As night fell, protesters decided to abandon the center and regroup at a local university. They pledged to continue their battle to get Gov. Ulises Ruiz to resign, even as police tore down the banners and tents in the center that had served for months as the headquarters of often violent demonstrations.
"We are going to leave this area ... while we regroup," said Daniel Reyes, one of the last of the protesters to leave the main square. He said they were retreating to "protect the safety" of the demonstrators.
"This is not a defeat, but rather a strengthening."