Russell Simmons - Russell Simmons Prepared For Jail To Support Wall Street Protesters

The star has been a staunch supporter of the Occupy Wall Street rally, which has seen thousands take to the streets to call for equality for all and an end to corporate greed.

New York mayor Michael Bloomberg has ordered a clean-up mission at the group's base in Zuccotti Park on Friday (14Oct11), but protesters are remaining defiant and have pledged to stop officials moving in.

Simmons has urged Bloomberg to reconsider his plans "to avoid confrontation" - and the music mogul admits he's prepared to be arrested as he supports the campaigners on Friday morning.

In a series of posts on his Twitter.com page late on Thursday, he writes, "Dear MikeBloomberg - I will pay for clean-up of Zuccotti Park to avoid confrontation. I don't wanna go to jail but I will be there ready!

"I have been there 15 times. And I will be there tomorrow occupywallstreet 7am... There is NO way the brave, patriotic yng ppl (young people) are being kicked out.

"Kids preparing to go to jail. I'll be back to hang w/ (with) them tomorrow. Dear mike I have long supported u and u have been (a) good mayor, don't take me to jail tomorrow I'm not 22 I don't wanna go :-) but I will."

Actor Mark Ruffalo, who has also been supporting the movement, is similarly baffled by Bloomberg's plans, adding on his own Twitter page, "Strange what's happening here. Americans gathered to voice their hopes for a better tomorrow and rise against injustice, yet they wait arrest.

"Nothing's going to shut me down as long as I have a heart to feel, a brain to think, and a mouth for which to speak from. Ows (Occupy Wall Street) is cleaner then most of the parks in Nyc. It's simply rubbish this sanitation canard."