[UPDATES BELOW] On the heels of the massive, largely peaceful People's Climate March, a smaller group of activists has gathered in Lower Manhattan this morning to participate in direct action civil disobedience. With the goal of "stopping capitalism" and "ending the climate crisis," protesters are expected to "Flood Wall Street" in the coming hours. "The economy of the 1% is destroying the planet, flooding our homes, and wrecking our communities," the protesters' website declares.

This could get interesting, as police are prepared to quickly stifle any disruptions in the heavily fortified area around the Stock Exchange. One area worker says Wall Street is "already under lockdown. I had to walk two blocks out of my way to get to work." Protesters are currently massing in Battery Park. We'll update this post as the march gets underway; you can also follow along with Gothamist reporter Christopher Robbins on Twitter and the #FloodWallStreet Twitter hashtag.

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(Courtes Naqeeb Memon)

Update 12:09 p.m.: Demonstrators have advanced into the Financial District and civil disobedience has begun.

12:51 p.m.:

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An overhead view from an anonymous tipster.

1:26 p.m. Police have not moved to arrest the protesters sitting in the street... yet. While everyone waits, it's lunchtime:

1:35 p.m.: Some arrests have been made. From Newsweek reporter (and former Gothamist intern) Zoë Schlanger:

2:39 p.m.: The NYPD appears to be allowing the demonstrators to occupy the streets around "The Charging Bull." Free pizza is being distributed, and some protesters have indicated they will remain until at least the closing bell.

3:51 p.m.: Protesters are on the move:

4:04 p.m.: Police have appeared reluctant to make mass arrests so far, but that moment may be at hand. At least 1,000 protesters have massed by the intersection of Wall Street and Broadway, and a brief skirmish between cops and protesters just occurred, with both sides shoving barricades. A photographer and protesters were pepper sprayed, but it's unclear who discharged the pepper spray. Robbins just filed this video, and says officers in riot gear are now at the scene:

5:52 p.m.: Blue powder, bored cops, flying dollar bills, and a sense of isolation:

6:17 p.m. : Boredom and hunger begin to take hold: