300 arrested in Occupy Oakland protests

(AP) 

OAKLAND, Calif. — Dozens of police maintained a late-night guard around City Hall following daylong protests that resulted in 300 arrests. Occupy Oakland demonstrators broke into the historic building and burned a U.S. flag, as officers earlier fired tear gas to disperse people throwing rocks and tearing down fencing at a convention center.

Saturday's protests — the most turbulent since Oakland police forcefully dismantled an Occupy encampment in November — came just days after the group said it planned to use a vacant building as a social center and political hub and threatened to try to shut down the port, occupy the airport and take over City Hall.

An exasperated Mayor Jean Quan, who faced heavy criticism for the police action last fall, called on the Occupy movement to "stop using Oakland as its playground."

"People in the community and people in the Occupy movement have to stop making excuses for this behavior," Quan said.

Protesters clashed with police throughout the day, at times throwing rocks, bottles and other objects at officers. And police responded by deploying smoke, tear gas and bean bag rounds, City Administrator Deanna Santanta said.

Oakland Police block the entrance to City Hall after Occupy Oakland protesters gained access into the building during an Occupy Oakland protest, Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012.

(Credit: AP Photo/Beck Diefenbach)

Interim Police Chief Howard Jordan said about 300 arrests were made.

"These demonstrators stated their intention was to provoke officers and engage in illegal activity and that's exactly what has occurred today," Santana said.

The group assembled outside City Hall late Saturday morning and marched through the streets, disrupting traffic as they threatened to take over the vacant Henry Kaiser Convention Center.

The protesters walked to the vacant convention center, where some started tearing down perimeter fencing and "destroying construction equipment" shortly before 3 p.m., police said.

Police said they issued a dispersal order and used smoke and tear gas after some protesters pelted them with bottles, rocks, burning flares and other objects.

The number of demonstrators swelled as the day wore on, with afternoon estimates ranging from about 1,000 to 2,000 people.

A majority of the arrests came after police took scores of protesters into custody as they marched through the city's downtown, with some entering a YMCA building, said Sgt. Jeff Thomason, a police spokesman.

Occupy Oakland protesters burn an American flag found inside Oakland City Hall during a protest on the steps of City Hall, Saturday, January 28, 2012, in Oakland, Calif.

(Credit: AP Photo/Beck Diefenbach)

Quan said that at one point, many protesters forced their way into City Hall, where they burned flags, broke an electrical box and damaged several art structures, including a recycled art exhibit created by children.

She blamed the destruction on a small "very radical, violent" splinter group within Occupy Oakland.

"This is not a situation where we had a 1,000 peaceful people and a few violent people. If you look at what's happening today in terms of destructing property, throwing at and charging the police, it's almost like they are begging for attention and hoping that the police will make an error."

Dozens of officers surrounded City Hall, while others swept the inside of the building looking for protesters who had broken into the building, then ran out of the building with American flags before officers arrived.

The protest group issued an email criticizing police, saying "Occupy Oakland's building occupation, an act of constitutionally protected civil disobedience was disrupted by a brutal police response today."

Michael Davis, 32, who is originally from Ohio and was in the Occupy movement in Cincinnati, said Saturday was a very hectic day that originally started off calm but escalated when police began using "flash bangs, tear gas, smoke grenades and bean bags."

"What could've been handled differently is the way the Oakland police came at us," Davis said. "We were peaceful."

City leaders joined Quan in criticizing the protesters.

"City Hall is closed for the weekend. There is no excuse for behavior we've witnessed this evening," City Council President Larry Reid said during a news briefing Saturday.

Oakland Councilman Ignacio De La Fuente, echoed Reid's sentiments and said that what was going on amounts to "domestic terrorism."

Protesters with Occupy Oakland march through the streets of downtown Oakland, Calif., Saturday Jan. 28, 2012.

(Credit: AP Photo/San Francisco Chronicle, Michael Macor)

The national Occupy Wall Street movement, which denounces corporate excess and economic inequality, began in New York City in the fall but has been largely dormant lately.

Oakland, New York and Los Angeles were among the cities with the largest and most vocal Occupy protests early on. The demonstrations ebbed after those cities used force to move out hundreds of demonstrators who had set up tent cities.

In Oakland, the police department received heavy criticism for using force to break up earlier protests. Quan was among the critics, but on Saturday, she seemed to have changed her tune.

"Our officers have been very measured," Quan said. "Were there some mistakes made? There may be. I would say the Oakland police and our allies, so far a small percentage of mistakes. "But quite frankly, a majority of protesters who were charging the police were clearly not being peaceful.

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Earlier this month, a court-appointed monitor submitted a report to a federal judge that included "serious concerns" about the department's handling of the Occupy protests.

Jordan said late Saturday that he was in "close contact" with the federal monitor during the protests.

Quan added, "If the demonstrators think that because we are working more closely with the monitor now that we won't do what we have to do to uphold the law and try keep people safe in this city, they're wrong."

[needahandout]

y dot92141 January 29, 2012 2:10 PM EST
After listening to all the comments! i still have not heard a viable plan to get the usa back on track-----PERHAPS WE ARE OWNED LOCK STOCK AND BARREL BY THE SUPER WEALTHY.
_________________________________________________________________________

Here's a plan for you, dot - cut government spending and stop waiting for others to pay your way. Try starting with that and see where it leads you.

[noloyalisti]

Wall Street and the criminal Bankster and their paid servants in government are terrified of Occupy and the 99%. As well they should be because we are going after all of them and their graft and corruption and sellouts to the giant corporations.

[davidsalay]

Occupy Wall Street may have seemed to die down a bit in the past few months, but this weekend over 400 protestors were arrested at Occupy Oakland. The massive arrests in Oakland sparked outrage across the country, with dozens of cities marching in solidarity on Sunday. In addition to the news about Oakland's massive arrests comes news that Occupy DC's encampment is expected to be evicted soon. I saw a great interview from today on Democracy Now! that featured activists from Occupy Oakland and Occupy DC. Check it out here: http://www.democracynow.org/tags/occupy_wall_street

[js2212]

False. I think the outrage was more toward Occupy than for it. Name 10 cities that hosted marches of solidarity on Sunday Jan. 29th and cite the link that we can go to find the story about each march.

I can definitely tell that you are an OWS'er - you cannot help but distort reality and the basic facts. If you can't be grateful for what you have here in the US, I suggest you move to Somalia or Vietnam or something and learn the value of gratitude.

[noloyalisti]

js: Don't want government? Move to Somalia

[needahandout]

And the award for melodrama goes tooooooo...goptarded's comment about all out revolution.

gop, the lower class is there because because those who make more money are smarter, better educated and work harder. They also pay most of the taxes. Soooo, guess who controls the guys with nightsticks LOL

millions in the streets indeed - that's funny.

[True Grissel]

I want to see Syria, Libya, Egypt going down on our streets. I'd love to watch that on my breaks.

[voiceofthepast]

I am afraid handout doesn't realize he has more in common with a cross-dressing, commie, Spanish speaking, ghetto dwelling,junkie,Nazi,Polish,left wing,Bible thumping,anti;and pro abortion, conservative,flag burning, Constitutionist,felonious,cat loving Burger King employee than anyone in the 1%.These are again divisions that are integral to the continuation of the continued take over of the country by our newest citizen, the corporation. Some of us have been drinking from the cup of intoxicating; Or drugged; political swill for 30 years. Isn't it time for all of us to sober up before the internment camps open? Hope your new job isn't in India, but there is a burgeoning industry in slave brick making Romney can recommend to you, since he likes to send jobs overseas, along with his millions.

[goptarded]

by dot92141 January 29, 2012 12:30 PM EST

This summer i will predict millions on the streets----watch for martial law next.
***************

I fear you may be right about martial law. Smart leaders, though should understand that this is the true 'Will of the People' and cracking down on 'We The People' will only strengthen our resolve. Martial law would, no doubt, escalate the 'movement' into a full blown revolution.

And... you baggers in here who continue to talk crap about OWS need to understand that you and your kind are a tiny minority. Most people have already awakened to the reality that the aristocracy has waged an all out class war, and those who are still in a coma will be waking up soon.

[raymailhot]

Spew your hate and ideas of revolution, it will not happen. The 300 arrested is not a majority of anything even the pitiful crowd of 1000 that they came out of.

These organized efforts by their liberal handlers is going to end poorly each time!

[needahandout]

by dot92141 January 29, 2012 2:10 PM EST
After listening to all the comments! i still have not heard a viable plan to get the usa back on track-----PERHAPS WE ARE OWNED LOCK STOCK AND BARREL BY THE SUPER WEALTHY.

dot, stop listening to talk radio. According to the IRS, an analysis of every tax return filed for 2010 reveals that the top .1% pays 38% of Tax Revenue, the top 10% pays 70%. How much more do they need to pay? Everything?

The truth is, you represent the lazy good for nothing element in this country that expects someone else to pay their way. If more people stopped crying about the other guy making more than they do they might be a little happier and realize that things are pretty good here. In fact, they are much better than 9 out of 10 places you'll find on this planet. Stop being a baby.

Oh, and I have a plan for you to get us back on track. Stop government spending. We're growing a nation of freeloaders as Occupy clearly shows.

[sandiegopete]

The Tea Party was founded and funded by the Koch Brothers. The Tea Party can be considered by no stretch of the imagination a grass roots movement. It was a calculated political manoeuvre by Washington insiders and its activities were scheduled by lobbyists.

[voiceofthepast]

The entire concept is to play on the fears of the innocent people within this movement and any other movement as a smokescreen designed to DIVIDE the people.The Communist rhetoric,the dirty and unemployable, the flag burning comments, the inflated rhetoric of destructive activities, are designed to separate and divert away from the real issues. cooperate takeover of the government, like the scratching of a flea to aid in ignoring the cancer that kills.

[raymailhot]

You didn't make that up. Your boss soros did!

[voiceofthepast]

Do you have stock in pepper-spray? Nothing like a good riot to stimulate the economy. Cleanup, rebuilding burned out condemned or low income housing, and that new elitist golf course and million dollar townhouse project,like is happening in Benton Harbor Michigan since the legal representatives of the city were ousted in favor of a "financial manager'.It worked in the 60"s and 70"s in L.A with the CIA running coke into the "ghetto" for the ruination of the poor housing areas to devalue property for the elite to suck up cheep.ra ra!

[raymailhot]

The tea party had 10s of thousands at demonstrations and did not get the press.

Because the violence sells.

How does someone come to the conclusion these ows people represent America?

This is an organized effort getting planned results.

Not grass roots!

[realtimecoffee]

Probably both. If it bleeds it leads.

[BrothaChaz]

Occupy Oakland Is Pimping Us and Lying To The Public.
YEA I SAID IT.

Most of the protesters do not live in Oakland.
I am saddened that the Occupy movement has chosen to terrorize Oakland California. I am all for freedom, most of the songs I write are about freedom. However, the occupiers are draining our resources. $ that could be used for youth services and programs for the elderly is being spent on police services and cleaning up after our city has been trashed.

The occupy movement has lost its way or it is just flat-out telling lies about being against the 1%. What they are doing is not helping the poor or the disenfranchised in Oakland.

Oakland is a working class city. In 2010 the median income for a household in the city was $48,596. Occupy Danville, CA. The median income for a household in that city was $129,515 in 2010. Or occupy Sausalito, CA. The estimated median household income in 2009: $109,019 (it was $87,469 in 2000).

Occupiers occupy your own damn back yard. Use all your city's money to pay the police you say you hate. If you hate them so much stop creating situations that result in the police officers getting thousands of dollars in overtime pay. Blind leading the blind.

[realtimecoffee]

So these OWS guys, wearing imports or not?