Mass arrests at Occupy Oakland protest
Updated at 12:35 AM today
by Sergio QuintanaOAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- Tear gas and flash bang grenades marked a day of clashes with police in Oakland Saturday.
It all escalated into a mass arrest at the downtown YMCA. A band of roaming protesters also vandalized city hall and Oakland was prompted to cal for mutual aid from neighboring police departments. Going through the statistics of the day is like going through a laundry list of mayhem. There were hundreds of the arrests. At least three police officers were injured and at least one protester was injured. Several buildings were broken into and vandalized, as well as some vehicles. Mayor Quan and her leadership staff say they have come to an end of their tolerance in dealing with violent Occupy demonstrations. City hall became one of the targets of demonstrators when a few people managed to force their way in and make a mess of the place. A visibly-flustered Mayor Jean Quan voiced her frustration with this latest demonstration. "Occupy Oakland has got to stop using Oakland as its playground, and people in the community, and people in the Occupy movement have to stop making excuses for his behavior," she said. At the height of protests during the day, demonstrators squared off with police. Some tossed objects at officers and police responded with flash bangs and smoke grenades. The demonstrators would disperse and then regroup. As the day wore on, several conflicts erupted.
A woman who watched one of those eruptions take place near 14th and Broadway told ABC7 police were being too heavy-handed. "I will say sometimes protesters get upset and do some things too. I'm being honest. But, I think it's wrong. It's like what do they say, taking a sledge hammer to kill a flea or something," Diane Reiner said. But after watching demonstrators throwing objects at officers, then break into city hall and damage other property, city leaders are clearly at their wit's end.
"It's an escalation that in my opinion, basically amounts to domestic terrorism where people start taking buildings and costing the city an incredible amount of resources," Oakland City Councilmember Ignacio De La Fuente said.
One of the buildings a large group rushed was the downtown YMCA. Police removed a few dozen from inside and encircled another group outside. Many were arrested police say they planned to hold and charge all of them.
"I would expect in the future, especially after what happened tonight, the level of violence and everything that preceded this on the internet, all their tweets, which they know we read, their intent is to commit acts of violence and vandalism and break into something that doesn't belong to them," Deputy Chief Jeff Israel said.
Associated Press reported Saturday night that up to 300 people were arrested on the day. Oakland called for reinforcements from police and sheriff's departments from around the Bay Area and planned to man their emergency operations center throughout the evening.
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Occupy Oakland protestors break into city hall
Saturday, January 28, 2012
OAKLAND, Calif. -- Oakland City Hall was broken into by multiple people Saturday night during Occupy Oakland protests, according to police.
Few details were available, although some reports from the scene indicate some protestors burned a city flag in front of the building. Police have since secured the building.The city hall incursion followed the detention and possible arrest of more than 100 people today in Occupy Oakland protests.
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A protestor broadcasting live video of the event said protestors were trying to escape through the YMCA after being surrounded by police, and not attempting to occupy it. A police spokesman said there was property damage to the YMCA but did not have details.
Protestors and police also clashed earlier today when a crowd that police estimated at around 450 to 500 marched from Frank Ogawa Plaza and attempted to take over the Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center.
Occupy organizers said the plan today was to go to a vacant building that was to be their new home. Once they reach their destination, organizers had planned to kick off a two-day "Oakland Rise-up Festival" to celebrate the establishment of the movement's new space.
Police said protestors began tearing down perimeter fences at the center around 2:30 p.m., and were ordered to disperse at 2:50 p.m.
Officers were allegedly pelted with bottles, metal pipe, rocks, spray cans, improvised explosive devices and burning flares, according to police. Police said they used smoke bombs and tear gas, and protestors at the scene reported officers using batons on individuals in the crowd.
As of around 5 p.m., 19 people had been arrested and three police officers had been injured. One of those officers suffered a laceration to the face and two received injuries to their hands.
By around 4 p.m., the bulk of the group had retreated to the plaza and regrouped. A second march set out from Frank Ogawa Plaza around 5:30 p.m.
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Oakland warns protesters not to take over building
Saturday, January 28, 2012
OAKLAND, Calif. -- Oakland officials are warning Occupy protesters they won't allow the group to take over a vacant building Saturday.
Members of the group said earlier this week that they planned to move into a vacant building and turn it into a social center and political hub. They also threatened to try to shut down the port, occupy the airport and take over City Hall.But in a statement Friday, Oakland City Administrator Deanna Santana said the city would not be "bullied by threats of violence or illegal activity."
Interim police Chief Howard Jordan also warned that officers would arrest those carrying out illegal actions. Oakland officials say since the Occupy Oakland encampment was first established in late October, police have arrested about 300 people.
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Occupy Oakland protesters may target Oakland Airport
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- Occupy Oakland protesters are threatening the city of Oakland with shutting down the Oakland International Airport, if police stand in the way of their latest planned demonstration.
Occupy leaders returned to Frank Ogawa Plaza Wednesday morning to announce they plan on staging a march this Saturday from City Hall to a vacant building. Their plan is to make the building their new home and establish the same services they had at the encampment they had in front of City Hall. "We will be taking over a place. We will not be asking for permission, nor will we be renting or paying any money to a bank. We will be taking over an abandoned property," said Leo Ritz-Barr from Occupy Oakland.
The demonstrators also read a letter they sent to Oakland Mayor Juan Quan stating that if they're evicted, they may repeat a shutdown of the port, they could blockade the airport, or once again occupy City Hall.
The mayor has no comment on the protest plan at this time.
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