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Cold Doesn't Deter Some Hardcare Occupy Protesters

DENVER (CBS4) - The Occupy movement isn't being deterred by the cold and snow. Some dedicated demonstrators say they aren't going anywhere.

"It's been pretty chilly man," Jay Frost said. "We got a bunch of tarps to keep everything dry, kept the snow out; bunch of layers of blankets, and then just body heat."

Frost is one of the 24/7 occupiers who refuse to leave, despite the weather.

"We're doing everything we can to combat the elements here. We have a lot of our 24/7 guys getting creative. They've come up with an idea that's called the Colorado Hot Pocket," demonstrator Tanner Spendley said.

Tory Mitchell was huddling in a Colorado Hot Pocket.

"Sleeping bags, got a pillow, my backpack, and all my stuff," Mitchell said.

"As a lot of people know a lot of the folks who sleep here are homeless," Spendly said. "And we're doing everything we can this time of year and all year long to keep them safe and keep them warm."

Whether it's a hot pocket, or a makeshift fort-like shelter, they're doing just about anything they can to stay warm and keep occupying. But it's not easy.

"Two nights ago there was a man who suffered frost bite on his toes," Spendly said.

It's also hurt numbers on the day that's usually protesters' biggest.

"Let's just say I'm not expecting much today," Frost said.

It is cold, miserable, and temperatures will be dropping into the single digits, tempting even a guy named Frost to think about finding shelter.

"I might take a vacation, but I'll be back," he said.

The Occupy movement started on Wall Street in New York. Demonstrators blame corporate greed for America's financial crisis. Occupy Denver protesters started their movement about 2 1/2 months ago.

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