WASHINGTON (AP, ABC7) - Members of Occupy DC say they're staying put in McPherson Square.

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District of Columbia Mayor Vincent Gray on Thursday called on the National Park Service to remove the demonstrators from the square, citing rat infestations and other health problems.

Read Gray's letter here.

He proposed consolidating the protesters with another encampment at Freedom Plaza.

The National Park Service has jurisdiction over both sites and says the protesters are exercising their First Amendment rights to free speech.

Occupy DC issued a statement Friday saying it's willing to work with the city to deal with the rats and other problems.

But the group says it doesn't plan to move, and calls any attempt to evict them "counterproductive to ensuring the safety of occupiers."