician Clayton Anderson, said, "I broke my back on an airborne operation." He's now medically retired. He said he believes everyone should have the same access to health care he does, and that's why he's participating in the protest. "I felt it was a call to action, there's so much wrong that's being done in this world, and this is just one way that we can stand up against it," said Anderson.
The protesters tell us they have no plans of stopping soon. They're collecting signatures on a petition to get a permit to stay where they are.
They say the state's Department of Administration denied their request.
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