Not only did Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake take pains today to say she sympathizes with Occupy Baltimore’s message, her administration also reassured protesters she wasn’t trampling on their First Amendment rights. (See photo above.)

The group, meanwhile, has scheduled a General Assembly meeting tonight in front of City Hall, at War Memorial Plaza, and released a statement giving their account of this morning’s raid on their McKeldin Square encampment.

“At this time, there has been no decision on whether Occupy Baltimore will return to McKeldin Square or begin a new encampment at another location,” the statement said, in part.

“Protesters wish to emphasize that the movement will continue to grow and thrive in Baltimore, with or without a physical encampment.”

Others associated with Occupy, meanwhile, are meeting elsewhere in the city on a specific topic: the privatization of Baltimore’s rec centers. That meeting is taking place at 7 p.m. at 2640 Space/St. John’s Methodist Church, 2640 St. Paul St.

Here’s the full text of Occupy Baltimore’s official statement about today’s eviction:

Tuesday, December 13th, 2011

Occupy Baltimore Evicted from McKeldin Square Tuesday Morning, No Arrests Made

In the hours after 3am on Tuesday, December 13, the Baltimore City Police cleared the Occupy Baltimore encampment from McKeldin Square. Members of the BPD notified its residents 30 minutes before the eviction. Approximately 50 protesters were removed as over 100 police in riot gear looked on. No arrests were made. About 15 protesters stayed behind to watch the police dissemble and dispose of their camp.

Occupy Baltimore has been protesting peacefully in McKeldin Square since October 4 of this year. The square has served as a home for many protesters, a base of operations for others, a nightly meeting spot for 8pm General Assemblies, and a constant symbol of Baltimoreans’ dissatisfaction with income inequality.

The activists of Occupy Baltimore have made common cause with the dispossessed of the city, many of whom had been residing in and around McKeldin due to inadequate public resources to address their needs. The site was chosen due to its proximity to the material wealth of the Inner Harbor, as well as financial institutions such as Bank of America and Wells Fargo, whose criminal manipulation of money and credit has been rewarded while marginalized youth are incarcerated at growing rates.

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake stated weeks ago that the city will shut down the occupation “at a time of our choosing,” citing sanitation and safety issues. On November 20, Occupy Baltimore released a statement responding to the Mayor’s concerns.

An emergency General Assembly was called at 10 am on Tuesday morning. The group decided to reconvene at War Memorial Plaza at 1 pm that afternoon, and plan to hold their 8 pm General Assembly there, on the lawn in front of City Hall.

At this time, there has been no decision on whether Occupy Baltimore will return to McKeldin Square or begin a new encampment at another location. Protesters wish to emphasize that the movement will continue to grow and thrive in Baltimore, with or without a physical encampment.