Lawmaker: Oakland police overreacted to "Occupy"

By: Brian Montopoli
Topics: In The News

(Credit: AP Photo/Javier Galeano)

Democratic Rep. Barbara Lee of California, who represents Oakland, on Friday morning criticized what she cast as an "inappropriate" reaction by Oakland police to protesters tied to the Occupy Wall Street movement.

Lee, appearing on MSNBC's "Morning Joe," said she was "terrified" at clashes between protesters and police in Oakland, which on Tuesday night left protester and Iraq war veteran Scott Olsen with a fractured skull. Oakland police officials have vowed to investigate whether officers, who used riot gear and tear gas to clear protesters, used excessive force.

Lee said she felt "outrage" at what went on, saying "the protesters are not causing this violence."

"These are peaceful protesters who have a right to petition their government," she added, deeming the police response to the protesters "not appropriate." Oakland police have suggested they were provoked by Occupy protesters, alleging the protesters were throwing objects at the police.

"They overreacted and it was really a shame and a disgrace," she said.

Lee says she has "fully supported the Occupy movement" from the start and feels it's "about time that people hit the streets and really raise the concerns of 99 percent of the American people." Taking a stronger stand in support of Occupy than some of her Democratic colleagues, Lee said she did not believe it needed leadership and called it a "movement that is building."

A CBS News/New York Times poll released Tuesday found that 43 percent of Americans agree with the views of the Occupy Wall Street movement, while 27 percent disagree.

The California lawmaker, a former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus and former co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said she would call for an independent investigation into how Oakland police have handled the protests.

"There's been a history of problems in Oakland as it relates to police brutality," said Lee, adding: "There's something wrong."

In New York, Occupy protesters marched on behalf of the Oakland protesters Thursday. They planned to march on five banks on Friday afternoon, delivering letters "from the 99% to the 1%."

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Brian Montopoli
Brian Montopoli is the senior political reporter at CBSNews.com.
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by Harden_Tar October 30, 2011 10:51 AM EDT: As someone who lived through the 60's and 70's, when the protests became violent, the police were alway blamed for the altercations. We found out later the Chicago 7 types were planning for things to get out of hand and were actively inciting bad things to happen. Anyone that thinks this isn't happening here needs to wake up. The original OWS folks WERE peaceful and well meaning. Unfortunately, their movement has been hijacked by professional "community organizers" who know exactly how to get an unfavorable police response and are going to get people killed.; Reply to this comment


by lami987 October 29, 2011 12:01 AM EDT: I saw clearly a tear gas canister was toss at protesters from within Oakland police line behind a barricade. The canister exploded among protesters who were trying to help a down protester on the street. They were not attacking the police. This kind of police brutality must not be allowed to happen in the US. The police, police chief and the mayor must be fired and prosecuted.; Reply to this comment


by RobAla October 28, 2011 11:27 PM EDT: On the radio I heard one "occupy person" admit that bottles were thrown at the police, before the tear gas was used. If police are outnumbered 10 to 1, and violence breaks out - what are they supposed to do? Run away? They are paid to put their lives on the line to keep the peace.

To tell you the truth, I am sick of this mob. I am sick and tired of hearing them say that other Americans should be on the hook to pay their student loans and to pay for their health care. If they want to voice stupid socialist ideas, they have a right. However, the public ought to have a right to be able to walk down any street without it being blocked for days by these people. American citizens of cities ought to have access to the parks that are paid for out of their taxes. I have grown tired of these self centered silly people.; Reply to this comment


by franknkissy October 28, 2011 9:18 PM EDT: And then there was Kent State and the end of the 60's Peace & Justice Movement ! ......all the activist students decided to finish school & become doctors and lawyers while Nixon under pressure from Billionaires decided the Vietnam War was no more Profitable ! And all the little piggies went wee wee all the way home ! ............Frank A. Novello - Peace Advocate !; Reply to this comment


by franknkissy October 28, 2011 9:18 PM EDT: And then there was Kent State and the end of the 60's Peace & Justice Movement ! ......all the activist students decided to finish school & become doctors and lawyers while Nixon under pressure from Billionaires decided the Vietnam War was no more Profitable ! And all the little piggies went wee wee all the way home ! ............Frank A. Novello - Peace Advocate !; Reply to this comment


by stn_sage October 28, 2011 5:12 PM EDT: The Oakland Police themselves acted as if THEY were an armed mob,
NOT the unarmed protesters!
And, the police need to understand their job is NOT to follow illegal orders of politicians who are taking money from the bankers who are looting America, to attack, murder, and disperse crowds!
These people DO have a right to protest!
The bankers and the politicians who take the banker's money do
NOT have a right to have these people ATTACKED and MURDERED!
And the police better have a clear understanding about that
right now, BEFORE they go out and commit crimes!; Reply to this comment


by gsa400 October 28, 2011 4:31 PM EDT: The police must know we are out there for them and every American that believes in this country. The next time their leaders tell them to disperse the peaceful demostraters with what ever force they deem necessary what I want them to do is go there with arms in hand and form a wall around the protesters and let every one know your job is to protect and serve but refuse to serve the crooks that sent you down there. America belongs to all of us, not the politicians, not the crooks. God Bless America.; Reply to this comment

by Hala_c October 28, 2011 2:52 PM EDT

Raise the capital gains tax rate to AT LEAST 35%.

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by RobAla October 28, 2011 11:34 PM EDT: Are one the unsuccessful people who haven't made any capital gains? People are all about the government taxing someone else. I haven't made any capital gains, but I don't see the government taking more money from people just because they have it. Stop being so jealous.

by Hala_c October 28, 2011 1:56 PM EDT

Police hit a 2 tour Iraq War Veteran in the head with a tear gas canister fracturing his skull, and then throw a flashbang amongst the group of people trying to help him at Oakland Occupy Wall Street Protests.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZLyUK0t0vQ

Prosecute the police that injured him and prosecute the police that ATTACKED those people clearly going to his aid.

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by AmericasConscious October 28, 2011 2:08 PM EDT: He should have dodged it. It's his own fault for being part of a lawless mob.
Cry us a river Hala_c
Ha! Ha!


by Hala_c October 28, 2011 2:51 PM EDT: And the passers by who went to his aid?

It seems to me that it's you people that are crying the loudest to see this occupation end. You keep crying and whining, we'll keep up the Occupation. And these attacks by the police only generate sympathy for the cause and increase our numbers.

by AmericasConscious October 28, 2011 1:29 PM EDT

Nobody takes these Democrat Reps serious especially one from "Gangsta" Oakland. The place idf filled with her thug constituents. She already hates the police because they have to arrest her criminals.
She's a joke in the first place being a Rep.

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