Photograph by Lacy Atkins from "San Francisco Chronicle"
Monday, October 31, 2011
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Power to the People! Defend Education
The Public Education Coalition is a student, worker, and faculty group from UC Berkeley who oppose and actively fight against austerity measures in the form of fee increases, departmental cuts, decrease in ethnic diversity, layoffs, and furloughs. This October and November there are a number of ways that folks can get involved to help us spread the word and participate in our meetings and actions. Solidarity is necessary and democratization of the University of California system is within our reach!
On October 17th there began the 1st general assembly meeting at 105 Boalt Hall from 6-8 pm on the UCB campus.
On October 27th there was a rally and funeral for public education
On November 8th-9th there will be informational pickets at the California State Universities.
On November 8th-9th there will also be actions, workshops, and teach-outs at UC Berkeley in Sproul Plaza
On November 15th there will be a mass presence to protest the Regent’s meeting at Mission Bay in San Francisco.
For more information and to get involved visit:
ReclaimUC.blogspot.com
OR
Berkeleycuts.org
OR
Come to our general assembly meeting mentioned above on the 17th in 105 Boalt Hall from 6-8pm.
On October 17th there began the 1st general assembly meeting at 105 Boalt Hall from 6-8 pm on the UCB campus.
On October 27th there was a rally and funeral for public education
On November 8th-9th there will be informational pickets at the California State Universities.
On November 8th-9th there will also be actions, workshops, and teach-outs at UC Berkeley in Sproul Plaza
On November 15th there will be a mass presence to protest the Regent’s meeting at Mission Bay in San Francisco.
For more information and to get involved visit:
ReclaimUC.blogspot.com
OR
Berkeleycuts.org
OR
Come to our general assembly meeting mentioned above on the 17th in 105 Boalt Hall from 6-8pm.
2011-10-29 "Chevron earns $7.83 billion in 3rd-quarter profit; $7.83 billion is more than double 2010's 3rd quarter" by David R. Baker from "San Francisco Chronicle"
[http://articles.sfgate.com/2011-10-29/business/30337995_1_chevron-profit-soars-big-international-oil-companies-tom-kloza]
The high oil and gas prices cursed by consumers brought Chevron Corp. a near-record $7.83 billion profit in the third quarter, the San Ramon company reported Friday.
That's more than twice what Chevron, America's second-largest oil business, earned during the same period last year. And it fell just shy of the company's highest quarterly profit - $7.89 billion in the third quarter of 2008, when oil prices briefly reached $145 per barrel.
Crude prices haven't neared that peak this year. But they have remained stubbornly high, despite the sluggish economy. Chevron's average U.S. price for a barrel of crude oil hit $97 in the third quarter, up from $69 a year earlier. Overseas, the company's average price reached $103 per barrel, up from $70 last year.
"We've entered an era when supply and demand are really tightly balanced," said Allen Good, an oil-industry analyst with the Morningstar market research firm. "Any sign of economic growth in Europe or America, with continued strong demand in China, is going to affect prices."
Chevron's third-quarter revenue jumped 26 percent to reach $61.3 billion, even as the company's worldwide production of oil and natural gas slipped 5 percent, down to 2.6 million barrels per day.
All big international oil companies have seen their profits surge this year. Exxon Mobil Corp. on Thursday reported earning $10.33 billion in the third quarter, a 41 percent increase from the same period last year. Royal Dutch Shell's profits doubled to reach $7 billion.
Although Chevron and its competitors make the overwhelming majority of their money selling crude oil, this year's high gasoline prices have boosted their profits.
Chevron's U.S. "downstream" operations, which include refining and marketing, made $704 million in profit during the third quarter, twice the tally from a year earlier. International downstream profits topped $1.28 billion, although $500 million of that came from selling a refinery and other assets in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Gasoline prices have remained high despite weak demand in the United States. The country's average price for a gallon of regular now stands at $3.45, 64 cents higher than a year ago, according to the AAA automotive service. California's average stands at $3.84.
Prices usually drop during the fall, but that hasn't happened this year. U.S. refineries have been able to sell any excess gasoline to eager markets in South America, keeping prices from tumbling.
"My real worry is the spring," said Tom Kloza, chief oil analyst at the Oil Price Information Service. "We're looking at a spike in the spring, and the question is, is that going to be the straw that broke the consumer's back in the U.S. and Europe."
Chevron's top refining executive warned Friday that last week's decision by California regulators to create a cap-and-trade system for cutting greenhouse gas emissions would probably lead to higher prices in the state. Chevron operates two California refineries, in Richmond and El Segundo (Los Angeles County).
"California energy prices are some of the highest in the nation, whether you're talking about electricity or fuels," said Michael Wirth, executive vice president of Chevron's downstream operations. "By policy, this is designed to drive prices higher. And at some point, businesses have to confront that, as do the consumers of those businesses' products. And in a state where the economy is challenged, where employment is challenged, and where the fiscal situation is unsustainable, I think the effects here are predictable."
[http://articles.sfgate.com/2011-10-29/business/30337995_1_chevron-profit-soars-big-international-oil-companies-tom-kloza]
The high oil and gas prices cursed by consumers brought Chevron Corp. a near-record $7.83 billion profit in the third quarter, the San Ramon company reported Friday.
That's more than twice what Chevron, America's second-largest oil business, earned during the same period last year. And it fell just shy of the company's highest quarterly profit - $7.89 billion in the third quarter of 2008, when oil prices briefly reached $145 per barrel.
Crude prices haven't neared that peak this year. But they have remained stubbornly high, despite the sluggish economy. Chevron's average U.S. price for a barrel of crude oil hit $97 in the third quarter, up from $69 a year earlier. Overseas, the company's average price reached $103 per barrel, up from $70 last year.
"We've entered an era when supply and demand are really tightly balanced," said Allen Good, an oil-industry analyst with the Morningstar market research firm. "Any sign of economic growth in Europe or America, with continued strong demand in China, is going to affect prices."
Chevron's third-quarter revenue jumped 26 percent to reach $61.3 billion, even as the company's worldwide production of oil and natural gas slipped 5 percent, down to 2.6 million barrels per day.
All big international oil companies have seen their profits surge this year. Exxon Mobil Corp. on Thursday reported earning $10.33 billion in the third quarter, a 41 percent increase from the same period last year. Royal Dutch Shell's profits doubled to reach $7 billion.
Although Chevron and its competitors make the overwhelming majority of their money selling crude oil, this year's high gasoline prices have boosted their profits.
Chevron's U.S. "downstream" operations, which include refining and marketing, made $704 million in profit during the third quarter, twice the tally from a year earlier. International downstream profits topped $1.28 billion, although $500 million of that came from selling a refinery and other assets in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Gasoline prices have remained high despite weak demand in the United States. The country's average price for a gallon of regular now stands at $3.45, 64 cents higher than a year ago, according to the AAA automotive service. California's average stands at $3.84.
Prices usually drop during the fall, but that hasn't happened this year. U.S. refineries have been able to sell any excess gasoline to eager markets in South America, keeping prices from tumbling.
"My real worry is the spring," said Tom Kloza, chief oil analyst at the Oil Price Information Service. "We're looking at a spike in the spring, and the question is, is that going to be the straw that broke the consumer's back in the U.S. and Europe."
Chevron's top refining executive warned Friday that last week's decision by California regulators to create a cap-and-trade system for cutting greenhouse gas emissions would probably lead to higher prices in the state. Chevron operates two California refineries, in Richmond and El Segundo (Los Angeles County).
"California energy prices are some of the highest in the nation, whether you're talking about electricity or fuels," said Michael Wirth, executive vice president of Chevron's downstream operations. "By policy, this is designed to drive prices higher. And at some point, businesses have to confront that, as do the consumers of those businesses' products. And in a state where the economy is challenged, where employment is challenged, and where the fiscal situation is unsustainable, I think the effects here are predictable."
Thursday, October 27, 2011
2011-10-27 "OCCUPY THE CREEK #3: Action Report on OCCUPY WALNUT CREEK BART 10/26/11" by Frank Runninghorse from "Diablo Valley Students and Movement for a Democratic Society [Diablo SDS/MDS]"
SDS/MDS mobilized over a dozen supporters to intersect the 3rd 'Occupy Walnut Creek 'Action of about 230 people on the busiest intersection in the "Creek".
Once again our picket signs were very popular and DVC SDS students proudly waved their banner from corner to corner.
We joined with other members of the newly formed "Contra Costa 99%" [CC99%] to pass out leaflets to the crowd calling the 99% to "OCCUPY CONCORD" on Sat. Nov 5 @ NOON in Todos Santos Plaza.
The flyer also called people out to CC99%'s General Meeting on Sunday 10-12 AM, in Todos Santos right before the Diablo MDS meeting in the same location at 12 Noon.
Perhaps the highlite of the action was the feeder march by 25 CNA Union nurses from Kaiser dressed in red.
The next day SDS passed out 800 more "Occupy Concord " leaflets at DVC , more mass fliering is planned at DVC next week.
SDS plans to ask the DVC Instructors Union, 'United Faculty" and the Classified Staff, 'Local One" to join in "Occupy Concord".
We also plan to invite both the militant CNA Nurses and the Diablo area Postal Union activists we met last month in the National Day of Action against austerity attacks on the Union.
"OCCUPY" MOVEMENT CONTINUES TO SPREAD!
"OCCUPY CONCORD" IS COMING!!
ALL OUT FOR OCCUPY CONCORD NOV. 5TH!!!
All photographs from [http://walnutcreek.patch.com] and all captions except for the first one are by Frank Runninghorse
About 25 Union Nurses from Kaiser hospital held a feeder march into the "Occupy Walnut Creek " action. They wore red and spoke of their struggle at Kaiser to prevent managements cost cutting attacks on patients care and over working of nurses. MDS led solidarity cheers for the nurses.
Union Nurses & MDS/SDS "Occupy Together" in the "Creek"
"1st Amendment" sign.
Runninghorse assembles 40 MDS/SDS "Memes Guns"[picket signs] on the spot, to pass out to the social justice warriors.
Wes, Diablo MDS "Minister of Counter Culture" uses Newspaper headlines of Police Violence against 'Occupy Oakland " camp to make point on police brutality.
"Robin Hood was right" a old Frank Little Club classic, back by popular demand.
2011-10-26 "A Different Occupy Scene in Walnut Creek; Peaceful demonstration plays out on Ygnacio Valley Road by the BART station" by Lance Howland from "Walnut Creek Patch" online journal
[http://walnutcreek.patch.com/articles/a-different-occupy-scene-in-walnut-creek]
A day later and a dozen miles to the east, the scene was quite different.
A day after Oakland erupted in confrontation between protesters and police, a group of more than 200 staged their demonstration peacefully on a busy suburban road in Walnut Creek. Officers in a couple of police cruisers watched quietly from the back lot of a Shell station across Ygnacio Valley Road.
No tear gas was deployed. No encampment on public land was targeted for breakup.
Carl Anderson of Oakland came to Walnut Creek Wednesday to carry a sign quoting the First Amendment, the right "peaceably to assemble."
Anderson said he wasn't with Occupy Oakland colleagues Tuesday when police in riot gear tried to clear the city park, but he was "shocked" by Oakland police tactics. He said he participated in an Oakland march Saturday and was struck by the police restraint. Anderson said he went to 14th and Broadway in Oakland at 8 a.m. Wednesday and did yoga with some of the Occupy Oakland campers. In the afternoon he came to Walnut Creek to "support the good stuff happening east of the hills." [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjxB5T_--_o]
Occupy Walnut Creek, on its third Wednesday, has been growing — not in numbers so much, but with more organizations involved and more participants coming from distant cities [http://walnutcreek.patch.com/articles/occupy-protesters-make-downtown-statement]. A group of more than a dozen red-shirted union nurses joined the demonstration to ask for others' support in pressing the Kaiser administration not to reduce Registered Nurse positions at Kaiser Walnut Creek.
"We're here for our patients and to fight cutbacks," said nurse Natalia Starodynov.
At 4:45 p.m. Wednesday, some 230 protesters made their point at Ygnacio Valley Road and North California Boulevard. Most were gathered at the corner of the Walnut Creek BART station parking lot. The numbers were similar to protests the last two Wednesdays on Mount Diablo Boulevard in a heavily travelled shopping area.
By the BART station Wednesday, a sampling of the signs:
* Robber barons redux
* Stop deceptive political ads
* Wall Street $ out of Congress and White House
* America not for sale
Joe Ely of Pleasanton carried a sign to urge support for the California Clean Money Campaign [http://www.caclean.org/].
Michael Kochowiec of Walnut Creek, age 71, in September returned from a two-year Peace Corps stint in Mongolia ("very corrupt government") to carry a protest sign expressing concerns about the influence of corporate money in U.S. politics.
Occupy Walnut Creek is due to be back, same place, same time, next Wednesday.
Fliers were distributed Wednesday in Walnut Creek for a recently scheduled protest, Occupy Concord at noon Saturday, Nov. 5, at Todos Santos Park. "Join the Contra Costa 99 percent in Occupying Concord … We will be marching from the park and demonstrating on the large banks and corporations nearby," the flier read.
2011-10-25 "Occupy Walnut Creek protest to switch location Wednesday" by Elisabeth Nardi from "Contra Costa Times" newspaper
[http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_19190497?source=rss]
The loosely organized Occupy Walnut Creek protests, staged downtown the past two Wednesdays, will move down a few blocks to just outside the city's BART station this week.
Titled "Main Street meets Wall Street," the protest will now be at 4 p.m. Wednesday at the corner of Ygnacio Valley Road and California Boulevard.
Kathy Klein, one of the protest organizers, said the downtown location -- at the corner of Main Street and Mt. Diablo Boulevard -- had caused some traffic delays. The new corner, outside the BART station, is very visible, she added.
The movement that started in New York and has spread to San Jose, San Francisco and Oakland is filled with people railing against bank bailouts, corporate greed and political power.
The movement in Walnut Creek has brought together varying groups, including Contra Costa 99%. But hundreds usually protest for a few hours and then leave the area once it gets dark.
SDS/MDS mobilized over a dozen supporters to intersect the 3rd 'Occupy Walnut Creek 'Action of about 230 people on the busiest intersection in the "Creek".
Once again our picket signs were very popular and DVC SDS students proudly waved their banner from corner to corner.
We joined with other members of the newly formed "Contra Costa 99%" [CC99%] to pass out leaflets to the crowd calling the 99% to "OCCUPY CONCORD" on Sat. Nov 5 @ NOON in Todos Santos Plaza.
The flyer also called people out to CC99%'s General Meeting on Sunday 10-12 AM, in Todos Santos right before the Diablo MDS meeting in the same location at 12 Noon.
Perhaps the highlite of the action was the feeder march by 25 CNA Union nurses from Kaiser dressed in red.
The next day SDS passed out 800 more "Occupy Concord " leaflets at DVC , more mass fliering is planned at DVC next week.
SDS plans to ask the DVC Instructors Union, 'United Faculty" and the Classified Staff, 'Local One" to join in "Occupy Concord".
We also plan to invite both the militant CNA Nurses and the Diablo area Postal Union activists we met last month in the National Day of Action against austerity attacks on the Union.
"OCCUPY" MOVEMENT CONTINUES TO SPREAD!
"OCCUPY CONCORD" IS COMING!!
ALL OUT FOR OCCUPY CONCORD NOV. 5TH!!!
All photographs from [http://walnutcreek.patch.com] and all captions except for the first one are by Frank Runninghorse
About 25 Union Nurses from Kaiser hospital held a feeder march into the "Occupy Walnut Creek " action. They wore red and spoke of their struggle at Kaiser to prevent managements cost cutting attacks on patients care and over working of nurses. MDS led solidarity cheers for the nurses.
Union Nurses & MDS/SDS "Occupy Together" in the "Creek"
"1st Amendment" sign.
Runninghorse assembles 40 MDS/SDS "Memes Guns"[picket signs] on the spot, to pass out to the social justice warriors.
Wes, Diablo MDS "Minister of Counter Culture" uses Newspaper headlines of Police Violence against 'Occupy Oakland " camp to make point on police brutality.
"Robin Hood was right" a old Frank Little Club classic, back by popular demand.
2011-10-26 "A Different Occupy Scene in Walnut Creek; Peaceful demonstration plays out on Ygnacio Valley Road by the BART station" by Lance Howland from "Walnut Creek Patch" online journal
[http://walnutcreek.patch.com/articles/a-different-occupy-scene-in-walnut-creek]
A day later and a dozen miles to the east, the scene was quite different.
A day after Oakland erupted in confrontation between protesters and police, a group of more than 200 staged their demonstration peacefully on a busy suburban road in Walnut Creek. Officers in a couple of police cruisers watched quietly from the back lot of a Shell station across Ygnacio Valley Road.
No tear gas was deployed. No encampment on public land was targeted for breakup.
Carl Anderson of Oakland came to Walnut Creek Wednesday to carry a sign quoting the First Amendment, the right "peaceably to assemble."
Anderson said he wasn't with Occupy Oakland colleagues Tuesday when police in riot gear tried to clear the city park, but he was "shocked" by Oakland police tactics. He said he participated in an Oakland march Saturday and was struck by the police restraint. Anderson said he went to 14th and Broadway in Oakland at 8 a.m. Wednesday and did yoga with some of the Occupy Oakland campers. In the afternoon he came to Walnut Creek to "support the good stuff happening east of the hills." [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjxB5T_--_o]
Occupy Walnut Creek, on its third Wednesday, has been growing — not in numbers so much, but with more organizations involved and more participants coming from distant cities [http://walnutcreek.patch.com/articles/occupy-protesters-make-downtown-statement]. A group of more than a dozen red-shirted union nurses joined the demonstration to ask for others' support in pressing the Kaiser administration not to reduce Registered Nurse positions at Kaiser Walnut Creek.
"We're here for our patients and to fight cutbacks," said nurse Natalia Starodynov.
At 4:45 p.m. Wednesday, some 230 protesters made their point at Ygnacio Valley Road and North California Boulevard. Most were gathered at the corner of the Walnut Creek BART station parking lot. The numbers were similar to protests the last two Wednesdays on Mount Diablo Boulevard in a heavily travelled shopping area.
By the BART station Wednesday, a sampling of the signs:
* Robber barons redux
* Stop deceptive political ads
* Wall Street $ out of Congress and White House
* America not for sale
Joe Ely of Pleasanton carried a sign to urge support for the California Clean Money Campaign [http://www.caclean.org/].
Michael Kochowiec of Walnut Creek, age 71, in September returned from a two-year Peace Corps stint in Mongolia ("very corrupt government") to carry a protest sign expressing concerns about the influence of corporate money in U.S. politics.
Occupy Walnut Creek is due to be back, same place, same time, next Wednesday.
Fliers were distributed Wednesday in Walnut Creek for a recently scheduled protest, Occupy Concord at noon Saturday, Nov. 5, at Todos Santos Park. "Join the Contra Costa 99 percent in Occupying Concord … We will be marching from the park and demonstrating on the large banks and corporations nearby," the flier read.
2011-10-25 "Occupy Walnut Creek protest to switch location Wednesday" by Elisabeth Nardi from "Contra Costa Times" newspaper
[http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_19190497?source=rss]
The loosely organized Occupy Walnut Creek protests, staged downtown the past two Wednesdays, will move down a few blocks to just outside the city's BART station this week.
Titled "Main Street meets Wall Street," the protest will now be at 4 p.m. Wednesday at the corner of Ygnacio Valley Road and California Boulevard.
Kathy Klein, one of the protest organizers, said the downtown location -- at the corner of Main Street and Mt. Diablo Boulevard -- had caused some traffic delays. The new corner, outside the BART station, is very visible, she added.
The movement that started in New York and has spread to San Jose, San Francisco and Oakland is filled with people railing against bank bailouts, corporate greed and political power.
The movement in Walnut Creek has brought together varying groups, including Contra Costa 99%. But hundreds usually protest for a few hours and then leave the area once it gets dark.
2011-10-27 "For a Radically Democratic Oakland without
Cops, Politicians, or Bosses! Oakland on Strike!" by MIKE KING and
GEORGE CICCARIELLO-MAHER
[http://www.counterpunch.org/2011/10/27/oakland-on-strike/]
Mike King is a PhD candidate at UC–Santa Cruz and East Bay activist. He can be reached at mking(at)ucsc.edu
George Ciccariello-Maher is an exiled Oaklander who teaches political theory at Drexel University, and can be reached at gjcm(at)drexel.edu.
---
A major victory has been won. For only the second time in Oakland’s recent political history, mass action in the street has forced the hand of city government. If last time it was the rebellions that greeted the state murder of Oscar Grant that forced city and state officials to switch tack, arresting the shooter Johannes Mehserle and putting him on trial, the stakes have now changed and generalized in the local and national swirl of the Occupy Movement. Now, building on that history of resistance, but not without significant barriers in the near future, Oakland and the Bay Area is poised for a General Strike on the level of 1946. Or beyond.
“Citizen’s Arrest” -
However, things didn’t look so good Tuesday night. As one of us stood in the increasingly desolate streets of Oakland at the intersection of 14th and Broadway, ignition point for rebellions past, the debates that emerged amid the hours of swirling tear gas from the OPD and 17 cooperating police agencies seemed to have moved backward since 2009, not forward.
A peculiar dialectic emerged, in which black youth out for a good time at the expense of police, had that fun doubled. When they would throw plastic bottles at the police in full riot gear, the young and mostly white liberals and peaceniks, in the street to support the displaced Occupy Oakland camp with little more than a peace sign, would preemptively and rapidly retreat in anticipation of another round of tear gas – before the police line had so much as shrugged. This must have been immensely fun to watch on one level.
At this point, an older white man with a mega-phone, whose face was not a familiar one in local organizing or at the Occupy encampment of the past two weeks, began saying, “This is a peaceful movement. Violent people are not part of this movement.” He was pointing out the direction from which the plastic bottle had come and where, at this point, the only people of color in the intersection were standing. The race and class dynamics of this, as well as the absurdity that someone was making this argument 30 feet from where a young Marine had been critically wounded by this same specific group of cops, was far more distasteful than the dozens of cans of chemical gas I can still taste writing this 36 hours later. I walked up and, shouting down the man with the mega-phone, told him that he was doing the cops work and was dividing the movement. I also told him that, while in the context of the moment I would agree that throwing bottles was counter productive, I would never play good protester / bad protester and point people out to cops, let alone show up here for the first time that night and appoint oneself king. We don’t need cops and we don’t need any “Yurtle the Turtle” of unprincipled pacifism.
After shouting down the man with the bullhorn and an 18 year old kid who tried to shout me down, I was confronted by a young, white man who told me: “We are making a citizen’s arrest.” As he and a group encircling me and attempted to grab my wrists and arms I pulled free and walked away – to a mix of boos from that group and shouts of encouragement from other sections of the protest. I had committed no crime and nothing anyone could construe as “violence”, aside from deviating from the worst of US pacifist history. Far from the Civil Rights sit-ins or the work of the Catholic Workers, people who took risks for social justice that disrupted the existing order, this broader and more prevalent pacifism is not about “principled tactics.” It is about creating a false moralism built around comfort and privilege in which those who know all too well what real violence looks like are silenced, and those who act on a critical analysis of the existing social order are “criminalized” and discursively expelled from the presumptive liberal “we” of the movement.
It is baffling that people who take hours of rubber bullets, concussion grenades, and assorted chemical weapons still come back to the same exact police line that has been bombarding us with chants that they too are the 99% in an attempt to “win them over.” It is even more so when they turn around and form a liberal peoples’ militia for the police State. We all need to be clear on one thing: these cops are not your friends and even though we will disagree, our most basic strength is in solidarity. At many other points in the last few days, that solidarity has started to grow and crowd out these tensions and disagreements among us. We must build this solidarity to the point where it like a natural reflex in the movement. All cops of the existing order out of Oakland! Including the ones in our heads.
Who’s Gonna Run The Town Tonight?
Just weeks ago, police chief Anthony Batts, the subject of a heavily trumpeted national search in 2009, resigned to protest the limitations the mayor’s office was placing on his leadership and attempts to reform the notoriously corrupt and violent agency. But it was not until another pro-police grouping, partly enraged by Batts’ departure, set into motion an effort to recall Quan from office that the Mayor acted, clearing the Occupy camp with the brutal force of 800 officers in the misty darkness of Tuesday morning. The tables appear to have turned.
By cowing so unhesitatingly and obviously to the demands of the police lobby, Mayor Quan did a massive service to the movement, showing in the brightest light of day what many of us have known for years: that OPD runs Oakland. A parasitical and colonial force which draws its members predominantly from outside Oakland, the OPD nevertheless demands the lion’s share of the budget and political control of the city, and this is what Batts’ resignation meant more than anything: this still is not enough, we want more.
Perhaps Quan’s biggest error was to trust the OPD, a body that was already calling for her ouster in all but open terms. The military barrage they unleashed on the protesters will also mark a turning point in Quan’s legitimacy, in part because of Scott Olson, a 2-tour Iraq War veteran who returned unscathed from war only to be shot in the head by a tear gas canister by OPD. When other protesters attempted to rescue the injured Olson, video showed OPD coolly and callously tossing more flash-bang grenades to disperse the rescuers. At last notice, Olson had entered into brain surgery at Highland Hospital in an attempt to repair the damage. Without minimizing Olson’s suffering, however, it’s worth noting that his injury came in an attempt to reclaim Oscar Grant Plaza. Both shootings – Olson’s and Oscar Grant’s – were caught on video, and much could be learned from the intertwining of these two events in Oakland’s history.
It seemed as though some did not get the message, and still believing that Occupy Oakland can only exist with the grace of the state began to again do the work of that state. When the crowds began to re-converge at 6pm Wednesday, Oscar Grant Plaza was a maze of tall fencing: Quan would make one last effort, albeit a weak one, to maintain order and her own dignity. Not knowing their own power, many simply followed these tangible, man-made orders in their midst, refusing to touch and some even actively protecting the fences. There was not a police officer in sight, and yet the police in the heads of many remained.
Drive the OPD out of Oakland by “Offing the Pig” in your own head -
As 3000 people began to crowd the fenced-in park, the only open space was the concrete amphitheater directly in front of City Hall. More than half of the Occupiers were cut off from the General Assembly that was about to start, forced down the sidewalks a block away. Tearing down the gates would allow for a democratic mass meeting, not to mention the fact that there was no risk of arrest and it is a public park. Beyond that, it is our park – whether they put a sign up to the contrary or put 2000 cops in it. This should not be a contentious proposition. But it was.
A small group of us simply ripped open the fence and opened up a 50 foot hole. Three times as many protesters grabbed the fence away from us and closed it back up, as a large crowd of people looked on. Those of us who had come into the grassy part of the park were yelled at, called “vanguardist” and “agent provocateurs” for re-occupying a public park with a group of people who were here, ostensibly, to do one thing – occupy that same park. The General Assembly met for a full hour, with well over 1000 people cut off from participation and over 100 feet out of earshot, unable to hear announcements and proposals, because on this moment we had more respect for a metal fence than for democratic assembly.
All of this filled me with an intense and contradictory mix of sadness and anger, but also hope. Sadness, for the obviously large amount of growth we all need to go through to overcome our own limitations and lack of experience. When we force the police to fully retreat, come back to the park with 3 times the numbers who have been there in the last weeks, and we stare blankly at a little fence and hurl insults at people who try to take it down, one wonders what our capacities are. On the other hand, I was filled with immense hope. The cops overplayed their hand and lost this round. The park was ours, our numbers had doubled again, we would soon get 97% approval for a general strike, and I think we will actually win.
After a generation of free market class war, wars on the black and brown communities (a.k.a. the war on drugs and gangs), imperial wars and social atomization – we need to find the ability to imagine a better word and have the courage to make it real. We have to harness those instincts to tear down every “fence” that we see along the way.
Yesterday’s fence was eventually torn down and carefully stacked in one section of the park. The General Assembly allowed itself to actually become a General Assembly and we came together to put forward and approve a call for a General Strike on Wednesday November 2nd – no work, no school, shut it all down. A mass speak-out against police brutality in Oakland’s communities of color has been autonomously called for 6 pm Saturday at 14th and Broadway to make central the long-ignored, and everyday, violences in Oakland and to build for Wednesday’s mass action. I am confident there will be tens of thousands of people in the streets and actions in every section of the city next Wednesday. Oakland is home to the last General Strike in the US, which took place in 1946. It will be home to the next. From the immediate support we received from the around the country and world last night – from NYC to Egypt – it will not be the only one either.
This strike vote could be a Pyrrhic victory if we allow ourselves to divide ourselves. If we allow non-profits to become the “soft power” of the police and mayor (as they were during the Oscar Grant movement) and shepherd us into irrelevancy we will have no one to blame but ourselves. If we allow the mayor to appear to come back to the right side of history only to sell us out to the police one more time, we will have blown one of the biggest radical political opportunities in modern US history. We are smarter than that and this is our time.
After the General Assembly, well over 1000 protesters boisterously chanted throughout downtown Wednesday night, chasing off small groupings of police with our mere presence. We were able to stop once and debate taking the Bay Bridge or marching down West Grand. We never reached an official consensus, but after discussion we organically decided that the bridge would be a trap and had no strategic value at that point. This was a powerful moment. But it was a luxury created by retreated police force. We should not always expect to have such time or space. We can however develop a working “diversity of tactics” based on solidarity and knowing our real enemies.
Whether from the police or the mayor, or reactionary non-profits or union bureaucrats, forces will conspire to shorten our reaction time and force us to hone our emerging, radical reflexes, and attempt to play on old divisions. They will undoubtedly attempt to co-opt our marches or message, divide us, or simply hang their dead weight on our evolving, organic and radically democratic strength. History teaches us that movements and pivotal moments in history transform “regular people” who grow those movements to transform society and themselves.
The time has come to shut “their” city down for good and realize the vision of the Black Panther Party that was born in this town 45 years ago. For the creation of a radically democratic and self-determined communities – in a vibrant movement that involves people from every race and class – in the conscious pursuit of the destruction of the existing social structures of race and class, as well as every other axis of oppression, that divide and oppress in this society – “All power to all of the People!”
Liberate, Decolonize, and Transform Oakland!
[http://www.counterpunch.org/2011/10/27/oakland-on-strike/]
Mike King is a PhD candidate at UC–Santa Cruz and East Bay activist. He can be reached at mking(at)ucsc.edu
George Ciccariello-Maher is an exiled Oaklander who teaches political theory at Drexel University, and can be reached at gjcm(at)drexel.edu.
---
A major victory has been won. For only the second time in Oakland’s recent political history, mass action in the street has forced the hand of city government. If last time it was the rebellions that greeted the state murder of Oscar Grant that forced city and state officials to switch tack, arresting the shooter Johannes Mehserle and putting him on trial, the stakes have now changed and generalized in the local and national swirl of the Occupy Movement. Now, building on that history of resistance, but not without significant barriers in the near future, Oakland and the Bay Area is poised for a General Strike on the level of 1946. Or beyond.
“Citizen’s Arrest” -
However, things didn’t look so good Tuesday night. As one of us stood in the increasingly desolate streets of Oakland at the intersection of 14th and Broadway, ignition point for rebellions past, the debates that emerged amid the hours of swirling tear gas from the OPD and 17 cooperating police agencies seemed to have moved backward since 2009, not forward.
A peculiar dialectic emerged, in which black youth out for a good time at the expense of police, had that fun doubled. When they would throw plastic bottles at the police in full riot gear, the young and mostly white liberals and peaceniks, in the street to support the displaced Occupy Oakland camp with little more than a peace sign, would preemptively and rapidly retreat in anticipation of another round of tear gas – before the police line had so much as shrugged. This must have been immensely fun to watch on one level.
At this point, an older white man with a mega-phone, whose face was not a familiar one in local organizing or at the Occupy encampment of the past two weeks, began saying, “This is a peaceful movement. Violent people are not part of this movement.” He was pointing out the direction from which the plastic bottle had come and where, at this point, the only people of color in the intersection were standing. The race and class dynamics of this, as well as the absurdity that someone was making this argument 30 feet from where a young Marine had been critically wounded by this same specific group of cops, was far more distasteful than the dozens of cans of chemical gas I can still taste writing this 36 hours later. I walked up and, shouting down the man with the mega-phone, told him that he was doing the cops work and was dividing the movement. I also told him that, while in the context of the moment I would agree that throwing bottles was counter productive, I would never play good protester / bad protester and point people out to cops, let alone show up here for the first time that night and appoint oneself king. We don’t need cops and we don’t need any “Yurtle the Turtle” of unprincipled pacifism.
After shouting down the man with the bullhorn and an 18 year old kid who tried to shout me down, I was confronted by a young, white man who told me: “We are making a citizen’s arrest.” As he and a group encircling me and attempted to grab my wrists and arms I pulled free and walked away – to a mix of boos from that group and shouts of encouragement from other sections of the protest. I had committed no crime and nothing anyone could construe as “violence”, aside from deviating from the worst of US pacifist history. Far from the Civil Rights sit-ins or the work of the Catholic Workers, people who took risks for social justice that disrupted the existing order, this broader and more prevalent pacifism is not about “principled tactics.” It is about creating a false moralism built around comfort and privilege in which those who know all too well what real violence looks like are silenced, and those who act on a critical analysis of the existing social order are “criminalized” and discursively expelled from the presumptive liberal “we” of the movement.
It is baffling that people who take hours of rubber bullets, concussion grenades, and assorted chemical weapons still come back to the same exact police line that has been bombarding us with chants that they too are the 99% in an attempt to “win them over.” It is even more so when they turn around and form a liberal peoples’ militia for the police State. We all need to be clear on one thing: these cops are not your friends and even though we will disagree, our most basic strength is in solidarity. At many other points in the last few days, that solidarity has started to grow and crowd out these tensions and disagreements among us. We must build this solidarity to the point where it like a natural reflex in the movement. All cops of the existing order out of Oakland! Including the ones in our heads.
Who’s Gonna Run The Town Tonight?
Just weeks ago, police chief Anthony Batts, the subject of a heavily trumpeted national search in 2009, resigned to protest the limitations the mayor’s office was placing on his leadership and attempts to reform the notoriously corrupt and violent agency. But it was not until another pro-police grouping, partly enraged by Batts’ departure, set into motion an effort to recall Quan from office that the Mayor acted, clearing the Occupy camp with the brutal force of 800 officers in the misty darkness of Tuesday morning. The tables appear to have turned.
By cowing so unhesitatingly and obviously to the demands of the police lobby, Mayor Quan did a massive service to the movement, showing in the brightest light of day what many of us have known for years: that OPD runs Oakland. A parasitical and colonial force which draws its members predominantly from outside Oakland, the OPD nevertheless demands the lion’s share of the budget and political control of the city, and this is what Batts’ resignation meant more than anything: this still is not enough, we want more.
Perhaps Quan’s biggest error was to trust the OPD, a body that was already calling for her ouster in all but open terms. The military barrage they unleashed on the protesters will also mark a turning point in Quan’s legitimacy, in part because of Scott Olson, a 2-tour Iraq War veteran who returned unscathed from war only to be shot in the head by a tear gas canister by OPD. When other protesters attempted to rescue the injured Olson, video showed OPD coolly and callously tossing more flash-bang grenades to disperse the rescuers. At last notice, Olson had entered into brain surgery at Highland Hospital in an attempt to repair the damage. Without minimizing Olson’s suffering, however, it’s worth noting that his injury came in an attempt to reclaim Oscar Grant Plaza. Both shootings – Olson’s and Oscar Grant’s – were caught on video, and much could be learned from the intertwining of these two events in Oakland’s history.
It seemed as though some did not get the message, and still believing that Occupy Oakland can only exist with the grace of the state began to again do the work of that state. When the crowds began to re-converge at 6pm Wednesday, Oscar Grant Plaza was a maze of tall fencing: Quan would make one last effort, albeit a weak one, to maintain order and her own dignity. Not knowing their own power, many simply followed these tangible, man-made orders in their midst, refusing to touch and some even actively protecting the fences. There was not a police officer in sight, and yet the police in the heads of many remained.
Drive the OPD out of Oakland by “Offing the Pig” in your own head -
As 3000 people began to crowd the fenced-in park, the only open space was the concrete amphitheater directly in front of City Hall. More than half of the Occupiers were cut off from the General Assembly that was about to start, forced down the sidewalks a block away. Tearing down the gates would allow for a democratic mass meeting, not to mention the fact that there was no risk of arrest and it is a public park. Beyond that, it is our park – whether they put a sign up to the contrary or put 2000 cops in it. This should not be a contentious proposition. But it was.
A small group of us simply ripped open the fence and opened up a 50 foot hole. Three times as many protesters grabbed the fence away from us and closed it back up, as a large crowd of people looked on. Those of us who had come into the grassy part of the park were yelled at, called “vanguardist” and “agent provocateurs” for re-occupying a public park with a group of people who were here, ostensibly, to do one thing – occupy that same park. The General Assembly met for a full hour, with well over 1000 people cut off from participation and over 100 feet out of earshot, unable to hear announcements and proposals, because on this moment we had more respect for a metal fence than for democratic assembly.
All of this filled me with an intense and contradictory mix of sadness and anger, but also hope. Sadness, for the obviously large amount of growth we all need to go through to overcome our own limitations and lack of experience. When we force the police to fully retreat, come back to the park with 3 times the numbers who have been there in the last weeks, and we stare blankly at a little fence and hurl insults at people who try to take it down, one wonders what our capacities are. On the other hand, I was filled with immense hope. The cops overplayed their hand and lost this round. The park was ours, our numbers had doubled again, we would soon get 97% approval for a general strike, and I think we will actually win.
After a generation of free market class war, wars on the black and brown communities (a.k.a. the war on drugs and gangs), imperial wars and social atomization – we need to find the ability to imagine a better word and have the courage to make it real. We have to harness those instincts to tear down every “fence” that we see along the way.
Yesterday’s fence was eventually torn down and carefully stacked in one section of the park. The General Assembly allowed itself to actually become a General Assembly and we came together to put forward and approve a call for a General Strike on Wednesday November 2nd – no work, no school, shut it all down. A mass speak-out against police brutality in Oakland’s communities of color has been autonomously called for 6 pm Saturday at 14th and Broadway to make central the long-ignored, and everyday, violences in Oakland and to build for Wednesday’s mass action. I am confident there will be tens of thousands of people in the streets and actions in every section of the city next Wednesday. Oakland is home to the last General Strike in the US, which took place in 1946. It will be home to the next. From the immediate support we received from the around the country and world last night – from NYC to Egypt – it will not be the only one either.
This strike vote could be a Pyrrhic victory if we allow ourselves to divide ourselves. If we allow non-profits to become the “soft power” of the police and mayor (as they were during the Oscar Grant movement) and shepherd us into irrelevancy we will have no one to blame but ourselves. If we allow the mayor to appear to come back to the right side of history only to sell us out to the police one more time, we will have blown one of the biggest radical political opportunities in modern US history. We are smarter than that and this is our time.
After the General Assembly, well over 1000 protesters boisterously chanted throughout downtown Wednesday night, chasing off small groupings of police with our mere presence. We were able to stop once and debate taking the Bay Bridge or marching down West Grand. We never reached an official consensus, but after discussion we organically decided that the bridge would be a trap and had no strategic value at that point. This was a powerful moment. But it was a luxury created by retreated police force. We should not always expect to have such time or space. We can however develop a working “diversity of tactics” based on solidarity and knowing our real enemies.
Whether from the police or the mayor, or reactionary non-profits or union bureaucrats, forces will conspire to shorten our reaction time and force us to hone our emerging, radical reflexes, and attempt to play on old divisions. They will undoubtedly attempt to co-opt our marches or message, divide us, or simply hang their dead weight on our evolving, organic and radically democratic strength. History teaches us that movements and pivotal moments in history transform “regular people” who grow those movements to transform society and themselves.
The time has come to shut “their” city down for good and realize the vision of the Black Panther Party that was born in this town 45 years ago. For the creation of a radically democratic and self-determined communities – in a vibrant movement that involves people from every race and class – in the conscious pursuit of the destruction of the existing social structures of race and class, as well as every other axis of oppression, that divide and oppress in this society – “All power to all of the People!”
Liberate, Decolonize, and Transform Oakland!
2011-10-27 "Occupy Oakland Photo Brings Global Solidarity" by Brenda Norrell from "Censored (Indigenous) News"
[http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2011/10/occupy-oakland-photo-brings-global.html]
OAKLAND, Calif. -- When this photo by Justin Warren was posted of Occupy Oakland on Wednesday night -- after the violent repression by Oakland police on Tuesday night -- it was retweeted by Egyptian activists, and brought solidarity from people around the world.
Voices of support and solidarity came from Western Shoshone in Nevada and from Santiago, Chile, China, South Africa, New Zealand, Spain and Romania. Messages of love and support came in from Fiji, BC, Canada, Germany and Wales.
On Censored News' Facebook, (brenda.norrell) the photo was "liked" and shared more than 2,000 times within 12 hours. Elsewhere on the web, there were 15,000 views.
Veterans for Peace released a statement concerning Scott Olsen, the US Marine who was hit in the head by an Oakland police projectile on Tuesday night, and suffered a fractured skull and brain swelling.
A video shows Olsen and Navy veteran Joshua Shepherd, both member of Veterans for Peace, standing in front of the crowd to protect them.
The video shows Oakland police firing tear gas canisters directly at the veterans, who were separated from the crowd behind them by police fencing. It shows police firing at Olsen a second time while friends attempted to rescue him as he was fallen on the pavement.
In a second video, a young man who helped carry Olsen from the scene describes a second projectile crashing close to Olsen's head as they were moving him to the hospital. Olsen's condition was upgraded to fair on Thursday and he was reported breathing on his own.
Watch videos and read statement: [http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2011/10/veteran-wounded-by-police-in-oakland.html]
Occupy Oakland filled the streets on Wednesday night, as Occupy San Francisco prepared for arrest with a huge dance party outside, with a California senator and city officials present to ensure the peoples rights were not violated as they were in Oakland the night before.
At the same time, Occupy Oakland took to the streets. In a general assembly on Wednesday night, Occupy Oakland voted for a city-wide general strike on Nov. 2.
To prevent Oakland protesters from joining San Francisco, the Bay Area Rapid Transit system (BART) stations were blocked by police in Oakland and closed near Occupy San Francisco, at the Ferry Building in San Francisco.
When Occupy Oakland began considering taking the Bay Bridge, BART suddenly announced the stations would be opened again.
In San Francisco, as people prepared for arrest, Senator Leland Yee said he was there to make sure the peoples rights were protected. San Francisco City Supervisors were also present.
Thanks were sent out to Wikileaks and the hactivists at Anonymous. One of the reasons that the Occupy movement began was because the banks and PayPal froze all Wikileaks accounts. The US used the banks to silence the truth, after the Wikileaks' exposures of the US killing of civilians and journalists in Iraq and Afghanistan.
In the midnight hour, Oakland activists began catching rides to San Francisco after BART blocked its doors in Oakland. Eventually, the police raid in San Francisco was called off in the dawn hours of Thursday.
Thanks resounded around the world to Occupy Oakland, photographer Justin Warren and the global community.
Photo copyright by Justin Warren/Oakland Oct. 26, 2011
[http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2011/10/occupy-oakland-photo-brings-global.html]
OAKLAND, Calif. -- When this photo by Justin Warren was posted of Occupy Oakland on Wednesday night -- after the violent repression by Oakland police on Tuesday night -- it was retweeted by Egyptian activists, and brought solidarity from people around the world.
Voices of support and solidarity came from Western Shoshone in Nevada and from Santiago, Chile, China, South Africa, New Zealand, Spain and Romania. Messages of love and support came in from Fiji, BC, Canada, Germany and Wales.
On Censored News' Facebook, (brenda.norrell) the photo was "liked" and shared more than 2,000 times within 12 hours. Elsewhere on the web, there were 15,000 views.
Veterans for Peace released a statement concerning Scott Olsen, the US Marine who was hit in the head by an Oakland police projectile on Tuesday night, and suffered a fractured skull and brain swelling.
A video shows Olsen and Navy veteran Joshua Shepherd, both member of Veterans for Peace, standing in front of the crowd to protect them.
The video shows Oakland police firing tear gas canisters directly at the veterans, who were separated from the crowd behind them by police fencing. It shows police firing at Olsen a second time while friends attempted to rescue him as he was fallen on the pavement.
In a second video, a young man who helped carry Olsen from the scene describes a second projectile crashing close to Olsen's head as they were moving him to the hospital. Olsen's condition was upgraded to fair on Thursday and he was reported breathing on his own.
Watch videos and read statement: [http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2011/10/veteran-wounded-by-police-in-oakland.html]
Occupy Oakland filled the streets on Wednesday night, as Occupy San Francisco prepared for arrest with a huge dance party outside, with a California senator and city officials present to ensure the peoples rights were not violated as they were in Oakland the night before.
At the same time, Occupy Oakland took to the streets. In a general assembly on Wednesday night, Occupy Oakland voted for a city-wide general strike on Nov. 2.
To prevent Oakland protesters from joining San Francisco, the Bay Area Rapid Transit system (BART) stations were blocked by police in Oakland and closed near Occupy San Francisco, at the Ferry Building in San Francisco.
When Occupy Oakland began considering taking the Bay Bridge, BART suddenly announced the stations would be opened again.
In San Francisco, as people prepared for arrest, Senator Leland Yee said he was there to make sure the peoples rights were protected. San Francisco City Supervisors were also present.
Thanks were sent out to Wikileaks and the hactivists at Anonymous. One of the reasons that the Occupy movement began was because the banks and PayPal froze all Wikileaks accounts. The US used the banks to silence the truth, after the Wikileaks' exposures of the US killing of civilians and journalists in Iraq and Afghanistan.
In the midnight hour, Oakland activists began catching rides to San Francisco after BART blocked its doors in Oakland. Eventually, the police raid in San Francisco was called off in the dawn hours of Thursday.
Thanks resounded around the world to Occupy Oakland, photographer Justin Warren and the global community.
Photo copyright by Justin Warren/Oakland Oct. 26, 2011
2011-10-27 "How Occupy Withstood Police Action"
[http://tru-north.tumblr.com/post/12006848696/how-occupy-withstood-police-action-oct-27-2011]
I’ve been visiting Occupy SF every chance I get, over the last couple weeks. Last night was a victory for the fledgling camp.
Occupy SF remains in Justin Herman Plaza today (http://www.sfbg.com/politics/2011/10/27/how-occupysf-thwarted-police-raid) - after help from Occupy Oakland (which has retaken the plaza they were gassed out of earlier in the week - removing chain-linked fences, and are now occupying again, peacefully), at least a thousand citizens who showed up to defend the camp, public defenders, and SF mayoral candidates, who arrived on the scene at midnight, when the police planned to break up the camp.
The protesters were diligent in spreading the message to remain peaceful and calm. They were prepared with gas masks and medicine, linked arm-in-arm.
The SFPD were spotted, gearing up in multiple vehicles with SWAT gear and handing out flyers to surrounding businesses, preparing them for ‘increased police action.’
However, the media attention and political personas showing up at the plaza made them think twice.
Today, the SFPD claim it was simply a ‘training exercise.’
From everything I saw myself, and heard about, that is total bullshit. They also closed off BART, coming into SF from Oakland, to try and cutoff Occupy Oakland from joining SF in solidarity. However, the people took to the streets and marched across the Bay Bridge anyway.
Technology like Twitter and other forms of social media help us all bear witness to the reality of the growing movement that’s happening all around us. In accurate fashion. I am thankful to be able to share in this movement, with information filtered through sources other than ‘mainstream’ media.
Last nite was an inarguable example of the ongoing threat to and disregard of our constitutional rights.
It was also a shining demonstration of the power of peace and solidarity. When enough is enough, and we keep it up, the Power of the People can effectively oppose forces of injustice. And, hopefully, as it has in the past, contribute to real world change.
I’m hoping those who complain about the methods or alleged concerns of these groups ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND THE WORLD, will realize how myopic their fear, anger, or anxiety truly are. Whether people agree with the movement or not, we should all know everyone has a place alongside those who are already a part of this. Left and right. Citizens and law enforcement. Men and women. Everyone.
It’s not about fighting for the right of a small group to sleep outside. It’s about fighting for the right of millions to sleep inside. It’s showing the common man cannot be crossed indefinitely by the 1% in blatantly disrespectful, criminal ways. We are demonstrating our limits. And our infinite strength.
‘Never doubt a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.’ - Margaret Mead
[http://tru-north.tumblr.com/post/12006848696/how-occupy-withstood-police-action-oct-27-2011]
I’ve been visiting Occupy SF every chance I get, over the last couple weeks. Last night was a victory for the fledgling camp.
Occupy SF remains in Justin Herman Plaza today (http://www.sfbg.com/politics/2011/10/27/how-occupysf-thwarted-police-raid) - after help from Occupy Oakland (which has retaken the plaza they were gassed out of earlier in the week - removing chain-linked fences, and are now occupying again, peacefully), at least a thousand citizens who showed up to defend the camp, public defenders, and SF mayoral candidates, who arrived on the scene at midnight, when the police planned to break up the camp.
The protesters were diligent in spreading the message to remain peaceful and calm. They were prepared with gas masks and medicine, linked arm-in-arm.
The SFPD were spotted, gearing up in multiple vehicles with SWAT gear and handing out flyers to surrounding businesses, preparing them for ‘increased police action.’
However, the media attention and political personas showing up at the plaza made them think twice.
Today, the SFPD claim it was simply a ‘training exercise.’
From everything I saw myself, and heard about, that is total bullshit. They also closed off BART, coming into SF from Oakland, to try and cutoff Occupy Oakland from joining SF in solidarity. However, the people took to the streets and marched across the Bay Bridge anyway.
Technology like Twitter and other forms of social media help us all bear witness to the reality of the growing movement that’s happening all around us. In accurate fashion. I am thankful to be able to share in this movement, with information filtered through sources other than ‘mainstream’ media.
Last nite was an inarguable example of the ongoing threat to and disregard of our constitutional rights.
It was also a shining demonstration of the power of peace and solidarity. When enough is enough, and we keep it up, the Power of the People can effectively oppose forces of injustice. And, hopefully, as it has in the past, contribute to real world change.
I’m hoping those who complain about the methods or alleged concerns of these groups ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND THE WORLD, will realize how myopic their fear, anger, or anxiety truly are. Whether people agree with the movement or not, we should all know everyone has a place alongside those who are already a part of this. Left and right. Citizens and law enforcement. Men and women. Everyone.
It’s not about fighting for the right of a small group to sleep outside. It’s about fighting for the right of millions to sleep inside. It’s showing the common man cannot be crossed indefinitely by the 1% in blatantly disrespectful, criminal ways. We are demonstrating our limits. And our infinite strength.
‘Never doubt a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.’ - Margaret Mead
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
2011-10-26 "Occupy Oakland Protestors Attacked by Police with Tear Gas and Rubber Bullets"
[http://gossiponthis.com/2011/10/26/occupy-oakland-protestors-attacked-by-police-with-tear-gas-and-rubber-bullets/]
Occupy Oakland turned into a war-zone yesterday after riot police fired tear gas at least 5 times and also shot off rubber bullets (hitting one guy in the face) at the crowd of protestors in an attempt to retake the area outside Oakland City Hall.
City officials recently warned the protestors, who had been camped out since October 10th, that their impromptu residency in the Frank H. Ogawa Plaza was illegal, and they could be arrested
After each tear-gassing, the protesters regrouped, with some throwing paint, bottles and other missiles at police decked out in riot gear.
A police spokesman says they had no choice but to use extreme measures (such as tear gas) to protect officers, two of whom were injured by the paint and chemicals protestors hurled at them.
“We had to deploy gas to stop people from throwing rocks and bottles at police,” Interim Police Chief Howard Jordan said, adding that he wasn’t sure about the other crowd-control methods that were used by outside police agencies.
Authorities also denied reports claiming they used flash-bang canisters to break up the crowds, saying the loud noises came from large firecrackers.
Occupy Wall Street is a movement about ending corporate greed and flushing money out of politics that started in New York a little over a month ago. Since then, protestors have been setting up camp to demonstrate in various public venues all over the country.
Oakland Mayor Jean Quan said in a statement that many Oaklanders are in support of the goals of Occupy Wall Street, and that the city of Oakland would make the plaza available for “peaceful protest” during park hours.
However, conditions had recently become unsafe and unsanitary, and the protestors were asked to leave. After they didn’t comply, police descended on their camp, overturning tents and stalls, and ripping up cardboard signs.
Initial police reports indicate that the raids went quickly and smoothly, however, one officer claims more protestors attacked them with bottles, skillets and plates, while changing “Police go home! Cops go home!”
Inside Bay Area reports that another smaller Oakland camp nearby was similarly dismantled, and seven protestors were also arrested in San Jose.
Carlos Villarreal, a spokesman for the National Lawyers Guild, which represents the protesters, told ABC News Bay Area affiliate station KGO that two protestors suffered broken hands when they were forcefully arrested, and one protestor was taken to a nearby hospital with head injuries.
Red paint thrown by protesters coats Oakland police Officer R. McMillan during an Occupy Oakland demonstration on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2011, in Oakland, Calif. (Noah Berger / Special to The Chronicle)
[http://gossiponthis.com/2011/10/26/occupy-oakland-protestors-attacked-by-police-with-tear-gas-and-rubber-bullets/]
Occupy Oakland turned into a war-zone yesterday after riot police fired tear gas at least 5 times and also shot off rubber bullets (hitting one guy in the face) at the crowd of protestors in an attempt to retake the area outside Oakland City Hall.
City officials recently warned the protestors, who had been camped out since October 10th, that their impromptu residency in the Frank H. Ogawa Plaza was illegal, and they could be arrested
After each tear-gassing, the protesters regrouped, with some throwing paint, bottles and other missiles at police decked out in riot gear.
A police spokesman says they had no choice but to use extreme measures (such as tear gas) to protect officers, two of whom were injured by the paint and chemicals protestors hurled at them.
“We had to deploy gas to stop people from throwing rocks and bottles at police,” Interim Police Chief Howard Jordan said, adding that he wasn’t sure about the other crowd-control methods that were used by outside police agencies.
Authorities also denied reports claiming they used flash-bang canisters to break up the crowds, saying the loud noises came from large firecrackers.
Occupy Wall Street is a movement about ending corporate greed and flushing money out of politics that started in New York a little over a month ago. Since then, protestors have been setting up camp to demonstrate in various public venues all over the country.
Oakland Mayor Jean Quan said in a statement that many Oaklanders are in support of the goals of Occupy Wall Street, and that the city of Oakland would make the plaza available for “peaceful protest” during park hours.
However, conditions had recently become unsafe and unsanitary, and the protestors were asked to leave. After they didn’t comply, police descended on their camp, overturning tents and stalls, and ripping up cardboard signs.
Initial police reports indicate that the raids went quickly and smoothly, however, one officer claims more protestors attacked them with bottles, skillets and plates, while changing “Police go home! Cops go home!”
Inside Bay Area reports that another smaller Oakland camp nearby was similarly dismantled, and seven protestors were also arrested in San Jose.
Carlos Villarreal, a spokesman for the National Lawyers Guild, which represents the protesters, told ABC News Bay Area affiliate station KGO that two protestors suffered broken hands when they were forcefully arrested, and one protestor was taken to a nearby hospital with head injuries.
Red paint thrown by protesters coats Oakland police Officer R. McMillan during an Occupy Oakland demonstration on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2011, in Oakland, Calif. (Noah Berger / Special to The Chronicle)
2011-10-26 "Police tear gas Occupy Oakland protesters; Oakland demonstrators sought to retake cleared encampment" by Matthai Kuruvila, Justin Berton, Demian Bulwa, Henry K. Lee, Will Kane and Vivian Ho from "San Francisco Chronicle"
[http://articles.sfgate.com/2011-10-26/news/30326931_1_protesters-return-hundred-protesters-evening-protest]
(10-25) 23:20 PDT OAKLAND — OAKLAND -- Police fired tear gas at least five times Tuesday night into a crowd of several hundred protesters backing the Occupy movement who unsuccessfully tried to retake an encampment outside Oakland City Hall that officers had cleared away more than 12 hours earlier.
Police gave repeated warnings to protesters to disperse from the entrance to Frank Ogawa Plaza at 14th Street and Broadway before firing several tear gas canisters into the crowd at about 7:45 p.m. Police had announced over a loudspeaker that those who refused to leave could be targeted by "chemical agents."
Protesters scattered in both directions on Broadway as the tear gas canisters and several flash-bang grenades went off. Regrouping, protesters tried to help one another and offered each other eye drops.
One wounded woman, who others said had been hit by one of the canisters, was carried away by two protesters.
One protester, 35-year-old Jerry Smith, said a tear gas canister had rolled to his feet and sprayed him in the face.
"I got the feeling they meant business, but people were not going to be intimidated," Smith said. "We can do this peacefully, but still not back down."
Police forcibly dispersed the crowd with tear gas again about 9:30 p.m., when protesters began throwing objects at them. As protesters scattered, police closed off Broadway between 13th and 16th streets.
Minutes later, protesters regrouped at the 15th Street entrance to the plaza. Protesters began throwing objects again. Police responded by firing more tear gas canisters.
Protesting eviction
The protesters were trying to make good on a vow to retake an encampment that Occupy Oakland activists had inhabited for 15 days, until police evicted them early Tuesday.
The evening protest started around 5 p.m., when about 400 people began marching from the main library at 14th and Madison streets toward the plaza, which police had barricaded and city officials had declared would be closed for at least several days.
"We're going to march and reclaim what was already ours, what we call Oscar Grant Plaza and what they call City Hall," said protester Krystof Lopaur, referring to the unarmed man shot to death by a BART police officer in January 2009.
Early on, the scene outside City Hall was largely peaceful, but it was a different story a few blocks west on Washington Street.
Officers in riot gear hemmed in protesters around 6 p.m. and attempted to arrest one person, as about 50 more surrounded them shouting, "Let him go, let him go."
Protesters threw turquoise and red paint at the riot officers. Some led the crowd in chanting, "This is why we call you pigs."
Some displeased -
Others pleaded with agitators to be peaceful and return to the march; some protesters tried to fight with police and were clubbed and kicked in return.
Interim Oakland police chief Howard Jordan said his officers had no choice but to respond with tear gas. The crowd at its peak grew to more than 1,000 at about 8:30 p.m., and two officers were wounded from the paint and chemicals thrown at them.
"We felt that the deployment of the gas was necessary to protect our officers," he said at a news conference.
Although police did not provide a number of arrests in Tuesday night's demonstration, he said five people involved with the Occupy movement had been arrested earlier, after the morning raid.
Some protesters who avoided conflict and wanted to show their support for the Occupy Wall Street movement were displeased by the violent turns.
"They didn't have to force police into that situation," said Helen Walker, 46, a nurse from Albany. "It was totally provoked, and if I could have, I would have stopped those idiots from throwing paint."
Toward the end of the night, protesters continued throwing objects at officers, only to be tear gassed in return. After the fourth exchange, some demonstrators took to their bullhorns to try to stop their peers from goading the police. About 150 to 200 protesters remained at Frank Ogawa Plaza after 11 p.m., staring down the officers keeping them from entering.
While the majority of damage was limited to trash cans set on fire and a stolen traffic sign at 15th and Broadway, the worst damage of the night was when protesters smashed the back window of a California Highway Patrol cruiser.
Five-minute sweep -
The confrontation came hours after police swept through Occupy Oakland's encampment outside City Hall and a second, smaller camp nearby, arresting 97 people who were protesting as part of a nationwide movement against economic inequality and corporate greed.
City officials said they had been forced to clear the encampments because of sanitary and public safety concerns.
Protesters said the arrest total was 105, and said three people had suffered injuries - one a head wound and two with broken hands. City officials said they knew of no injuries.
The police, drawn from 18 law enforcement agencies throughout the East Bay, began making arrests shortly before 5 a.m. and removing tents and makeshift shelters. Within five minutes the bulk of the arrests had been completed, and arrestees were led away in plastic handcuffs. Most were arrested for unlawful assembly and illegal lodging, police said.
At 6:15 a.m., police arrested a handful of protesters at a smaller encampment at Snow Park at 19th and Harrison streets near Lake Merritt. One man went limp, but those arrests also happened quickly and without incident amid cries of protest by onlookers yelling, "Cops! Pigs! Murderers!"
Earlier orders to vacate -
Mayor Jean Quan was in Washington on a lobbying trip as the arrests were made.
"We've been trying (to talk) with the Occupy Oakland people for the last two weeks," Quan told KGO radio. "Last week it was pretty clear that there was escalating violence."
Officials initially waived city laws that ban camping and allowed the occupation of the plaza. But starting Thursday, the city issued of series of orders for protesters to vacate the area, citing concerns about fire hazards, sanitation issues, graffiti, drug use and violence.
Protesters had vowed to resist eviction and protect the encampment that had grown to about 150 tents. Pathways made of wooden pallets connected a kitchen, a garden, a medical station and an area for children to play.
Gabe Meyers, a protester who had been camping at the plaza, said, "People are going to keep coming back. What are they going to do, send cops in every night and waste taxpayer dollars?"
Meyers added, "The cops are the 99 percent, but they're doing the work of the 1 percent. Wall Street is proud of them every time they clear out an encampment."
Officers take up a position on Washington and Eighth streets and push back the Occupy Oakland protesters Tuesday. Credit: Michael Macor
[http://articles.sfgate.com/2011-10-26/news/30326931_1_protesters-return-hundred-protesters-evening-protest]
(10-25) 23:20 PDT OAKLAND — OAKLAND -- Police fired tear gas at least five times Tuesday night into a crowd of several hundred protesters backing the Occupy movement who unsuccessfully tried to retake an encampment outside Oakland City Hall that officers had cleared away more than 12 hours earlier.
Police gave repeated warnings to protesters to disperse from the entrance to Frank Ogawa Plaza at 14th Street and Broadway before firing several tear gas canisters into the crowd at about 7:45 p.m. Police had announced over a loudspeaker that those who refused to leave could be targeted by "chemical agents."
Protesters scattered in both directions on Broadway as the tear gas canisters and several flash-bang grenades went off. Regrouping, protesters tried to help one another and offered each other eye drops.
One wounded woman, who others said had been hit by one of the canisters, was carried away by two protesters.
One protester, 35-year-old Jerry Smith, said a tear gas canister had rolled to his feet and sprayed him in the face.
"I got the feeling they meant business, but people were not going to be intimidated," Smith said. "We can do this peacefully, but still not back down."
Police forcibly dispersed the crowd with tear gas again about 9:30 p.m., when protesters began throwing objects at them. As protesters scattered, police closed off Broadway between 13th and 16th streets.
Minutes later, protesters regrouped at the 15th Street entrance to the plaza. Protesters began throwing objects again. Police responded by firing more tear gas canisters.
Protesting eviction
The protesters were trying to make good on a vow to retake an encampment that Occupy Oakland activists had inhabited for 15 days, until police evicted them early Tuesday.
The evening protest started around 5 p.m., when about 400 people began marching from the main library at 14th and Madison streets toward the plaza, which police had barricaded and city officials had declared would be closed for at least several days.
"We're going to march and reclaim what was already ours, what we call Oscar Grant Plaza and what they call City Hall," said protester Krystof Lopaur, referring to the unarmed man shot to death by a BART police officer in January 2009.
Early on, the scene outside City Hall was largely peaceful, but it was a different story a few blocks west on Washington Street.
Officers in riot gear hemmed in protesters around 6 p.m. and attempted to arrest one person, as about 50 more surrounded them shouting, "Let him go, let him go."
Protesters threw turquoise and red paint at the riot officers. Some led the crowd in chanting, "This is why we call you pigs."
Some displeased -
Others pleaded with agitators to be peaceful and return to the march; some protesters tried to fight with police and were clubbed and kicked in return.
Interim Oakland police chief Howard Jordan said his officers had no choice but to respond with tear gas. The crowd at its peak grew to more than 1,000 at about 8:30 p.m., and two officers were wounded from the paint and chemicals thrown at them.
"We felt that the deployment of the gas was necessary to protect our officers," he said at a news conference.
Although police did not provide a number of arrests in Tuesday night's demonstration, he said five people involved with the Occupy movement had been arrested earlier, after the morning raid.
Some protesters who avoided conflict and wanted to show their support for the Occupy Wall Street movement were displeased by the violent turns.
"They didn't have to force police into that situation," said Helen Walker, 46, a nurse from Albany. "It was totally provoked, and if I could have, I would have stopped those idiots from throwing paint."
Toward the end of the night, protesters continued throwing objects at officers, only to be tear gassed in return. After the fourth exchange, some demonstrators took to their bullhorns to try to stop their peers from goading the police. About 150 to 200 protesters remained at Frank Ogawa Plaza after 11 p.m., staring down the officers keeping them from entering.
While the majority of damage was limited to trash cans set on fire and a stolen traffic sign at 15th and Broadway, the worst damage of the night was when protesters smashed the back window of a California Highway Patrol cruiser.
Five-minute sweep -
The confrontation came hours after police swept through Occupy Oakland's encampment outside City Hall and a second, smaller camp nearby, arresting 97 people who were protesting as part of a nationwide movement against economic inequality and corporate greed.
City officials said they had been forced to clear the encampments because of sanitary and public safety concerns.
Protesters said the arrest total was 105, and said three people had suffered injuries - one a head wound and two with broken hands. City officials said they knew of no injuries.
The police, drawn from 18 law enforcement agencies throughout the East Bay, began making arrests shortly before 5 a.m. and removing tents and makeshift shelters. Within five minutes the bulk of the arrests had been completed, and arrestees were led away in plastic handcuffs. Most were arrested for unlawful assembly and illegal lodging, police said.
At 6:15 a.m., police arrested a handful of protesters at a smaller encampment at Snow Park at 19th and Harrison streets near Lake Merritt. One man went limp, but those arrests also happened quickly and without incident amid cries of protest by onlookers yelling, "Cops! Pigs! Murderers!"
Earlier orders to vacate -
Mayor Jean Quan was in Washington on a lobbying trip as the arrests were made.
"We've been trying (to talk) with the Occupy Oakland people for the last two weeks," Quan told KGO radio. "Last week it was pretty clear that there was escalating violence."
Officials initially waived city laws that ban camping and allowed the occupation of the plaza. But starting Thursday, the city issued of series of orders for protesters to vacate the area, citing concerns about fire hazards, sanitation issues, graffiti, drug use and violence.
Protesters had vowed to resist eviction and protect the encampment that had grown to about 150 tents. Pathways made of wooden pallets connected a kitchen, a garden, a medical station and an area for children to play.
Gabe Meyers, a protester who had been camping at the plaza, said, "People are going to keep coming back. What are they going to do, send cops in every night and waste taxpayer dollars?"
Meyers added, "The cops are the 99 percent, but they're doing the work of the 1 percent. Wall Street is proud of them every time they clear out an encampment."
Officers take up a position on Washington and Eighth streets and push back the Occupy Oakland protesters Tuesday. Credit: Michael Macor
2011-10-26 "Solidarity with Oakland | Exposing Police Lies" by "OccupyWallSt"
[http://occupywallst.org/article/solidarity-oakland/]
Yesterday evening, and throughout the night, the city of Oakland and its police department continued their crusade against free assembly. Protesters who went to reoccupy the space at the Oakland Library were met with heavily armed riot police, with tear gas, with rubber bullets and with flashbang grenades.
The Oakland Police Department treated attempts by the occupation medics as an excuse to throw more firepower, shooting a flashbang at a group of people trying to evacuate a protester who had been knocked out in the fighting.
This is what the Oakland PD stated after the action
"Q. Did the Police deploy rubber bullets, flash-bag grenades?
A. No, the loud noises that were heard originated from M-80 explosives thrown at Police by protesters. In addition, Police fired approximately four bean bag rounds at protesters to stop them from throwing dangerous objects at the officers."
The Oakland police department fired shotgun bean bags and rubber coated bullets at the crowd, leading to at least one person being hospitalized in a critical condition and someone with a serious head fracture.
The wounds these bullets can cause are far more serious than their non-lethal designation implies, and they can, in fact, be lethal; rubber bullets, especially, are merely regular bullets coated with rubber.
The Oakland city hall claims that this is a "peaceful dispersion". To the mayor we respond that this is an unqualified lie. In solidarity with the protestors of Occupy Oakland, for further information we recommend their website [www.occupyoakland.org].
[http://occupywallst.org/article/solidarity-oakland/]
Yesterday evening, and throughout the night, the city of Oakland and its police department continued their crusade against free assembly. Protesters who went to reoccupy the space at the Oakland Library were met with heavily armed riot police, with tear gas, with rubber bullets and with flashbang grenades.
The Oakland Police Department treated attempts by the occupation medics as an excuse to throw more firepower, shooting a flashbang at a group of people trying to evacuate a protester who had been knocked out in the fighting.
This is what the Oakland PD stated after the action
"Q. Did the Police deploy rubber bullets, flash-bag grenades?
A. No, the loud noises that were heard originated from M-80 explosives thrown at Police by protesters. In addition, Police fired approximately four bean bag rounds at protesters to stop them from throwing dangerous objects at the officers."
The Oakland police department fired shotgun bean bags and rubber coated bullets at the crowd, leading to at least one person being hospitalized in a critical condition and someone with a serious head fracture.
The wounds these bullets can cause are far more serious than their non-lethal designation implies, and they can, in fact, be lethal; rubber bullets, especially, are merely regular bullets coated with rubber.The Oakland city hall claims that this is a "peaceful dispersion". To the mayor we respond that this is an unqualified lie. In solidarity with the protestors of Occupy Oakland, for further information we recommend their website [www.occupyoakland.org].
2011-10-26 "Live Blog: Library Director refused to close main library during protests" from Oakland Tribune. Staff writers Sean Maher, Cecily Burt and Angela Woodall contributed to this report.
[http://www.mercurynews.com/top-stories/ci_19188125?nclick_check=1&forced=true]
A handful of protesters and police remain Wednesday morning in Frank Ogawa Plaza in downtown Oakland. On Tuesday night, 1,000 protesters clashed with police after two Occupy Oakland encampments were dismantled earlier in the day.
10:35 a.m. "Library director kept main library open during protests" report by Sean Maher -
During the Tuesday afternoon rally, as about 500 people gathered outside the city's main library at 14th and Madison streets, organizers announced that police "called the library in anticipation of our gathering and asked them to shut it down. They said, 'No,' because they know what side they are on."
The crowd exploded into cheers. On Wednesday morning, library Director Carmen Martinez said the City had supported her decision to keep the library open.
In the early afternoon Tuesday, hours before the protest arrived at the library steps, City Administrator Deanna Santana called Martinez and asked how she wanted to handle the situation, Martinez said.
"I said that we are a symbol of civil society for a lot of groups, including this one, and the folks who protested against the libraries budget cuts, and we will remain open as along as service can be continued without disruption," Martinez said. "Deanna said she understood and respected that."
Police also called to ask if the library needed any help or backup, Martinez said, but she declined.
At about 5 p.m., however, with the crowd already shutting down an entire block
of 14th Street, Santana called back with information that a second group was on its way and could make it impossible for library staff to leave, Martinez said, so the library ended up closing a half-hour early.
Nonetheless, Martinez said, the library remains "a symbol of gathering for 1st Amendment issues. We welcome everyone unconditionally."
10:10 a.m. "Plaza fenced off" -
A 6-foot chain-link fence is being put up by workers around Frank Ogawa Plaza, where the tent city was dismantled yesterday by police. A red sign on the fence reads "Please Keep Out of Planting Area".
8:25 a.m. "Calm returns to Frank Ogawa Plaza" report by Hannah Dreier -
The protest seems to be dispersing, not growing. Some of the protesters said earlier that they were waiting for BART to open, and now appear to have gone home. Their numbers are holding steady at about a dozen people.
Charlie Mac, 20, is one of them. He was arrested last night, just got out of jail and is still wearing a wristband. Mac lives with his grandmother in West Oakland, but had camped out in the tent city since Oct. 18.
His grandmother is in the dark: "I don't know what she knows about this, because I haven't told her anything."
He was a protester at last year's Oscar Grant protest. "I was just there to be there -- I didn't know what it was about."
He's at this protest because he wants a job.
He says the police hurt him last night, and that he was one of the ones yelling at police. "I bet as soon as the media leave the cops are gonna start back up."
Lano Rice, 29, from North Oakland, was standing next to woman in a wheelchair when police threw a tear gas device under her chair.
They kicked it away. "But it kept sparking and smoking and me and another gentleman took her and went around the corner, but we came right back."
"I wasn't scared, I was disappointed that they would do something like that."
7:10 a.m. "Downtown returns to life without tent city" report by Hannah Dreier -
Light traffic now flowing on Broadway and a steady stream of people in and out of BART. Street cleaners are out and people opening shops. A man is pressure-cleaning the closed plaza.
Matt, who didn't give his last name, came here from San Francisco this morning to help out. He brought a broom and spent a while sweeping up broken glass.
"Some jerks that were here threw some bottles and just cause someone wants to mess things up doesn't mean we shouldn't take some responsibility. The point isn't to make a mess and trash the city," he said.
Filipe Arenas, 56, was waiting for a bus to Jack London Square (to Amtrak) next to the protest. He saw the "Cali united against policy brutality" banner hanging on the plaza barricade and assumed this was an anti- brutality event.
"It's not about police brutality? If it's about economic justice I'd think more unemployed people would protest."
Adam Alvarado, 31, lives around the corner. "They're protesting the bailouts, I think?"
He's taking BART to work. This station was closed yesterday, but he didn't mind going to the Lake Merritt station instead. "I have options, luckily."
A city worker, who didn't want to give her name, has been ignoring the saga outside her office.
"I guess I just come to work here and then I go home."
6:25 a.m. "'Stupid people who were provoking the cops'" report by Hannah Dreier -
Michael Porter, 24, works full time selling DirectTV, has camped at the Occupy Oakland site for the last 8 days.
He was disheartened to see everyone disperse last night-- down to 30 people after 3 a.m.
"We lost a lot of them because of the tear gas. And it was because of stupid people who were provoking the cops. It's random people who see a big group and are like, 'let's start a riot.' All it takes is one thing and it's like let's gas everyone. And I kind of understand where the cops are coming from as far as responding to signs of aggression. That's why we've got to keep those people out."
He's hanging around hoping to educate newcomers this morning about not provoking the police. Then he's going to sleep in his own bed for the first time in a week and then, he says, come back down.
Why? "I've always been told to be the change you want to see; I want to see more people come out"
Up to a dozen protesters, all men right now.
A plate window across the street shattered around what looks like a rubber bullet hole. Protesters telling police one of them owes someone a new window.
Wednesday, 5:45 a.m. "The morning after" report by Robert Salonga -
Protesters are outnumbered by media and police this morning at Frank Ogawa Plaza outside City Hall in downtown Oakland. There are 11 protesters, a dozen police and the same number of reporters and photographers.
The plaza is relatively quiet, with protesters milling about and lightly taunting police. One protester is advocating for California secession and another warning that the media have ties to Chevron.
One officer is patrolling the grounds outside City Hall with a police dog.
Barricades have been set up along 14th Street to prevent access to the plaza. The area has been cleaned up after yesterday's melees.
Snow Park, near Lake Merritt, is empty this morning and showing no signs of protesters.
Tuesday, 11:03 p.m. More tear gas
TV cameras show police using more tear gas, and a reporter on the scene says it was again prompted by protesters throwing bottles at police. People are dispersing toward 15th Avenue and Broadway. Flash grenades can be heard, as well. The back-and-forth between protesters and police is expected to go on through the night.
10:41 p.m. More than 100 arrested
Interim police chief Howard Jordan told reporters that 102 people have been arrested. Police from other agencies are involved in trying to disperse the protests. Some people are starting to reconvene near Frank Ogawa Plaza.
10:36 p.m. Police using tear gas
Police are using tear gas against protesters who have gathered again at Frank Ogawa Plaza, at least the second time on Tuesday they've deployed the tear gas. Witnesses at the scene say protesters threw bottles at police before the tear gas was released. Protesters dispersed to the east of Broadway, and the gas fumes were heavy in the air. Between 200 and 300 protesters gathered for an earlier round at Frank Ogawa Plaza before the confrontation took place.
Protesters continue to regroup, march toward Frank Ogawa Plaza
A group of protesters has regrouped and is now returning to Frank Ogawa Plaza, near where police deployed tear gas earlier.
10:10 p.m. Protesters regroup, march toward Frank Ogawa Plaza -
A group of protesters has regrouped and is now returning to Frank Ogawa Plaza, near where police deployed tear gas earlier.
9:30 p.m. Police deploy tear gas two more times -
Police have lobbed tear gas canisters into a crowd of protesters at 14th and Broadway.
8:35 p.m. Police cruiser windows smashed with a rock -
Protesters have smashed a CHP car that was parked at 16th Street and Broadway.
8:30 p.m. Protesters marching toward City Hall -
After scattering when police set off tear gas, protesters are marching again, heading down Broadway t on their way back to City Hall. Police are not following the crowd, but continue to stand sentry at Frank H. Ogawa Plaza.
7:55 p.m. Police continue threats as crowd grows again on Broadway -
Police are continuing to threaten to use chemical agents against the crowd that is refusing to disperse on Broadway.
7:45 p.m. Police deploy tear gas -
After repeated warnings, police have deployed tear gas and wooden dowells against the crowd of protesters at 14th and Broadway, near Frank Ogawa Plaza. As the tear gas canisters exploded in sparks, the crowd scattered toward 15th and Broadway.
7 p.m. Marchers pause at 20th and Franklin for rally -
At 20th and Franklin streets in front of the California Nurses Association building having a rally. There are still at least 200 people in the street, blocking the intersection. At least three helicopters are circling overhead.
6:30 p.m. Protesters have five minute to leave -
A man tried to start a fight with a police officer, sparking police to call an unlawful assembly. They have given the protesters five minutes to leave. Police have surrounded Frank H. Ogawa Plaza and are telling the protesters that if they refuse to move, they will be arrested. The protesters, possibly as many as 1,000 people, are all gathered at 14th street and Broadway. Over the last 30 minutes, police have launched wooden dowls and some concussion grenades into the crowds. It was not immediately known how many protesters, if any, were hit. An Oakland Tribune news photographer was hit with something launched by police. At least two people have been arrested since the rally and march kicked off at 4 p.m. Many in the crowd are wearing bandanas, possibly to protect themselve if the police use tear gas. Sirens are sounding, motorcycle police from many agencies are in downtown and there is general chaos as police try and clear out the massive amount of people.
6:10 p.m. Unlawful assembly declared -
Police have declared an unlawful assembly and protests are heading toward Broadway. A few minutes ago, police pushed people away from the Oakland Police Department headquarters at 7th and Washington streets. Protesters tossed paint on riot police. At least one person has been arrested. There are reports that concussion gernades are being used on the protesters.
6 p.m. Crowd not obeying police orders, but nonviolent -
At least 500 protesters continue to make their way toward downtown toward the jail. At 8th Street, a thin line of police officers on foot and on bikes held off marchers, who turned down Clay Street instead. There are more people marching right now than were ousted from the plaza Tuesday morning. The protesters are now at 7th and Washington streets and have crossed several thin police lines. They have now been blocked by a thicker line of police officers.
5:35 p.m. Hundreds of spirited protesters marching to jail and then to plaza -
At least 500 people are carrying signs, flags and banners, and blocking downtown streets as they head to the Oakland jail and then back to Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, where crews continue to clean up overturned tents, garbage and put personal belongings in storage. Crews are logging property recovered from the plaza and storing them in a city warehouse until retrieved by the rightful owners. More information is at: www2.oaklandnet.com/oak031906.
Four helicopters are monitoring the march.
4:55 p.m. About 500 gathered in downtown -
About 500 people have blocked 14th Street in both directions and are chanting "power to the people, and threatening to take over Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, about 12 hours after police rousted hundreds from their tents and arrested more than 1oo.
"We are going to march and reclaim what was already ours, what we call Oscar Grant Plaza and what they call City Hall,'' one marcher said.
Meanwhile, AC Transit buses have returned to their regular routes through downtown Oakland, except for the Line 26, which has been diverted from 14th Street between Broadway and Clay Street.
2:28 p.m. Arrestees being booked, held on $10,000 bail -
Occupy Oakland organizers say arrestees are being booked at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin on $10,000 bail each and held until an arraignment on Thursday. Organizers are asking supporters to contact Alameda County Sheriff's Office and Mayor Jean Quan to "demand cite and release."
11:48 a.m. Labor council leader condemns encampment shutdown. -
Josie Camacho, a leader in the Alameda Labor Council, is announcing a news conference at 6th and Washington streets right now, condemning the camp's shutdown as "an unprovoked raid on peaceful protesters."
Given the nation's fiscal woes, Camacho said in a prepared statement, "this outrageous act to silence the voices of the protesters puts Mayor Quan and the City Council on the wrong side of history. At a time when resources are stretched in Oakland it is shameful that City funds are expended to silence the voices of the people."
Camacho added, "We oppose the eviction and call on the City of Oakland to release the arrested, drop the charges, restore the occupation or otherwise reverse this silencing of the voice of the majority of Americans."
10:45 a.m. All clear issued for city employees and downtown employers -
City Hall is now asking city employees to return to work and encouraging downtown businesses to open. City Administrator spokesperson Karen Boyd said city buildings surrounding Frank H. Ogawa Plaza are closed to the public "until public health and safety conditions can be improved; this includes debris, human waste and hazardous materials removal."
All City Council committee meetings have been canceled. Ironically, the shutdown of a protest about lack of jobs and economic opportunity for many Americans has also canceled the city council's meeting on economic development.
10:15 a.m. Occupy SF offers support -
Occupy San Francisco protesters are offering refuge in their camp for protesters ousted from their Oakland camp this morning. The San Francisco group's Twitter account asks the Oakland group to let them know how they can offer support, and suggests sending people who need rest to the San Francisco camp in Justin Herman Plaza, just across the Bay Bridge from downtown Oakland.
Meanwhile, Occupy Oakland have put out the call on Twitter and elsewhere for supporters to gather at 4 p.m. at the Oakland Public Library, 14th and Madison streets.
9:30 a.m. City press briefing -
At a press briefing at City Hall, Police Chief Howard Jordan said 75 arrests were made and the police operation went smoothly, without injuries to police or protesters. No children were found at the camp. Dogs and their owners were allowed to leave.
Tear gas was used, as well as bean bag rounds, officials said. The operation will be investigated and reviewed, according to Jordan.
The hundreds of law enforcement officers at the scene came from departments around the Bay Area, including the Alameda County Sheriff's Deapartment, Berkeley, UC Berkeley, Hayward, Fremont, Pleasanton, Union City Newark, Alameda, the CHP, Santa Clara, San Francisco and San Jose.
8:45 a.m. City officials survey the damage -
City officials are conducting a walk-through of the Frank H. Ogawa Plaza aftermath to assess the condition of the plaza and the downtown area, according to a statement from the police department.
Officials plan to update advisory for downtown employers and city employees by 9 a.m. Earlier, they had urged employers to delay starting work downtown this morning.
Officials will be available for a media briefing this morning at 9 a.m.
Current road closures downtown: Clay Street between 12th and 14th streets and Broadway between 12th and 14th streets
8:30 a.m. Protesters remain downtown -
About two dozen protesters remain across the street from City Hall, where the camp has been dismantled. Tensions escalated considerably when one protester pushed through a barricade and was taken away by police.
About 50 police officers are in place to keep any protesters from re-entering the plaza.
7:37 a.m. Downtown Oakland BART station reopens -
The Oakland City Center 12th street station is now open, according to BART. Currently only the 11th street entrance/exit is open at this time.
7:15 a.m. Snow Park camp closed -
Police have shut down the Snow Park encampment at 19th and Harrison streets near Lake Merritt.
Officers made numerous arrests, taking protesters away in vans, without any apparent violence.
Several protesters ran around into the nearby streets upending trash cans and Dumpsters, throwing trash into the streets.
The camp is now basically empty, with a few people standing around and the remainders of several tents lying haphazardly in the grass.
6:40 a.m. BART closes downtown station -
The 12th Street BART station is closed because of the protests and police action and AC Transit is rerouting buses downtown.
6:15 a.m. Police descend on Snow Park camp -
Dozens of police officers are moving into Snow Park near Lake Merritt. An officer is using a bullhorn to tell protesters to leave the small park. Police are ripping down the tents and protesters are yelling "go away, go away."
"Attention protesters at Snow Park, this is the Oakland Police Department, you are in violation of the law. You must comply with this announcement. It has been determined that you are illegally lodging and are subject to arrest. To avoid arrest, you must gather all your belongings and vacate the park. You must comply with this announcement now." Protesters are yelling "police state, police state" and "rise up, rise up, against your masters." Police are forming a line to protect the people who have been arrested and put in police vehicles. Protesters claim they have the right to assemble and yell "shame, shame, shame, shame,"
5:30 a.m. Protesters cleared from plaza, tent city gone -
On a side street off Broadway between 14th and 15th streets, a police line is keeping about 20 or 30 people out of the plaza as the protesters chant: "rise up, rise up, come on people rise up." Police said there were about 200 police from Oakland and other agencies involved in the raid. Police said a few protesters threw bottles at first, but then stopped.
A large group of police are mulling around the plaza. There are no more protesters in the plaza. All have been pushed out or left on their own. Three helicopters continue to circle above the scene. Clean up crews will be moving in soon and they have a lot off work ahead. The place is a complete mess with a couch is on its side and carpet and tents strewed everywhere.
5:20 a.m. City issues warning to downtown businesses -
The city is advising employers to delay the arrival of employees downtown until further notice. Police have cleared the protesters from the Occupy Oakland camp at Frank H. Ogawa Plaza and are now starting the clean up phase.
5:15 a.m. Tent city destroyed -
Hundreds of police in riot gear continue to move into the camp and arrest people. Already dozens have been arrested and the camp destroyed. Most of the arrests seem relatively peaceful. Some have moved out on their own. There is massive amounts of destruction at the camp.
Police tore down tents and wooden stalls that had housed medical aid and food. Garbage cans are overturned. Some police have shotguns and all have clubs out. There is a small protest of about 50 people taking shape just off Broadway near 14th Street. People are banging drums and chanting "We are the 99 percent."
Media and TV crews everywhere. An officials with a bullhorn is issuing directive to campers. Police have now classified the area as a crime scene, but nothing violent has occurred. Looks like a hurricane has come through the camp. Entire raid was over in about 20 minutes. On the north end of the plaza, police have formed a line and are pushing about two dozen protesters into the street. Chaotic as the protesters yell at police. One protesters said "Police are the biggest gang in America."
5 a.m. Police move in -
Police have donned gas masks and some kind of smoke has been released. There is a ring of police surrounding the plaza. In addition, police have blocked off the intersection of 14th and Broadway.
Police are dismantling the barricades and throwing them into the streets and also tearing down signs, ripping them up.
Protesters are sitting down, and police are now leading them away, handcuffed. Police in masks are moving into the camps.
4:50 a.m. Police surround camp -
Police are now moving in from the street into the plaza, telling media to move. Police have set up security corridor, placing media behind them. Police are telling the protesters via bullhorn that "chemical agents" will be used and are repeating that they are illegally camped.
Using a bullhorn, police are announcing their intention to remove anyone from the plaza, repeating instructions over and over again. Taking out billy clubs, they are starting to move in. So far, police have not entered the actual encampment. A lot of television truck are parked nearby and media are assembling as well.
4:40 a.m. Police arrive -
Several police cars have arrived. The protesters are running around, throwing things at the police. Riot police with batons full riot gear have assembled on the corner of 14th and Broadway.
Police are lined up from 14th to 15th, at least 100 riot police. Protesters are chanting "Police go home, cops go home " and banging sticks on anything they can find.
A helicopter is hovering over the plaza, shining a spotlight down on the camp.
Homeless people are leaving the camp, trying to get out.
Activists with Occupy Oakland report that police appear to be moving in early Tuesday morning near the encampment on the lawn outside of Oakland City Hall.
Police have been seen walking the perimeter of the camp, but have not gone in as of 3:30 a.m., according to the group, which has occupied a tent city for two weeks.
At the side of the camp near 14th Street and Broadway, people have put up at least two metal Dumpsters to block the area and wooden crates have been placed near the Clay Street side of the camp in an attempt to keep police out. In addition, people are covering their faces with bandannas and one made is carrying a giant shield he fashioned out of duct tape.
3 a.m. Camp braces for police raid -
At about 3 a.m., the Occupy Oakland camp leaders sent out a text message, citing "heavy" police presence and then sent out another alert to supporters: "Get here immediately. Lines of riot cops marking toward camp."
More than 300 people have been camping in Oakland to support the Occupy Wall Street movement, which started on Sept. 17 in New York City to protest widespread unemployment and corporate greed.
The loose-knit group occupied the plaza two weeks ago to protest widespread unemployment and corporate greed, but the encampment has grown to encompass many other causes: support for state prison inmates who are on hunger strikes, housing rights, fair wages and against social oppression.
City officials began stepping up pressure on the protesters last week and on Friday upped the stakes by issuing a letter stating that the encampment on Frank H. Ogawa Plaza was "a violation of the law" and threatening violators with immediate arrest.
The "notice of violations and demand to cease violations" came a day after a preliminary letter that urged the residents to vacate the camp because of what the city said were a host of problems, including fighting, vandalism, public urination and other sanitation and public health issues. Officials said an existing rat problem in the area was being made worse by the encampment, which had about 100 tents at one point.
A spokeswoman for the mayor, Karen Boyd, said Friday that the protesters had shown themselves incapable of self-governance. "As a collective, they cannot maintain te plaza in a safe condition," she said.
[http://www.mercurynews.com/top-stories/ci_19188125?nclick_check=1&forced=true]
A handful of protesters and police remain Wednesday morning in Frank Ogawa Plaza in downtown Oakland. On Tuesday night, 1,000 protesters clashed with police after two Occupy Oakland encampments were dismantled earlier in the day.
10:35 a.m. "Library director kept main library open during protests" report by Sean Maher -
During the Tuesday afternoon rally, as about 500 people gathered outside the city's main library at 14th and Madison streets, organizers announced that police "called the library in anticipation of our gathering and asked them to shut it down. They said, 'No,' because they know what side they are on."
The crowd exploded into cheers. On Wednesday morning, library Director Carmen Martinez said the City had supported her decision to keep the library open.
In the early afternoon Tuesday, hours before the protest arrived at the library steps, City Administrator Deanna Santana called Martinez and asked how she wanted to handle the situation, Martinez said.
"I said that we are a symbol of civil society for a lot of groups, including this one, and the folks who protested against the libraries budget cuts, and we will remain open as along as service can be continued without disruption," Martinez said. "Deanna said she understood and respected that."
Police also called to ask if the library needed any help or backup, Martinez said, but she declined.
At about 5 p.m., however, with the crowd already shutting down an entire block
of 14th Street, Santana called back with information that a second group was on its way and could make it impossible for library staff to leave, Martinez said, so the library ended up closing a half-hour early.
Nonetheless, Martinez said, the library remains "a symbol of gathering for 1st Amendment issues. We welcome everyone unconditionally."
10:10 a.m. "Plaza fenced off" -
A 6-foot chain-link fence is being put up by workers around Frank Ogawa Plaza, where the tent city was dismantled yesterday by police. A red sign on the fence reads "Please Keep Out of Planting Area".
8:25 a.m. "Calm returns to Frank Ogawa Plaza" report by Hannah Dreier -
The protest seems to be dispersing, not growing. Some of the protesters said earlier that they were waiting for BART to open, and now appear to have gone home. Their numbers are holding steady at about a dozen people.
Charlie Mac, 20, is one of them. He was arrested last night, just got out of jail and is still wearing a wristband. Mac lives with his grandmother in West Oakland, but had camped out in the tent city since Oct. 18.
His grandmother is in the dark: "I don't know what she knows about this, because I haven't told her anything."
He was a protester at last year's Oscar Grant protest. "I was just there to be there -- I didn't know what it was about."
He's at this protest because he wants a job.
He says the police hurt him last night, and that he was one of the ones yelling at police. "I bet as soon as the media leave the cops are gonna start back up."
Lano Rice, 29, from North Oakland, was standing next to woman in a wheelchair when police threw a tear gas device under her chair.
They kicked it away. "But it kept sparking and smoking and me and another gentleman took her and went around the corner, but we came right back."
"I wasn't scared, I was disappointed that they would do something like that."
7:10 a.m. "Downtown returns to life without tent city" report by Hannah Dreier -
Light traffic now flowing on Broadway and a steady stream of people in and out of BART. Street cleaners are out and people opening shops. A man is pressure-cleaning the closed plaza.
Matt, who didn't give his last name, came here from San Francisco this morning to help out. He brought a broom and spent a while sweeping up broken glass.
"Some jerks that were here threw some bottles and just cause someone wants to mess things up doesn't mean we shouldn't take some responsibility. The point isn't to make a mess and trash the city," he said.
Filipe Arenas, 56, was waiting for a bus to Jack London Square (to Amtrak) next to the protest. He saw the "Cali united against policy brutality" banner hanging on the plaza barricade and assumed this was an anti- brutality event.
"It's not about police brutality? If it's about economic justice I'd think more unemployed people would protest."
Adam Alvarado, 31, lives around the corner. "They're protesting the bailouts, I think?"
He's taking BART to work. This station was closed yesterday, but he didn't mind going to the Lake Merritt station instead. "I have options, luckily."
A city worker, who didn't want to give her name, has been ignoring the saga outside her office.
"I guess I just come to work here and then I go home."
6:25 a.m. "'Stupid people who were provoking the cops'" report by Hannah Dreier -
Michael Porter, 24, works full time selling DirectTV, has camped at the Occupy Oakland site for the last 8 days.
He was disheartened to see everyone disperse last night-- down to 30 people after 3 a.m.
"We lost a lot of them because of the tear gas. And it was because of stupid people who were provoking the cops. It's random people who see a big group and are like, 'let's start a riot.' All it takes is one thing and it's like let's gas everyone. And I kind of understand where the cops are coming from as far as responding to signs of aggression. That's why we've got to keep those people out."
He's hanging around hoping to educate newcomers this morning about not provoking the police. Then he's going to sleep in his own bed for the first time in a week and then, he says, come back down.
Why? "I've always been told to be the change you want to see; I want to see more people come out"
Up to a dozen protesters, all men right now.
A plate window across the street shattered around what looks like a rubber bullet hole. Protesters telling police one of them owes someone a new window.
Wednesday, 5:45 a.m. "The morning after" report by Robert Salonga -
Protesters are outnumbered by media and police this morning at Frank Ogawa Plaza outside City Hall in downtown Oakland. There are 11 protesters, a dozen police and the same number of reporters and photographers.
The plaza is relatively quiet, with protesters milling about and lightly taunting police. One protester is advocating for California secession and another warning that the media have ties to Chevron.
One officer is patrolling the grounds outside City Hall with a police dog.
Barricades have been set up along 14th Street to prevent access to the plaza. The area has been cleaned up after yesterday's melees.
Snow Park, near Lake Merritt, is empty this morning and showing no signs of protesters.
Tuesday, 11:03 p.m. More tear gas
TV cameras show police using more tear gas, and a reporter on the scene says it was again prompted by protesters throwing bottles at police. People are dispersing toward 15th Avenue and Broadway. Flash grenades can be heard, as well. The back-and-forth between protesters and police is expected to go on through the night.
10:41 p.m. More than 100 arrested
Interim police chief Howard Jordan told reporters that 102 people have been arrested. Police from other agencies are involved in trying to disperse the protests. Some people are starting to reconvene near Frank Ogawa Plaza.
10:36 p.m. Police using tear gas
Police are using tear gas against protesters who have gathered again at Frank Ogawa Plaza, at least the second time on Tuesday they've deployed the tear gas. Witnesses at the scene say protesters threw bottles at police before the tear gas was released. Protesters dispersed to the east of Broadway, and the gas fumes were heavy in the air. Between 200 and 300 protesters gathered for an earlier round at Frank Ogawa Plaza before the confrontation took place.
Protesters continue to regroup, march toward Frank Ogawa Plaza
A group of protesters has regrouped and is now returning to Frank Ogawa Plaza, near where police deployed tear gas earlier.
10:10 p.m. Protesters regroup, march toward Frank Ogawa Plaza -
A group of protesters has regrouped and is now returning to Frank Ogawa Plaza, near where police deployed tear gas earlier.
9:30 p.m. Police deploy tear gas two more times -
Police have lobbed tear gas canisters into a crowd of protesters at 14th and Broadway.
8:35 p.m. Police cruiser windows smashed with a rock -
Protesters have smashed a CHP car that was parked at 16th Street and Broadway.
8:30 p.m. Protesters marching toward City Hall -
After scattering when police set off tear gas, protesters are marching again, heading down Broadway t on their way back to City Hall. Police are not following the crowd, but continue to stand sentry at Frank H. Ogawa Plaza.
7:55 p.m. Police continue threats as crowd grows again on Broadway -
Police are continuing to threaten to use chemical agents against the crowd that is refusing to disperse on Broadway.
7:45 p.m. Police deploy tear gas -
After repeated warnings, police have deployed tear gas and wooden dowells against the crowd of protesters at 14th and Broadway, near Frank Ogawa Plaza. As the tear gas canisters exploded in sparks, the crowd scattered toward 15th and Broadway.
7 p.m. Marchers pause at 20th and Franklin for rally -
At 20th and Franklin streets in front of the California Nurses Association building having a rally. There are still at least 200 people in the street, blocking the intersection. At least three helicopters are circling overhead.
6:30 p.m. Protesters have five minute to leave -
A man tried to start a fight with a police officer, sparking police to call an unlawful assembly. They have given the protesters five minutes to leave. Police have surrounded Frank H. Ogawa Plaza and are telling the protesters that if they refuse to move, they will be arrested. The protesters, possibly as many as 1,000 people, are all gathered at 14th street and Broadway. Over the last 30 minutes, police have launched wooden dowls and some concussion grenades into the crowds. It was not immediately known how many protesters, if any, were hit. An Oakland Tribune news photographer was hit with something launched by police. At least two people have been arrested since the rally and march kicked off at 4 p.m. Many in the crowd are wearing bandanas, possibly to protect themselve if the police use tear gas. Sirens are sounding, motorcycle police from many agencies are in downtown and there is general chaos as police try and clear out the massive amount of people.
6:10 p.m. Unlawful assembly declared -
Police have declared an unlawful assembly and protests are heading toward Broadway. A few minutes ago, police pushed people away from the Oakland Police Department headquarters at 7th and Washington streets. Protesters tossed paint on riot police. At least one person has been arrested. There are reports that concussion gernades are being used on the protesters.
6 p.m. Crowd not obeying police orders, but nonviolent -
At least 500 protesters continue to make their way toward downtown toward the jail. At 8th Street, a thin line of police officers on foot and on bikes held off marchers, who turned down Clay Street instead. There are more people marching right now than were ousted from the plaza Tuesday morning. The protesters are now at 7th and Washington streets and have crossed several thin police lines. They have now been blocked by a thicker line of police officers.
5:35 p.m. Hundreds of spirited protesters marching to jail and then to plaza -
At least 500 people are carrying signs, flags and banners, and blocking downtown streets as they head to the Oakland jail and then back to Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, where crews continue to clean up overturned tents, garbage and put personal belongings in storage. Crews are logging property recovered from the plaza and storing them in a city warehouse until retrieved by the rightful owners. More information is at: www2.oaklandnet.com/oak031906.
Four helicopters are monitoring the march.
4:55 p.m. About 500 gathered in downtown -
About 500 people have blocked 14th Street in both directions and are chanting "power to the people, and threatening to take over Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, about 12 hours after police rousted hundreds from their tents and arrested more than 1oo.
"We are going to march and reclaim what was already ours, what we call Oscar Grant Plaza and what they call City Hall,'' one marcher said.
Meanwhile, AC Transit buses have returned to their regular routes through downtown Oakland, except for the Line 26, which has been diverted from 14th Street between Broadway and Clay Street.
2:28 p.m. Arrestees being booked, held on $10,000 bail -
Occupy Oakland organizers say arrestees are being booked at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin on $10,000 bail each and held until an arraignment on Thursday. Organizers are asking supporters to contact Alameda County Sheriff's Office and Mayor Jean Quan to "demand cite and release."
11:48 a.m. Labor council leader condemns encampment shutdown. -
Josie Camacho, a leader in the Alameda Labor Council, is announcing a news conference at 6th and Washington streets right now, condemning the camp's shutdown as "an unprovoked raid on peaceful protesters."
Given the nation's fiscal woes, Camacho said in a prepared statement, "this outrageous act to silence the voices of the protesters puts Mayor Quan and the City Council on the wrong side of history. At a time when resources are stretched in Oakland it is shameful that City funds are expended to silence the voices of the people."
Camacho added, "We oppose the eviction and call on the City of Oakland to release the arrested, drop the charges, restore the occupation or otherwise reverse this silencing of the voice of the majority of Americans."
10:45 a.m. All clear issued for city employees and downtown employers -
City Hall is now asking city employees to return to work and encouraging downtown businesses to open. City Administrator spokesperson Karen Boyd said city buildings surrounding Frank H. Ogawa Plaza are closed to the public "until public health and safety conditions can be improved; this includes debris, human waste and hazardous materials removal."
All City Council committee meetings have been canceled. Ironically, the shutdown of a protest about lack of jobs and economic opportunity for many Americans has also canceled the city council's meeting on economic development.
10:15 a.m. Occupy SF offers support -
Occupy San Francisco protesters are offering refuge in their camp for protesters ousted from their Oakland camp this morning. The San Francisco group's Twitter account asks the Oakland group to let them know how they can offer support, and suggests sending people who need rest to the San Francisco camp in Justin Herman Plaza, just across the Bay Bridge from downtown Oakland.
Meanwhile, Occupy Oakland have put out the call on Twitter and elsewhere for supporters to gather at 4 p.m. at the Oakland Public Library, 14th and Madison streets.
9:30 a.m. City press briefing -
At a press briefing at City Hall, Police Chief Howard Jordan said 75 arrests were made and the police operation went smoothly, without injuries to police or protesters. No children were found at the camp. Dogs and their owners were allowed to leave.
Tear gas was used, as well as bean bag rounds, officials said. The operation will be investigated and reviewed, according to Jordan.
The hundreds of law enforcement officers at the scene came from departments around the Bay Area, including the Alameda County Sheriff's Deapartment, Berkeley, UC Berkeley, Hayward, Fremont, Pleasanton, Union City Newark, Alameda, the CHP, Santa Clara, San Francisco and San Jose.
8:45 a.m. City officials survey the damage -
City officials are conducting a walk-through of the Frank H. Ogawa Plaza aftermath to assess the condition of the plaza and the downtown area, according to a statement from the police department.
Officials plan to update advisory for downtown employers and city employees by 9 a.m. Earlier, they had urged employers to delay starting work downtown this morning.
Officials will be available for a media briefing this morning at 9 a.m.
Current road closures downtown: Clay Street between 12th and 14th streets and Broadway between 12th and 14th streets
8:30 a.m. Protesters remain downtown -
About two dozen protesters remain across the street from City Hall, where the camp has been dismantled. Tensions escalated considerably when one protester pushed through a barricade and was taken away by police.
About 50 police officers are in place to keep any protesters from re-entering the plaza.
7:37 a.m. Downtown Oakland BART station reopens -
The Oakland City Center 12th street station is now open, according to BART. Currently only the 11th street entrance/exit is open at this time.
7:15 a.m. Snow Park camp closed -
Police have shut down the Snow Park encampment at 19th and Harrison streets near Lake Merritt.
Officers made numerous arrests, taking protesters away in vans, without any apparent violence.
Several protesters ran around into the nearby streets upending trash cans and Dumpsters, throwing trash into the streets.
The camp is now basically empty, with a few people standing around and the remainders of several tents lying haphazardly in the grass.
6:40 a.m. BART closes downtown station -
The 12th Street BART station is closed because of the protests and police action and AC Transit is rerouting buses downtown.
6:15 a.m. Police descend on Snow Park camp -
Dozens of police officers are moving into Snow Park near Lake Merritt. An officer is using a bullhorn to tell protesters to leave the small park. Police are ripping down the tents and protesters are yelling "go away, go away."
"Attention protesters at Snow Park, this is the Oakland Police Department, you are in violation of the law. You must comply with this announcement. It has been determined that you are illegally lodging and are subject to arrest. To avoid arrest, you must gather all your belongings and vacate the park. You must comply with this announcement now." Protesters are yelling "police state, police state" and "rise up, rise up, against your masters." Police are forming a line to protect the people who have been arrested and put in police vehicles. Protesters claim they have the right to assemble and yell "shame, shame, shame, shame,"
5:30 a.m. Protesters cleared from plaza, tent city gone -
On a side street off Broadway between 14th and 15th streets, a police line is keeping about 20 or 30 people out of the plaza as the protesters chant: "rise up, rise up, come on people rise up." Police said there were about 200 police from Oakland and other agencies involved in the raid. Police said a few protesters threw bottles at first, but then stopped.
A large group of police are mulling around the plaza. There are no more protesters in the plaza. All have been pushed out or left on their own. Three helicopters continue to circle above the scene. Clean up crews will be moving in soon and they have a lot off work ahead. The place is a complete mess with a couch is on its side and carpet and tents strewed everywhere.
5:20 a.m. City issues warning to downtown businesses -
The city is advising employers to delay the arrival of employees downtown until further notice. Police have cleared the protesters from the Occupy Oakland camp at Frank H. Ogawa Plaza and are now starting the clean up phase.
5:15 a.m. Tent city destroyed -
Hundreds of police in riot gear continue to move into the camp and arrest people. Already dozens have been arrested and the camp destroyed. Most of the arrests seem relatively peaceful. Some have moved out on their own. There is massive amounts of destruction at the camp.
Police tore down tents and wooden stalls that had housed medical aid and food. Garbage cans are overturned. Some police have shotguns and all have clubs out. There is a small protest of about 50 people taking shape just off Broadway near 14th Street. People are banging drums and chanting "We are the 99 percent."
Media and TV crews everywhere. An officials with a bullhorn is issuing directive to campers. Police have now classified the area as a crime scene, but nothing violent has occurred. Looks like a hurricane has come through the camp. Entire raid was over in about 20 minutes. On the north end of the plaza, police have formed a line and are pushing about two dozen protesters into the street. Chaotic as the protesters yell at police. One protesters said "Police are the biggest gang in America."
5 a.m. Police move in -
Police have donned gas masks and some kind of smoke has been released. There is a ring of police surrounding the plaza. In addition, police have blocked off the intersection of 14th and Broadway.
Police are dismantling the barricades and throwing them into the streets and also tearing down signs, ripping them up.
Protesters are sitting down, and police are now leading them away, handcuffed. Police in masks are moving into the camps.
4:50 a.m. Police surround camp -
Police are now moving in from the street into the plaza, telling media to move. Police have set up security corridor, placing media behind them. Police are telling the protesters via bullhorn that "chemical agents" will be used and are repeating that they are illegally camped.
Using a bullhorn, police are announcing their intention to remove anyone from the plaza, repeating instructions over and over again. Taking out billy clubs, they are starting to move in. So far, police have not entered the actual encampment. A lot of television truck are parked nearby and media are assembling as well.
4:40 a.m. Police arrive -
Several police cars have arrived. The protesters are running around, throwing things at the police. Riot police with batons full riot gear have assembled on the corner of 14th and Broadway.
Police are lined up from 14th to 15th, at least 100 riot police. Protesters are chanting "Police go home, cops go home " and banging sticks on anything they can find.
A helicopter is hovering over the plaza, shining a spotlight down on the camp.
Homeless people are leaving the camp, trying to get out.
Activists with Occupy Oakland report that police appear to be moving in early Tuesday morning near the encampment on the lawn outside of Oakland City Hall.
Police have been seen walking the perimeter of the camp, but have not gone in as of 3:30 a.m., according to the group, which has occupied a tent city for two weeks.
At the side of the camp near 14th Street and Broadway, people have put up at least two metal Dumpsters to block the area and wooden crates have been placed near the Clay Street side of the camp in an attempt to keep police out. In addition, people are covering their faces with bandannas and one made is carrying a giant shield he fashioned out of duct tape.
3 a.m. Camp braces for police raid -
At about 3 a.m., the Occupy Oakland camp leaders sent out a text message, citing "heavy" police presence and then sent out another alert to supporters: "Get here immediately. Lines of riot cops marking toward camp."
More than 300 people have been camping in Oakland to support the Occupy Wall Street movement, which started on Sept. 17 in New York City to protest widespread unemployment and corporate greed.
The loose-knit group occupied the plaza two weeks ago to protest widespread unemployment and corporate greed, but the encampment has grown to encompass many other causes: support for state prison inmates who are on hunger strikes, housing rights, fair wages and against social oppression.
City officials began stepping up pressure on the protesters last week and on Friday upped the stakes by issuing a letter stating that the encampment on Frank H. Ogawa Plaza was "a violation of the law" and threatening violators with immediate arrest.
The "notice of violations and demand to cease violations" came a day after a preliminary letter that urged the residents to vacate the camp because of what the city said were a host of problems, including fighting, vandalism, public urination and other sanitation and public health issues. Officials said an existing rat problem in the area was being made worse by the encampment, which had about 100 tents at one point.
A spokeswoman for the mayor, Karen Boyd, said Friday that the protesters had shown themselves incapable of self-governance. "As a collective, they cannot maintain te plaza in a safe condition," she said.
2011-10-26 "Occupy Oakland Police Action Unnerves Wall Street Protestors" by Terry Collins and Marcus Wohlsen, Associated Press
Associated Press writers Nigel Duara in Portland, Ore., Sarah Brumfield in Baltimore, Md., Verena Dobnik in New York, Harry R. Weber, Errin Haines and Jeff Martin in Atlanta, Erica Niedowski in Providence, R.I., Michael J. Crumb in Des Moines, Iowa., Ben Nuckols in Washington, Samantha Gross in New York and Jay Lindsay in Boston contributed to this report.
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OAKLAND, Calif. -- The display of police force in Oakland, Calif., and Atlanta has unnerved some anti-Wall Street protesters.
While demonstrators in other cities have built a working relationship with police and city leaders, they wondered on Wednesday how long the good spirit would last and whether they could be next.
Will they have to face riot gear-clad officers and tear gas that their counterparts in Oakland, Calif. faced on Tuesday? Or will they be handcuffed and hauled away in the middle of the night like protesters in Atlanta?
"Yes, we're afraid. Is this the night they're going to sneak in?" said activist William Buster of Occupy Wall Street, where the movement began last month to protest what they see as corporate greed.
"Is this the night they might use unreasonable force?" he asked.
The message, meanwhile, from officials in cities where other encampments have sprung up was simple: We'll keep working with you. Just respect your neighbors and keep the camps clean and safe.
Business owners and residents have complained in recent weeks about assaults, drunken fights and sanitation problems. Officials are trying to balance their rights and uphold the law while honoring protesters' free speech rights.
"I understand the frustration the protesters feel ... about inequity in our country as well as Wall Street greed," Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said. "I support their right to free speech but we also have rules and laws."
Some cities, such as Providence, R.I., are moving ahead with plans to evict activists. But from Tampa, Fla., to Boston, police and city leaders say they will continue to try to work with protesters to address problems in the camps.
In Oakland, officials initially supported the protests, with Mayor Jean Quan saying that sometimes "democracy is messy."
But tensions reached a boiling point after a sexual assault, a severe beating and a fire were reported and paramedics were denied access to the camp, according to city officials. They also cited concerns about rats, fire hazards and public urination.
Demonstrators disputed the city's claims, saying that volunteers collect garbage and recycling every six hours, that water is boiled before being used to wash dishes and that rats have long infested the park.
When riot gear-clad police moved in early Tuesday, they were pelted with rocks, bottles and utensils from people in the camp's kitchen area. They emptied the camp near city hall of people, and barricaded the plaza.
Protesters were taken away in plastic handcuffs, most of them arrested on suspicion of illegal lodging.
Demonstrators returned later in the day to march and retake the plaza. They were met by police officers in riot gear. Several small skirmishes broke out and officers cleared the area by firing tear gas.
The scene repeated itself several times just a few blocks away in front of the plaza.
Tensions would build as protesters edged ever closer to the police line and reach a breaking point with a demonstrator hurling a bottle or rock, prompting police to respond with another round of gas.
The chemical haze hung in the air for hours, new blasts clouding the air before the previous fog could dissipate.
The number of protesters diminished with each round of tear gas. Police estimated that there were roughly 1,000 demonstrators at the first clash following the march. About 100 were arrested.
Among the demonstrators injured was Scott Olsen, a 24-year-old Marine veteran who served two tours in Iraq.
Dottie Guy, of the Iraq Veterans Against the War, a veterans advocacy group, said Olsen was hit by a projectile while marching toward city hall and suffered a fractured skull. A hospital spokesman said Olsen was in critical condition.
It was not clear who threw the projectile.
Demonstrators planned to try again on Wednesday night to march, and could clash again with police.
In Atlanta, police in riot gear and SWAT teams arrested 53 people in Woodruff Park, many of whom had camped out there for weeks as part of a widespread movement that is protesting the wealth disparity between the rich and everyone else.
Mayor Kasim Reed had been supportive of the protests, twice issuing an executive order allowing them to remain.
Reed said on Wednesday that he had no choice to arrest them because he believed things were headed in a direction that was no longer peaceful. He cited a man seen walking the park with an AK-47 assault rifle.
"There were some who wanted to continue along the peaceful lines, and some who thought that their path should be more radical," Reed said. "As mayor, I couldn't wait for them to finish that debate."
Reed said authorities could not determine whether the rifle was loaded, and were unable to get additional information.
An Associated Press reporter talked to the man with the gun earlier Tuesday.
He wouldn't give his name - identifying himself only as "Porch," an out-of-work accountant who doesn't agree with the protesters' views - but said that he was there, armed, because he wanted to protect the rights of people to protest.
People who were arrested trickled out of jail as a crowd of several dozen supporters chanted "freedom" as they left.
"I think Mayor Reed would do well to learn quickly that you cannot intimidate, you cannot threaten, you cannot jail something whose time has come," activist Derrick Boazman said. "The fact of the matter is this movement's time has come."
In Portland, Ore., the protest seems to be at a crossroads. Organizers have been dealing with public drunkenness, fighting and drug abuse for weeks, especially among the homeless who are also in the camp.
Some are floating the idea of relocating it, possibly indoors. Others see that as capitulation.
"I don't know if it would be a good idea. Part of the effectiveness of what's going on here is visibility," protester Justin Neff said. "Though I'd do it if there's a possibility that we'd get seen and noticed. I don't know how that would work indoors."
City officials haven't said what would cause them to forcibly evict the protesters. They said they evaluate the camp daily.
In Baltimore, protesters like Casey McKeel, a member of Occupy Baltimore's legal committee, said he wasn't sure aren't sure what to expect from city officials, noting that some cities have arrested protesters in recent weeks.
"Across the country we're seeing a wide range of reactions," he said. "For now we're hoping the city will work with us."
The mayor, Rawlings-Blake, said she is willing to work with them, but they should realize that they are camping out in a city park and that was not its intended use. She said their free-speech rights don't trump the public's right to enjoy the space.
"I have absolutely no interest in a violent exchange," she said. "We want to work with the protesters, but the point is to talk about inequity and talk about how we can work together to have a more just society or more equitable Baltimore.
"It's not about pitching a tent. It's about getting the work done," she said.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Occupy Oakland is attacked!!!!
A demonstrator is hit with a baton by an Oakland, California, police officer after a fellow protester was arrested during an Occupy Oakland protest on Tuesday, October 25, 2011.
Photograph by: RAY CHAVEZ, MCT
Police officers with less-lethal munitions (L) reconnect with a group of their stranded colleagues (R) during an “Occupy Wall Street” demonstration, in response to an early morning police raid which displaced Occupy Oakland’s tent city, in Oakland, California October 25, 2011.
Photograph by: STEPHEN LAM, REUTERS
The Occupy Oakland protesters, a part of the Occupy Wall Street movement, carry away a man, who was hit by a tear-gas canister shot by the Police, near the Oakland City Hall on October 25, 2011 in California.
Photograph by: KIMIHIRO HOSHINO, AFP/Getty Images
A police officer attempts to control the scene after being surrounded while making an arrest at an “Occupy Wall Street” demonstration in response to an early morning police raid which displaced Occupy Oakland’s tent city in Oakland, California October 25, 2011.
Photograph by: STEPHEN LAM, REUTERS
Police remove an Occupy Oakland camper from Snow Park on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2011, in Oakland, Calif. Police descended on Occupy Oakland's two camps overnight flattening tents and arresting protesters. Noah Berger / The Associated Press
Photograph by: RAY CHAVEZ, MCT
Police officers with less-lethal munitions (L) reconnect with a group of their stranded colleagues (R) during an “Occupy Wall Street” demonstration, in response to an early morning police raid which displaced Occupy Oakland’s tent city, in Oakland, California October 25, 2011.
Photograph by: STEPHEN LAM, REUTERS
The Occupy Oakland protesters, a part of the Occupy Wall Street movement, carry away a man, who was hit by a tear-gas canister shot by the Police, near the Oakland City Hall on October 25, 2011 in California.
Photograph by: KIMIHIRO HOSHINO, AFP/Getty Images
A police officer attempts to control the scene after being surrounded while making an arrest at an “Occupy Wall Street” demonstration in response to an early morning police raid which displaced Occupy Oakland’s tent city in Oakland, California October 25, 2011.
Photograph by: STEPHEN LAM, REUTERS
Police remove an Occupy Oakland camper from Snow Park on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2011, in Oakland, Calif. Police descended on Occupy Oakland's two camps overnight flattening tents and arresting protesters. Noah Berger / The Associated Press
What really happened the night Veteran for Peace was shot in the head without provocation or warning by the police?
2011-10-27 "Occupy Oakland Protester admits bottles were thrown at Police BEFORE police responded":
Occupy Oakland Protester admits to Lawrence O'Donnell on MSNBC that protesters threw bottles at Police BEFORE police responded
2011-10-27 "Occupy Oakland Protester admits bottles were thrown at Police BEFORE police responded":
Occupy Oakland Protester admits to Lawrence O'Donnell on MSNBC that protesters threw bottles at Police BEFORE police responded
2011-10-25 "Occupy Oakland's diversity is strength, challenge" by Demian Bulwa, Kevin Fagan, from "San Francisco Chronicle"
[http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/10/25/MNRP1LLJUT.DTL]
SAN FRANCISCO -- No single face represents the elaborate encampment outside Oakland City Hall that inhabitants call an experiment in antiauthoritarian living.
Instead, two weeks after the first tent went up - and four days after the city gave its first eviction order - the plaza on Monday held a spicy stew of idealists and anarchists, angry middle-class workers and aging radicals, peaceniks and provocateurs, the jobless and the homeless, plus some people who just want to party.
The common ground at Occupy Oakland is anger over economic inequality and a desire to hoist a local flag in the Occupy Wall Street movement. But creating an alternative society on a half-acre isn't easy, and no fewer than 21 committees have formed to oversee everything from food to security.
Perhaps more challenging - given the mass appeal of the movement - is fostering inclusiveness in a camp that is highly unusual, tinged with paranoia about corporate America and facing a possible confrontation with police over sanitation and security issues. A sign at the entrance seems to sum up some of the camp's insular leanings: "Don't worry," it states, "I don't take you seriously either."
Different this time -
Many veteran protesters say they haven't seen this broad a spectrum of people camping out long term for a cause since the 1960s. Demonstrations against wars and other causes produced marches and coalitions, but actually occupying in unison across the country for as long as this is remarkable, they said.
"This is different," said the Rev. Louie Vitale of Oakland, who at 79 is one of the deans of the Bay Area protest community.
"There is certainly some of the usual expressive behavior of the counterculture in terms of dress and revolutionary rhetoric," he said as he marched with other clergy Monday in support of the San Francisco Occupy camp - which is more homogenous in its counterculture flavor than Oakland. "But it's not the heart of what's going on.
"What they're really trying for everywhere is a paradigm shift, and a lot of that has to do with the new idea of what the middle class is after losing ground for years," Vitale said.
That dynamic is drawing out people like lawyer Timothy Fong, who has been driving in daily from his Santa Clara office to the Oakland camp to help with strategy on fundraising to continue the protest.
"There are people here from the anarchist or communist movements, and we're not going to see eye to eye, but that's fine," he said, standing in the camp in a snappy L.L. Bean jacket. "We all need to dialogue. I've also seen a lot of people here from the neighborhoods, people used to working in the community, office workers."
Ra So, a 38-year-old musician from Oakland who has been taking part in the camp's committees, said it should not be surprising that many of the camp's full-time residents are veteran activists. He called them "the foot soldiers of the people."
"The people that can afford to camp out are usually idealistic young people, so what you see in camp isn't always going to be reflective of the broad-based support behind this," So said. "It takes people who have hard-core ideals. Most people are sitting at home watching 'The Simpsons.' They might feel the same way, but not take action."
Coming after work -
It's usually during the camp's general assemblies - which were recently scaled back from nightly to four nights a week - that a broader set of people arrives, often after getting off work.
"I'm definitely in the part of the camp that is for nonviolent protest," said a 23-year-old woman from Berkeley who gave only her last name of Dorney. "But it seems like there's a group of people that does want to fight back, and aren't thinking about the safety of everybody else."
Dorney has been operating "Children's Village," an area for as many as 23 kids every day, complete with games and art supplies, but said she will have to cut back on her duties after landing a job as a tutor.
Asked why she had come, she said, "We all want to change the world, to make it better. We're all kind of sick and tired and fed up. ... I think a lot of people in California and across the country are looking to us."
'A test run' -
Surveying the plaza on Monday morning, a 25-year-old anarchist who goes by the pseudonym Michael Sampson said, "This is a test run. I see this camp as a school where people learn how to organize and learn about social issues that are plaguing us all."
Sampson, who lives in a radical collective house in North Oakland and volunteers with nonprofit groups and a radical newspaper, said anarchists are often misinterpreted as advocates of chaos.
"Anarchism to me is about structure and order," he said. "You want to see anarchism in its truest form - it's here."
The test has had plenty of tension built in.
Protesters have struggled to communicate with television reporters, who have at times been harassed or forbidden from filming. And campers have had trouble at times controlling troublemakers - "nihilists," as some call them, who didn't come for the policy debates.
Some people who wanted to camp were scared off by violence, including a frightening incident last week in which a mentally ill man assaulted protesters before one knocked him down with a two-by-four. Such incidents have prompted deep soul-searching and fierce debates in camp.
During a march through Oakland on Saturday, for instance, one protester began screaming "F- the police!" over and over. Mills College student Annie Lebowitz, who was in the march, ran up to him and persuaded him to take it down a notch.
"I said, there are families here, we don't want to be alienating people," said Lebowitz, 27. "I told him, 'I don't want to tell you what to do, but please consider what I'm saying' - and he stopped."
Vowing nonviolence -
One resident of the camp who knows how to shake things up but is vowing nonviolence is Gabe Meyers, a 34-year-old Oakland resident known for provocative protest tactics. In April 2009, in the wake of a BART police officer's fatal shooting of Oscar Grant, he threw red paint at the transit agency's general manager during a board meeting, earning 30 days in jail.
He said some troublemakers have been disruptive enough at times to undermine the mission of the camp, but added, "I think there are enough good people here not to let us get distracted."
"This is people deciding to reclaim space, which is a way of taking power back," Meyers said. "It's not the typical protest movement, with just the leftists getting involved. It's more of a populist thing. People are realizing we've been screwed over by the ruling class."
Senior Pastor Andrea Davidson, with the Taylor Memorial United Methodist Church in Oakland, listens to a speaker during an Occupy San Francisco march through the financial district on Monday October 24, 2011 in Oakland, Calif. Davidson said, "We need financial equality for everyone. We've lost sight of the values our country was founded on."
Photo: Mike Kepka / The Chronicle
Aiyahnna Johnson of Oakland, with her daughter, Persia Evans, has been taking part in the protests for weeks.
Photo: Mike Kepka / The Chronicle
Zisa O,22, a writer and blogger, sits with with a new group of friends in the center of a tent city at Occupy Oakland on Monday October 24, 2011 in Oakland, Calif. O came to Occoupy Oakland four days ago after leaving Occupy Portland. "We the 99% have to work through this. Our economic system needs to colaps," she said.
Photo: Mike Kepka / The Chronicle
[http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/10/25/MNRP1LLJUT.DTL]
SAN FRANCISCO -- No single face represents the elaborate encampment outside Oakland City Hall that inhabitants call an experiment in antiauthoritarian living.
Instead, two weeks after the first tent went up - and four days after the city gave its first eviction order - the plaza on Monday held a spicy stew of idealists and anarchists, angry middle-class workers and aging radicals, peaceniks and provocateurs, the jobless and the homeless, plus some people who just want to party.
The common ground at Occupy Oakland is anger over economic inequality and a desire to hoist a local flag in the Occupy Wall Street movement. But creating an alternative society on a half-acre isn't easy, and no fewer than 21 committees have formed to oversee everything from food to security.
Perhaps more challenging - given the mass appeal of the movement - is fostering inclusiveness in a camp that is highly unusual, tinged with paranoia about corporate America and facing a possible confrontation with police over sanitation and security issues. A sign at the entrance seems to sum up some of the camp's insular leanings: "Don't worry," it states, "I don't take you seriously either."
Different this time -
Many veteran protesters say they haven't seen this broad a spectrum of people camping out long term for a cause since the 1960s. Demonstrations against wars and other causes produced marches and coalitions, but actually occupying in unison across the country for as long as this is remarkable, they said.
"This is different," said the Rev. Louie Vitale of Oakland, who at 79 is one of the deans of the Bay Area protest community.
"There is certainly some of the usual expressive behavior of the counterculture in terms of dress and revolutionary rhetoric," he said as he marched with other clergy Monday in support of the San Francisco Occupy camp - which is more homogenous in its counterculture flavor than Oakland. "But it's not the heart of what's going on.
"What they're really trying for everywhere is a paradigm shift, and a lot of that has to do with the new idea of what the middle class is after losing ground for years," Vitale said.
That dynamic is drawing out people like lawyer Timothy Fong, who has been driving in daily from his Santa Clara office to the Oakland camp to help with strategy on fundraising to continue the protest.
"There are people here from the anarchist or communist movements, and we're not going to see eye to eye, but that's fine," he said, standing in the camp in a snappy L.L. Bean jacket. "We all need to dialogue. I've also seen a lot of people here from the neighborhoods, people used to working in the community, office workers."
Ra So, a 38-year-old musician from Oakland who has been taking part in the camp's committees, said it should not be surprising that many of the camp's full-time residents are veteran activists. He called them "the foot soldiers of the people."
"The people that can afford to camp out are usually idealistic young people, so what you see in camp isn't always going to be reflective of the broad-based support behind this," So said. "It takes people who have hard-core ideals. Most people are sitting at home watching 'The Simpsons.' They might feel the same way, but not take action."
Coming after work -
It's usually during the camp's general assemblies - which were recently scaled back from nightly to four nights a week - that a broader set of people arrives, often after getting off work.
"I'm definitely in the part of the camp that is for nonviolent protest," said a 23-year-old woman from Berkeley who gave only her last name of Dorney. "But it seems like there's a group of people that does want to fight back, and aren't thinking about the safety of everybody else."
Dorney has been operating "Children's Village," an area for as many as 23 kids every day, complete with games and art supplies, but said she will have to cut back on her duties after landing a job as a tutor.
Asked why she had come, she said, "We all want to change the world, to make it better. We're all kind of sick and tired and fed up. ... I think a lot of people in California and across the country are looking to us."
'A test run' -
Surveying the plaza on Monday morning, a 25-year-old anarchist who goes by the pseudonym Michael Sampson said, "This is a test run. I see this camp as a school where people learn how to organize and learn about social issues that are plaguing us all."
Sampson, who lives in a radical collective house in North Oakland and volunteers with nonprofit groups and a radical newspaper, said anarchists are often misinterpreted as advocates of chaos.
"Anarchism to me is about structure and order," he said. "You want to see anarchism in its truest form - it's here."
The test has had plenty of tension built in.
Protesters have struggled to communicate with television reporters, who have at times been harassed or forbidden from filming. And campers have had trouble at times controlling troublemakers - "nihilists," as some call them, who didn't come for the policy debates.
Some people who wanted to camp were scared off by violence, including a frightening incident last week in which a mentally ill man assaulted protesters before one knocked him down with a two-by-four. Such incidents have prompted deep soul-searching and fierce debates in camp.
During a march through Oakland on Saturday, for instance, one protester began screaming "F- the police!" over and over. Mills College student Annie Lebowitz, who was in the march, ran up to him and persuaded him to take it down a notch.
"I said, there are families here, we don't want to be alienating people," said Lebowitz, 27. "I told him, 'I don't want to tell you what to do, but please consider what I'm saying' - and he stopped."
Vowing nonviolence -
One resident of the camp who knows how to shake things up but is vowing nonviolence is Gabe Meyers, a 34-year-old Oakland resident known for provocative protest tactics. In April 2009, in the wake of a BART police officer's fatal shooting of Oscar Grant, he threw red paint at the transit agency's general manager during a board meeting, earning 30 days in jail.
He said some troublemakers have been disruptive enough at times to undermine the mission of the camp, but added, "I think there are enough good people here not to let us get distracted."
"This is people deciding to reclaim space, which is a way of taking power back," Meyers said. "It's not the typical protest movement, with just the leftists getting involved. It's more of a populist thing. People are realizing we've been screwed over by the ruling class."
Senior Pastor Andrea Davidson, with the Taylor Memorial United Methodist Church in Oakland, listens to a speaker during an Occupy San Francisco march through the financial district on Monday October 24, 2011 in Oakland, Calif. Davidson said, "We need financial equality for everyone. We've lost sight of the values our country was founded on."
Photo: Mike Kepka / The Chronicle
Aiyahnna Johnson of Oakland, with her daughter, Persia Evans, has been taking part in the protests for weeks.
Photo: Mike Kepka / The Chronicle
Zisa O,22, a writer and blogger, sits with with a new group of friends in the center of a tent city at Occupy Oakland on Monday October 24, 2011 in Oakland, Calif. O came to Occoupy Oakland four days ago after leaving Occupy Portland. "We the 99% have to work through this. Our economic system needs to colaps," she said.
Photo: Mike Kepka / The Chronicle
Sunday, October 23, 2011
2011-10-22 "Hands Off Occupy Oakland-ILWU Calls For Labor Backing Of Occupation"
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9dfWK0JFok]
Hands Off Occupy Oakland-ILWU Calls For Labor Backing Of Occupation -
Hundreds of supporters of Occupy Oakland attended a rally on October 22, 2011 and called for the defense of the occupation. ILWU Local 10 Executive Board member Clarence Thomas called on all unions and the entire labor movement to defend the occupation against threats by Mayor Quan and the city of Oakland to shut it down. Other speakers included members of the CNA, OEA and IWW. Jack Gerson from the OEA called for an fightback against privatization of education and occupation of the schools.
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9dfWK0JFok]
Hands Off Occupy Oakland-ILWU Calls For Labor Backing Of Occupation -
Hundreds of supporters of Occupy Oakland attended a rally on October 22, 2011 and called for the defense of the occupation. ILWU Local 10 Executive Board member Clarence Thomas called on all unions and the entire labor movement to defend the occupation against threats by Mayor Quan and the city of Oakland to shut it down. Other speakers included members of the CNA, OEA and IWW. Jack Gerson from the OEA called for an fightback against privatization of education and occupation of the schools.
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