The Kenneth Harding JR. Foundation and Bayview residents and allies call for support to surround Candlestick Stadium Sunday, January 22nd during the NFC Championship game in opposition to police brutality. A march to the stadium will begin at noon at 3rd St. and Oakdale in San Francisco and head via 3rd St. to Gilman and Jamestown. Kenneth Harding Jr. was murdered by the San Francisco police on July 16, 2011 for allegedly evading a two dollar Muni train fare. Event organizers ask that the community, "Join us in sending a message to the media and game attendees that the cops in the Bayview/Hunters Point Community are killing our children, violating our rights, and trying to silence the people for speaking out."

"Please support the community to Bring the Noise during Sunday’s game!"

"Come and stand up against police brutality. Speak out against the police killing our children. Come and support our truth tellers."

Event Announcement

In a call-out for a march at 1pm from 14th Street & Broadway to a rally at the Fruitvale BART station on January 1st, 2012, organizers write: "A major political movement was launched on January 1st, 2009. Its catalyst was the police killing of Oscar Grant, a young, unarmed Black father executed by the BART police. This murder awakened a sleeping giant — Bay Area residents angry and frustrated at the continued abuse of power perpetrated by law enforcement. Oscar and all the young people that were attacked and terrorized by the BART police that night, in addition to the many victims of police brutality in the greater Bay Area, have become ingrained in our collective memory. Their lives are the unspeakable price we pay to live in a society based on racial injustice.

"Not only do police serve the needs of the 1%, they have always existed to put down resistance in communities of color. But when other BART riders posted their video recordings of the murder of Oscar by BART officer Johannes Mehserle, the internationally-viewed footage led to a new form of resistance: Community Copwatching. Cellphones, cameras and a popular upsurge brought the first arrest, trial and conviction of a white officer for killing a Black man.

"The movement that touched ground in January 2009 — the organizing to address police terrorism — laid the ground work for the movement against the 1% here in Oakland. The polarizing disparity of wealth and the numerous police killings in our communities are inextricably linked. To unravel a system that forecloses homes, pushes our families into poverty and criminalizes our youth while gentrifying our neighborhoods, we need to not only address a system based on greed but a system that needs police brutality to survive and thrive through state terror.

"On this 3rd anniversary of Oscar’s murder, lets take to the streets to show that Oscar Grant is gone but not forgotten. Oscar lives on in the memories of his family and friends and in our resistance to the police."

Event Announcement

Eighteen months after he was first detained on accusations of revealing information to WikiLeaks, PFC Bradley Manning appeared before an Article 32 investigating officer for a pre-trial hearing on December 16th at Fort Meade in Maryland. Supporters began gathering outside the gates of Fort Meade to call for Manning's freedom and denounce the proceedings as unjust. Inside the tightly-controlled military court room, lead defense counsel David Coombs challenged the investigating officer, Army Lt. Col. Paul Almanza, to recuse himself due to conflicts of interest.

"Military officials have begun conducting their star chamber prosecution after abusing Bradley Manning of his rights for eighteen months," said Jeff Paterson, an organizer with the Bradley Manning Support Network, who was speaking from the vigil at Fort Meade. "The investigating officer is not only biased to produce an outcome that is favorable to his employer at the Justice Department -- he's under pressure from his Commander-in-Chief, who has already inappropriately weighed-in on this case."

Supporters have long argued that PFC Manning could not receive a fair hearing due to unlawful command influence from President Obama, who publicly declared in April that the former Army intelligence analyst "broke the law."

A bus carrying over 50 supporters from Occupy Wall Street arrived shortly after 9:00 AM as the media blackout began inside the courtroom. Former Army linguist Lt. Dan Choi, who was a prominent activist in the effort to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," greeted the new arrivals and spoke out in support of Manning.

Read More | Occupy Wall Street In Solidarity with Bradley Manning at NSA

Previous Related Indybay Feature: SF Rally and March for Accused WikiLeaker Bradley Manning

In solidarity with those arrested when the Occupy Santa Cruz encampment at San Lorenzo Park was raided by authorities the previous morning, community members held a noise demonstration and rally at the Santa Cruz County Jail on the evening of Friday, December 9th. Approximately 50-75 community members brought percussion instruments and five gallon plastic water jugs and proceeded to drum in mass to communicate to the prisoners inside of the jail that they would not give up support of their cause, and also to show the "compassion and fire" felt for those interned, and to stand strong when faced with police repression locally.

By the time the demonstration began on Friday at the county courthouse, five out of the six arrestees had been released. When initially booked into jail, unusually high bail amounts of $25,000-$50,000 were set for the individuals' who faced basic misdemeanor charges. They were charged with "obstructing an officer" even though some of them were only standing on the sidewalk observing the removal of the Occupy Santa Cruz camp, and moving back when authorities suggested they do so.

Prior to the release of five of the arrestees, suggested support for them included showing up at the arrestees' arraignments at 8am on the morning of Monday, December 12 at the Santa Cruz County Courthouse, in addition to calling SCPD Chief Kevin Vogel: (831) 420-5810 (ask for Kevin Vogel), Zach Friend (police spokesman): (831) 420-5818, and Bob Lee (district attorney): (831) 454-2420. It is unclear whether the person still held in custody will be arraigned on Monday, but one of the five releeased was not given a date to appear.

Read more and view photos

See also: Calling Deputies "Puppets"--Cause For Arrest? Updates from the War Zone | previous coverage: Occupy Santa Cruz remains committed despite raid by County sheriffs, City Injunction | Marchers Joined by OSC for Protest and Noisemaking at County Jail

On December 8th at about 7 a.m., approximately 100 police from across Santa Cruz County outfitted in riot gear raided the Occupy Santa Cruz encampment in San Lorenzo Park. The City of Santa Cruz and Police Department issued an evacuation notice on Monday, Dec. 5th to cease and desist all camping activity on Wednesday, Dec. 7th before 5 p.m.. Occupy Santa Cruz held a general assembly on Wednesday evening, and only a small number of people remained in San Lorenzo Park overnight.

The agencies conducting the raid included the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office, police departments from Santa Cruz, Capitola, Scotts Valley, Watsonville and UC Santa Cruz. State park rangers were also dismantling tents inside the park. Employees of First Alarm, a private security and policing corporation, were present as well.

Six people were arrested and are being held in jail. Arrestees are reportedly being held on $25,000 bail each (one exception being held on $50,000) for various charges, including failure to leave the park.

Supporters of those who have been arrested write, "These people urgently need support! There will undoubtedly be court and lawyer fees, along with the possibility of posting bail, so please donate to the legal support fund."

Read more and view photos | Support Needed For Occupy Santa Cruz Arrestees | Noise Demo In Solidarity With OSC Arrestees

See also: Santa Cruz Co. Sheriff's Office Dismantles Occupy Santa Cruz Geodesic Dome and Structures at Courthouse | 7 pm: It's When Free Speech Ends | previous coverage: Occupy Santa Cruz Helps Those Fallen Through the Cracks

On November 14th, the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California (ACLU-NC) and the National Lawyers’ Guild (NLG) filed a lawsuit in federal court against the Oakland Police Department (OPD) for its egregious constitutional violations against Occupy Oakland demonstrators. The ACLU-NC and the NLG are suing OPD on behalf of Scott Campbell and other demonstrators subjected to excessive force during recent demonstrations. Campbell, a videographer and Indybay contributor, was shot with what police euphemistically call a "bean bag round", which is a fabric bag full of lead shot fired from a shotgun, while filming a police line at Occupy Oakland after midnight on November 3rd following the November 2nd general strike. Additional plaintiffs include Kerie Campbell, Marc McKinnie, Michael Siegel, and NLG Legal Observer Marcus Kryshka.

On two recent occasions, October 25th and November 2nd, OPD and cooperating police agencies under their direction attacked the plaintiffs and other Occupy Oakland supporters who were peacefully participating in a political demonstration. Police indiscriminately shot flash bang grenades, other projectiles and excessive amounts of tear gas into crowds of peaceful protesters. Police also fired other projectiles at individuals who posed no risk of harm, but were clearly engaged in First Amendment protected activity, such as filming police at a demonstration. This conduct violates the Fourth Amendment by subjecting protesters who posed no safety concerns to unnecessary and excessive force and violates the First Amendment by interfering with their rights to assemble and demonstrate.

OPD’s recent conduct violates its own Crowd Control Policy, adopted in the settlement of a lawsuit arising from OPD’s prior mishandling of a large protest in 2003. The policy strictly limits the use of force and prohibits the indiscriminate use of shot-filled "bean" bags and other projectiles against crowds or peaceful protesters.

Read more | Shot by police with rubber bullet at Occupy Oakland | See also: Battle for Occupy Oakland - Palo Alto PD Attack Indybay Reporter, 10/25/11: video & photos || Class Action Lawsuit Asserts Constitutional Violations at Oscar Grant Demonstrations

Students at UC Berkeley walked out of classes on November 9th to protest budget cuts and rising tuition, and to support the Occupy Wall Street demonstrations. The rally protested economic inequality and its impact on students, the poor and the young — in the words of the occupy movement, a protest by the 99% of the people who are exploited by a system that only benefits the top 1%. Later that night, students were beaten by police batons as they tried to set up tents in Sproul Plaza, and six students and an assistant professor were arrested. Students continued to occupy the plaza without tents, however.

Occupy UC Berkeley was given terms from the UC which severely restricted the students' rights to assembly and free speech. The terms the UC tried to place on the students went beyond no tents. Students were denied sleeping bags, and even denied the right to sleep at night. Even in the event of rain, no tents would be allowed, only tarps. The protest was only permitted for one week. Amplified sound was only permitted three hours a day; from noon until 1PM, and from 5PM to 7PM. Further restrictions came from the police, including no signs or banners, and no bullhorns (even if not in use).

UC Berkeley police also searched any large backpacks and demanded the ID from individuals wearing large backpacks. UC police stopped and searched at least one medic. The police believed the red cross symbol to be a ruse, and thus searched through the medic's supplies.

According to UC police Capt. Margo Bennett, "the individuals who linked arms and actively resisted, that in itself is an act of violence...I understand that many students may not think that, but linking arms in a human chain when ordered to step aside is not a nonviolent protest."

Occupy Cal, in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street and the Arab Spring, have called for an open university strike on Tuesday, November 15th following the actions of police brutality on non-violent civil disobedient protesters on November 9th.

Videos | Photos: 1 | 2 | Audio | see also: UC Santa Cruz Students Join Occupy Movement with "Occupy Education" Protest

Occupy Oakland continues to kick through the boundaries of what was previously thought possible, upping the ante of what it means to resist against corporate greed and state oppression. Just one day after a hundred people were arrested, two encampments were physically smashed to the ground, and a thousand supporters were attacked by police with chemical weapons and projectiles in a manner that shocked the conscience of the nation, Occupy Oakland collectively took the audacious and ambitious step of calling for the first General Strike in America in sixty-five years. The world truly is watching, waiting to see if a kinder, more fair America is possible. No matter what happens today, though, no matter how many banks and corporations are shut down, no matter what the police do or the corporate media report, a new sense of people power and possibility are in the air. History will be made.

The Oakland Commune did not rise up out of a vacuum, though. There is a strong history of resistance and struggle in the East Bay. Through decades of the blood, sweat, and tears of countless freedom fighters and martyrs -- from the General Strike of 1946, the Free Speech Movement, and the Black Panthers, to the more recent Oscar Grant Rebellions, Bay of Rage anti-austerity and prison solidarity marches, and police-accountability shutdowns of BART stations.

Read More | Nov. 13th: Oakland Leaders Should Keep Sound Cannons on Ice | Oakland Chamber of Commerce Represents Big Business and Multi-Nationals NOT Oaklanders | Quan's Next OPD raid of Occupy Oakland: What the hell is taking so long? | Interfaith tent revival @Occupyoakland on Sunday and all-night vigil | Nov. 12th: Occupy Oakland Egypt Solidarity March: Video | Occupy Oakland Egypt Solidarity March: Photos | Clearing Up Occupied Oakland Rumors Regarding Camp Relocation and OPD Scare Tactics | Defend Occupy Oakland : Proposal of the Ad Hoc Labor Activist Assembly | Oakland Police warns press of "potential risk to personal safety" covering Occupy Oakland | Urgent Call to Alameda Labor Council for Labor Defense of Occupy Oakland | Interview w/ Shimaa Helmy - Egyptian activist, blogger and Tahrir Square camper | An Open Letter to Occupy Oakland from the Oakland Police Officers’ Association | OCCUPY OAKLAND solidarity march with EGYPT | Nov. 11th: Occupy Oakland Veterans' March Against Police Brutality: Video | Occupy Oakland Served Notices to Vacate, Effective Immediately | Whose streets? Oakland’s shadow government presses City Hall to end the occupation | Veterans March Against Police Brutality | Nov. 10th: POOR Magazine Marches to Decolonize the Occupy Movement | demystifying anarchism at occupy oakland | Police Brutality is Violence | Occupy Oakland One Month Birthday Party! | Poor Peoples Occupation (Decolonization) from Oakland to San Francisco | Nov. 9th: Reflections on social justice | News from Occupy Oakland's general assembly | Nov. 8th: Lake Merritt/Uptown District Association calls on Mayor to forcefully end Occupy Oakland | Occupy Oakland at a Crossroads | Nov. 7th: Black Bloc: the culture of coercion and poor strategy at mass actions needs an overhaul | ACLU to OPD: No Seriously, Hand Over the Info | Daily Show idea about relocating Occupy Oakland being debated by Mayor and City Council | Nov. 6th: Relatos Zapatistas Radio Show: Occupy Oakland and Community Safety | New Planter Box @ Occupy Oakland | Nov. 3rd: Indybay Breaking News Reports | Occupy Oakland 11.3.11 | Nov. 2nd: Indybay Breaking News Reports | Occupy Oakland General Strike - Occupation of Travelers Building: video | Kids in West Oakland | Travelers Aid Society Occupation- Photos, Part 1 | Travelers Aid Society Occupation- Photos, Part 2 | Occupy Oakland Historic Strike and Shutdown of the Port – Media Roots TV | Occupy Oakland General Strike - Occupation of Travelers Building: photos, 1 of 2 | Occupy Oakland General Strike - Occupation of Travelers Building: photos, 2 of 2 | Occupy Oakland General Strike - Shutdown of the Port of Oakland: photos, 1 of 2 | Occupy Oakland General Strike - Shutdown of the Port of Oakland: photos, 2 of 2 | Tens of Thousands March to Defend Occupy Oakland | Video clearly showing who broke a window on Broadway last Wednesday | Occupy Oakland General Strike - Afternoon Before Port Action: photos | "To Our Friends, We Are Here. To Our Enemies - We Are Coming!" | Occupied Oakland Tribune | For The Oakland Commune - Anarchist Video on November 2 | Occupy Oakland General Strike - Banks Smashed Up in Afternoon: photos, 2 of 2 | Occupy Oakland General Strike - Banks Smashed Up in Afternoon: photos, 1 of 2 | Occupy Oakland General Strike - Banks Shut Down in Morning: photos | An Open Letter to Occupy Oakland from One Anarchist | Shot by police with rubber bullet at Occupy Oakland | Oakland General Strike a Success, but Cops Seriously Injure another Vet | What happened in Oakland, Nov. 2 | Port Of Oakland Occupy Protest | Occupation Oakland Port Strike | Interview with Harun Arsalai - Arrested, Beaten, and Abused by Police and Sheriff's Deputies: video | Yet another anarchist commentary on the Black Bloc | images from oakland general strike | Second Veteran in as Many Weeks Injured by Oakland Police | An Open Letter to the Black Bloc and Others Concerning Wednesday's Tactics in Oakland | Reflexiones sobre la primera semana en Oscar Grant Plaza | Open Letter from Anarchist Participant in The General Strike | Photos from Oakland General Strike & Evening Actions | Occupy Oakland's General Strike and Port Shut Down | Occupy Oakland Safer Spaces Committee Statement on Tactics Used During General Strike | General Strike Photos! b/w | Oakland General Strike photos | Response to AP story on Oakland General Strike | Pictures from OO's General Strike | Statement on the Occupation of the former Traveler's Aid Society at 520 16th Street | Occupy Oakland General Strike | Rise Up, Shut It Down | Occupy Oakland Port Strike A Success!! | Occupy Oakland General Strike Photos | Trucks and railroads are occupied at Port of Oakland, tens of thousands continue to march | Ports Significantly Disrupted Today, They Shut Down Tonight | BAMN Line on Jean Quan is Dangerous and Idiotic | Occupy Oakland Death to Capitalism Banner | General strike early march | Occupy Oakland General Strike November 2nd! No Business As Usual November 2nd! | OccupyOakland.org/strike | Nov. 1: Nov 2nd Tear Gas Weather Forecast | Some observations by a few anarchists | UCSF Nursing Students Join Oakland General Strike | A Message to the Partisans, in Advance of the General Strike | Welcome to the Oakland General Strike | Bay Area General Strikes: 1930s and Now | SEIU 1021 Joins the November 2nd General Strike | Oct. 31: Occupy Oakland joins with workers & community members to call for a Nov 2nd General Strike | The Insurrection—Oakland Style: A History | Oct. 29: Why You Should Join the Wed., Nov. 2, Oakland General Strike | Scott Olsen Cannot Talk, General Strike Nov. 2! | Carpenters Local 713 Supports Call for Nov. 2 General Strike in Oakland | Oct. 28: Union Support for General Strike and Protests Nov. 2 | Defend Occupy Oakland With The Muscle Of Organized Labor-Statement Of ILWU Members | 1946: The Oakland General Strike [the last general strike in the U.S.] | Oct. 27: General Strike: Where OWS Needs To Go | Oct. 26: "We Are One Hand" Oakland Enters World Stage as Commune Calls for General Strike

Announcements: Occupy Richmond March to Oakland | feminists and queers against capitalism bloc in oakland general strike! | Occupy Oakland General Strike and Mass Day of Action Press Conference: photos | Occupy Oakland General Strike and Mass Day of Action Press Conference: video | Oakland General Strike Anti-Capitalist March | Blockade Port of Oakland During Nov 2 General Strike | November 2nd General Strike and Mass Day of Action Resolution | Occupy Oakland General Strike and Mass Day of Action

Previous related Indybay feature: Battle for Occupy Oakland Begins with Police Raid, Occupiers Up Ante with General Strike | Publish your own reports, photos, and video to Indybay