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Battle for Occupy Oakland - Occupiers Undaunted by Massive Police Attacks, 10/25/11: photos

by Dave Id
Once the 1500-person march reached the intersection of 14th & Broadway, almost immediately police declared an unlawful assembly and warned protesters about the use of "chemical agents" and the "serious injuries" that might be inflicted upon them by police weapons. Marchers then turned up Broadway to reconvene elsewhere in order to discuss strategies regarding retaking Oscar Grant Plaza which had been raided early that morning. The march stopped at 20th Street and Franklin, within the vicinity of numerous downtown banks, to discuss the role banks play in the growing economic inequality in this country. Marchers then convened an impromptu General Assembly at the foot of Snow Park by Lake Merritt to discuss how best to return to Oscar Grant Plaza. Once back at 14th & Broadway, police immediately declared an unlawful assembly and then, when protesters refused to leave, police began to disperse massive amounts of tear gas, hurling flash bang grenades and firing projectiles at anyone in the street. The 12th Street BART station was closed after passengers waiting underground began to be effected by the noxious CS gas flowing into the station. Residents in the area reported the gas filling their apartments and effecting them and their companion animals. At street level, marchers would retreat from the intersection of 14th & Broadway after a police attack only to return later to receive further chemical weapon and projectile attacks by police. This continued into the night, with at least four major volleys of police gas and countless people injured by projectiles, including Scott Olsen who was critically injured when a projectile struck him in the forehead. Nevertheless, protesters refused to allow the police attacks to hinder their determination to re-occupy the plaza.
occupyoakland-day016-libraryandmarch-102511182645.jpg
[Pictured above: marchers on Broadway leave the scene after police threat, regroup and strategize about retaking Oscar Grant Plaza]



In using such overwhelming and asymmetrical force against largely peaceful demonstrators, Oakland police violated the terms of the their Negotiated Settlement Agreement (NSA) with a federal court in several ways, including that they allowed mutual aid police forces to use weapons not permitted for use by OPD and they failed to have EMTs (emergency medical technicians) on hand to deal with injuries caused by police violence. The NSA came about as a result of the Oakland Riders scandal, with stipulations added after the violent OPD attack on anti-war protesters at the Port of Oakland in 2003.


Battle for Occupy Oakland Post-Raid March, 10/25/11: photos
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2011/10/31/18696301.php

Battle for Occupy Oakland - Rally at Main Library Against Raids, 10/25/11: photos & audio
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2011/10/29/18695957.php

Battle for Occupy Oakland - Oscar Grant Plaza Aftermath at Dawn, 10/25/11: photos
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2011/10/28/18695785.php

Battle for Occupy Oakland Police Raid at Snow Park, 10/25/11: photos
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2011/10/28/18695680.php

Battle for Occupy Oakland Moves to Downtown Streets, 10/25/11: photos
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2011/10/28/18695658.php

Battle for Occupy Oakland Begins with Police Raid, 10/25/11: video
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2011/10/26/18695385.php

Battle for Occupy Oakland Begins with Police Raid, 10/25/11: photos
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2011/10/26/18695333.php

Occupy Oakland Raid - Barricades and Police Arrival, 10/25/11: photos
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2011/10/25/18695005.php

Oakland Police Gleeful Over Demolition of Occupy Oakland, 10/25/11: photos
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2011/10/25/18694945.php



For more information:
occupyoakland-day016-libraryandmarch-102511194051.jpg
Other photographers managed to capture the massive amounts of gas used before it dissipated. See http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2011/10/26/18695266.php and more at
§Video
by Dave Id

Battle for Occupy Oakland - Occupiers Undaunted by Massive Police Attacks, 10/25/11: video
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2011/11/02/18696643.php

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