Occupy LA makes peaceful return to downtown LA Art Walk

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Occupy L.A. protesters made a peaceful return to downtown's Art Walk Thursday night after a near riot last month.

Police say no arrests for unruly behavior were made at the Art Walk Thursday night. There were reports that one person was arrested for an outstanding warrant hours before the event began and another was arrested for an unrelated battery incident.

Police were out in force to monitor the monthly festival, which draws about 38,000 people.

Art Walk organizers and city officials said they wanted to promote a peaceful event this time around. During a near riot last month, Occupy protesters allege that police used excessive force to break up their chalk-drawing demonstration. The "Free Chalk for Free Speech" event was meant to show support for people previously arrested for chalking on the sidewalks, according to organizers.

Two officers were injured in the melee and 17 people were arrested.

See photos from the protest in downtown Los Angeles on Thursday, July 12, 2012.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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lapd, protest, los angeles news, amy powell

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