© Getty ImagesWorkers clean-up Zuccotti Park after New York City police in riot gear removed Occupy Wall Street protesters
Lawyers for the protesters, who have inspired dozens of demonstrations around the world, were arguing in New York supreme court that a police raid on the camp early Tuesday morning was illegal.
Hundreds of NYPD officers wearing riot gear burst into Manhattan's Zuccotti Park at 1am, arresting more than 140 people inside the two-month-old camp and about 60 outside in chaotic scenes.
As they tore down tents, seized tonnes of equipment and binned the 5,000 books in the camp's library, police blocked photographers from observing the raid and physically removed reporters from the site.
Mr Bloomberg said he had ordered the eviction because "health and safety conditions became intolerable" in the park and protesters were encroaching on the rights of others.
"New York City is the city where you can come and express yourself," he told a press conference. But he added: "No right is absolute and with every right comes responsibilities".
It was the most serious setback so far to the "Occupy" movement, which over the past eight weeks has spawned protests against the economic status quo from California to New Zealand under the rallying cry "We are the 99 per cent".
Scuffles broke out on Tuesday night and several journalists were arrested as police blocked protesters trying to re-enter the park, and lawyers debated extending an injunction against the eviction, which was issued by a judge woken in the early hours.
Many had not rested since 1am, when a text message was sent out to supporters. "URGENT: Hundreds of police mobilising around Zuccotti," it said. "Eviction in progress!"
Amid chants of "Whose park? Our park!", demonstrators screamed at police and scrambled to keep hold of their belongings. Some furiously remonstrated while being handcuffed with plastic cable ties.
A hard core chained themselves to tables and trees in the camp's "kitchen" area and had to be cut out. Claims that some had been pepper sprayed were denied by police.
Ray Kelly, the New York police commissioner, said he was "proud of the officers' professionalism" in the face of taunts from protesters.
"Operationally, it went well," he said.
Most of those arrested were charged with disorderly conduct or resisting arrest. Ydanis Rodriguez, a Democratic city council member, was among those detained by police.
During the raid, the nearby Brooklyn Bridge was closed, apparently to block supporters arriving. Subway train stations around the camp were closed and police helicopters patrolled the skies. Later, private security guards were seen protecting high street bank branches.
The evicted demonstrators marched north, pursued by police. Jason, 27, said: "The cops were following, shoving us from behind and saying it was illegal to walk slower than them".
At dawn they gathered half a mile away at Foley Square to plot their next move, using the "people's microphone", in which the entire crowd repeats each speaker's sentences so that all can hear.
The group says it has no leaders, but Nicholas, 25, did most of the talking. "This only feeds us, it only makes us stronger," he told The Daily Telegraph, while rolling a cigarette.
Kyle Szlosek, 21, travelled the 100 miles from Philadelphia, where he is involved in the "Occupy Philly" movement, to help his comrades. "I was born into a world that sucks," he said.
Some New Yorkers, however, were happy to see the camp removed. Businessmen from nearby companies described the jetwashed and bleached pavements as "a beautiful sight".
Outside City Hall, a woman in a suit shouted at the protesters: "You people stink! Take a shower! Get a job" Asked by the Daily Telegraph for an interview, the woman said: "No, I'm a cop - get away".
They came like thieves in the night...Bloomberg's Blue Shirts. They robbed us of our rights, and our possessions...while preventing reporters from reporting on the scene. No free press...no free speech. Welcome to the new New York. Bloomberg, the self-proclaimed number one defender of free speech (pause for gagging), said in no uncertain terms: "yes, you have the right.....the right to remain silent. So just shut up, and obey". But this is only the beginning dear Mayor .0001%., not the end. This WILL be your legacy- of repression. But you will NOT succeed. These mayors, governors, city councils, police chiefs, and street cops of America need to realize that it is NOT UP TO THEM whether or not Americans peaceably gather, protest, discuss, or demonstrate. It's up to a document called the US CONSTITUTION. You can beat us and arrest us and tear-gas us, you can try to "permit" us to death....but you can't kill an idea. You can't keep down a people’s hopes and dreams for a better life....for us, and for our kids. America USED to work. The people had work. The system worked (sort of). Hey, EVEN the Congress used to work (sometimes). God knows, it was far, far, far from perfect -but at least we all had some share in the struggles AND the rewards. But somewhere along the way, we lost our way. Because now we have an economy and a political system that seems to work only for the rich. With OWS America has found it’s voice, and that voice demands fairness and justice - for ALL. This land IS our land! AND WE WANT IT BACK! We want our LIVES back! We want our FUTURE back! But it’s much more than just words.... it’s much more than politics..... it’s your freakin’ LIFE, and how you want to live it, and how you WILL live it. Find a quiet place somewhere, and consider this: Each of us has only one brief life....one chance....one roll of the dice....and many choices. The time has come to choose....to risk...and to act. If not now...then when? If not you, then....who? You DO have the power my friend....and the choice IS yours. Don’t let your dreams die....