At least 4,000 are at the gates to the Port of Oakland

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San Jose Mercury News:

Vanloads of officers from the Alameda County Sheriff's Department and unmarked SWAT vans are at the police command center at the Port of Oakland.

Protesters have effectively shut down maritime operations at the port, Director Omar Benjamin said Wednesday, as more than 4,500 people arrived at the gates.

Earlier, 50 police officers, many in riot gear and armed with tear-gas canisters, formed a line at Maritime and Bataan roads, near the police command center. About a dozen motorcycle officers had formed a second line behind the police, but have now moved.

About a dozen protesters on bicycles were facing off with the officers but are now riding around the streets outside the port. Where they are headed was not immediately known.

The crowd of more than 4,500 arrived at the Port shortly after 5 p.m. and stretched several blocks down Middle Harbor Road leading into the port as they begin their attempt to shut down the port for start of the 7 p.m. night shift.

Benjamin pledged that normal port operations would resume when "it's safe and secure to do so."

"We ask that everyone remain calm, respectful and safe. Specifically, we ask that demonstrators allow port workers safe passage home. Please allow our fellow 99 percent to get home safe to their families."

Starting at 4 p.m., two massive groups walked the mile from 14th Street and Broadway. The crowd fanned out for a least a mile, climbed on trucks and chanted.

Oakland is now calling for extra officers from other jurisdictions for help dealing with the Occupy general strike, signaling possible concern from officials about what direction the mostly peaceful protest will take.

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Things are getting out of control quick. The wishy-washy lib mayor is making things worse.

[RandyM]

If only the San Andreas fault would swallow them up.

[nickydog]

This whole thing is getting to be a real mess.

[WestVirginiaRebel]

Fox News:

OAKLAND, Calif. – Occupy Oakland protesters shut down the city's busy shipping port Wednesday, after a Whole Foods store was vandalized and windows were shattered at three major banks, as thousands took part in a general strike and day of protests.

Police estimated that a crowd of about 3,000 had gathered at the Port of Oakland by about 5 p.m. PDT. Some had marched from the city's downtown, while others had been bused to the port.

Port spokesman Isaac Kos-Read said maritime operations had effectively been shut down, and interim Oakland police chief Howard Jordan warned that protesters who went inside the port's gates would be committing a federal offense.

In Philadelphia, protesters were arrested earlier Wednesday as they held a sit-in at the headquarters of cable giant Comcast. Military veterans marched in uniform in New York, angry at their dim job prospects. And parents and their kids, some in strollers, formed a "children's brigade" to join the Oakland, Calif. rallies.

"There's absolutely something wrong with the system," said Jessica Medina, a single mother who attends school part time and works at an Oakland cafDe. "We need to change that."

In Los Angeles, New York and other cities, demonstrators held their own rallies in solidarity with the Oakland protesters, who called for Wednesday's "general strike" after the city became a rallying point last week when an Iraq War veteran was injured in clashes with police.

Protesters, city officials and business leaders were optimistic the strike would be peaceful, and there was little to no visible police presence all day.

Although windows at two bank branches and a Whole Foods store were broken and graffiti was painted inside one of the banks, officials described the protests as peaceful and orderly and said no arrests had been made.

"It is important to acknowledge the word is watching Oakland tonight," city administrator Deanna Santana said as demonstrators began to gather at the port. "And we need to ensure it remains a safe place for everyone."
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Except for those who, you know, actually have to work for a living...

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Update

 

"Oakland Police responded to a late night call that protesters had broken into and occupied a downtown building and set several simultaneous fires," the statement read. "The protesters began hurling rocks, explosives, bottles, and flaming objects at responding officers. Several private and municipal buildings sustained heavy vandalism. Dozens of protesters wielding shields were surrounded and arrested."

 

Protesters reported running from several rounds of tear gas and bright flashes and deafening pops that some thought were caused by "flash bang" grenades. Fire crews arrived and suppressed the flames.

 

Meanwhile, protesters and police faced off for the rest of the night in an uneasy standoff.

[NCTexan]

Update

 

"Oakland Police responded to a late night call that protesters had broken into and occupied a downtown building and set several simultaneous fires," the statement read. "The protesters began hurling rocks, explosives, bottles, and flaming objects at responding officers. Several private and municipal buildings sustained heavy vandalism. Dozens of protesters wielding shields were surrounded and arrested."

 

Protesters reported running from several rounds of tear gas and bright flashes and deafening pops that some thought were caused by "flash bang" grenades. Fire crews arrived and suppressed the flames.

 

Meanwhile, protesters and police faced off for the rest of the night in an uneasy standoff.

Words have meaning... These are NOT "protesters", they are terrorist. They should be treated as such.

 

Suitably "outfitted" drones would be my answer. It worked in Yemen, it could work in Oakland.

 

 

The media's attempt to equate these actions with the lawful protests of the Tea Party become more ridiculous every day.

[Evad]

"Suitably "outfitted" drones would be my answer. It worked in Yemen, it could work in Oakland."

YES!

There are multiple target rich opportunities. Oakland could be the trend setter.

[nickydog]

The picture of the guy with his pants down and the police car is my favorite contrast to the Tea Party.

[clearvision]

Police estimated that a crowd of about 3,000 had gathered at the port at the height of the demonstration around dusk. Some had marched from the city's downtown, while others had been bused to the port.

 

I would think that those who planned and paid for the buses might be held liable for some of the damage and bills from LE to handle this.

[SrWoodchuck]

Read this yesterday.... thought it was very sad & sickening. [apologies if it has already been posted here]

 

Oakland Police Officer’s Association releases statement about “confusing” week

 

 

Early Tuesday morning, the Oakland Police Officer’s Association released the following “Open letter to the citizens of Oakland,” reprinted here in its entirety:

 

We represent the 645 police officers who work hard every day to protect the citizens of Oakland. We, too, are the 99% fighting for better working conditions, fair treatment and the ability to provide a living for our children and families. We are severely understaffed with many City beats remaining unprotected by police during the day and evening hours.

 

As your police officers, we are confused.

 

On Tuesday, October 25th, we were ordered by Mayor Quan to clear out the encampments at Frank Ogawa Plaza and to keep protesters out of the Plaza. We performed the job that the Mayor’s Administration asked us to do, being fully aware that past protests in Oakland have resulted in rioting, violence and destruction of property.

 

Then, on Wednesday, October 26th, the Mayor allowed protesters back in – to camp out at the very place they were evacuated from the day before.

 

To add to the confusion, the Administration issued a memo on Friday, October 28th to all City workers in support of the “Stop Work” strike scheduled for Wednesday, giving all employees, except for police officers, permission to take the day off.

 

That’s hundreds of City workers encouraged to take off work to participate in the protest against “the establishment.” But aren’t the Mayor and her Administration part of the establishment they are paying City employees to protest? Is it the City’s intention to have City employees on both sides of a skirmish line?

[clearvision]

The Police using force against us for throwing flaming bottles at them is like so not appropriate.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHlHiNEZ1wA

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Just saw a headline "Occupy Oakland is stealing Occupy Wallstreet's Mojo".

 

Got me thinking. We should just offer all the occupy consortiums flights out to Oakland and let them occupy it to their hearts content.

[RandyM]

Just saw a headline "Occupy Oakland is stealing Occupy Wallstreet's Mojo".

 

Got me thinking. We should just offer all the occupy consortiums flights out to Oakland and let them occupy it to their hearts content.

 

 

And once we get them all in Oakland, nuke the Sierra Nevada Mountains and let the west coast drift away.

[Valin]

What we are seeing here (and I'm not just talking about the violence/crime) is a vision of what one part of the political spectrum see America to be....and where they want America to go. We as a nation are at a point of choosing....my message is choose wisely.

[clearvision]

Oakland has evidently documented 400 lost jobs do to several big leases falling thru after the mayor let the occupiers back into the square after clearing them out. The Police force is complain big time that the city council just let go 80 officers due to budget cuts and now has to spend 2M or so on overtime AND paying for other departments to come help.

[RandyM]

Makes me sick. The radicals in Oakland, Wall St and all across the country have no idea (nor do they care) about what their antics and violence are costing the rest of us who pay taxes.

[Rheo]

Makes me sick. The radicals in Oakland, Wall St and all across the country have no idea (nor do they care) about what their antics and violence are costing the rest of us who pay taxes.

It makes most of us sick. Obama and every elected official that is sanctioning this and making it possible....

 

YOU OWN IT and THE RESULTS!

[Argyle58]

Makes me sick. The radicals in Oakland, Wall St and all across the country have no idea (nor do they care) about what their antics and violence are costing the rest of us who pay taxes.

It makes most of us sick. Obama and every elected official that is sanctioning this and making it possible....

 

YOU OWN IT and THE RESULTS!

 

The "o" and the others not only have sanctioned this, they have created it with their class warfare rhetoric. So, yeah, they own it and will come to regret it.