After months of inaction, the New York Police Department moved on Zuccotti Park in the early hours of Monday.
"You are required to immediately remove all property, including tents, sleeping bags and tarps from Zuccotti Park. That means you must remove the property now," read a police notice.
Protesters attempted to tie themselves to trees. The police barricaded the area, illuminating the park with huge spotlights. Twenty minutes after the notice was posted, the police moved in.
Three hours later and the park was clear. Tents had been slashed and broken. Anyone defying the order to move had been taken into custody.
After two months, the encampment was gone with more than 100 arrests.
According to Occupy protester Garrett Perkins, 29, the police started throwing out tents and cuffing occupiers. Resistance was met with the pepper spray.
Despite the eviction, protesters remained defiant.
"This will only make us stronger," said 24-year-old Billie Greenfield. "We Shall Overcome", that hardy perennial mantra of the left, echoed down the streets of the financial district.
According to mayor Bloomberg, Zuccotti Park was cleared so that crews could clean it. It was done overnight "to reduce the risk of confrontation".
Occupy protesters around the US were no doubt watching. So too were the demonstrators outside London's St Paul's.