Occupy Atlanta files federal lawsuit against city of Atlanta

Organizers of Occupy Atlanta have a filed a federal lawsuit against the city of Atlanta, saying not being allowed to stay in Woodruff Park was arbitrary and unconstitutional.

State Sen. Vincent Fort and civil rights leader Joe Beasley also are listed as plaintiffs, along with the group and four individual members.

The lawsuit was filed Friday in U.S. District Court.

The complaint says Mayor Kasim Reed's decision to revoke his executive order allowing the protesters to remain in the park was unconstitutional.

More than 50 protesters were arrested on Oct. 25 after that order was revoked.

The lawsuit states the city ordinance governing park gatherings is overbroad because large groups, defined as more than 75, are allowed to get permits to stay in the park after hours, but no such permit is required for smaller groups.

Occupy Atlanta said the protesters who stay overnight have not numbered more than 75 and cannot qualify for any type of assembly permit.

The group is also seeking a temporary restraining order allowing it to stay in the park until the case is decided.

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Earlier on Friday, the Rev. Jesse Jackson and a group of Occupy Atlanta protesters took over the lobby of SunTrust Plaza for about an hour as workers left for the day.

The building was shut down as the protesters sang songs and prayed inside the Atlanta-based bank's headquarters. Jackson, in town for a conference with his Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, said he was there to protest economic conditions and foreclosure rates across the country.

The protest came a day after Jackson met with Occupy Atlanta demonstrators to encourage them to focus on financial institutions rather than arguing with City Hall.

Occupy Atlanta protesters told Channel 2 Action News they intend to take over Woodruff Park once again Saturday night.

The Associated Press contributed to this article