Some of the “Occupy Des Moines” protesters scheduled to appear in court early this afternoon plan to plead not guilty to trespassing charges.

State troopers arrested more than 30 protesters 10 days ago for trespassing past the evening curfew on statehouse grounds. Former State Representative Ed Fallon of Des Moines is one of the protesters who’ll plead not guilty.

“I believe that we should have been allowed to express our opinions about some very critical at the statehouse, on public property,” Fallon says. “There are plenty of people who walk through that park at night who are never arrested by the state patrol.”

Fallon says the “Occupy Des Moines” gathering that Sunday night was “peaceful and non-violent.”

“I believe we have a very legitimate ground for stating our innocence,” Fallon says.  “…It’s important to stand up for what you believe in. It’s important to challenge the wrongs in this country and if that means paying a fine, if that means getting arrested — so be it.”

Shortly after 11 o’clock this morning “Occupy Des Moines” protesters plan to gather at the Polk County Courthouse and then march to the Wells Fargo building in downtown Des Moines, then Fallon and the other protesters are scheduled to make a court appearance at 1 p.m. today.