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    Occupy Oakland Protesters Tear Gassed by Police

    Police have used tear gas and “flash bang” grenades on a large crowd of demonstrators that lit a massive bonfire in the streets of downtown Oakland, Calif.,  in a conflict following a day of action that saw the city’s port closed after demonstrators. blocked it

    Dozens of police in riot gear advanced on protesters who had pushed together several large metal and plastic trash bins to start a fire that reached 15 feet in the air, according to The Associated Press. Police reportedly warned protesters to clear out before firing several rounds of tear gas and “flash bang” grenades.

    Several protesters, many of whom wore gas masks, chanted “We Are Scott Olson” as the police fired at them early Wednesday. Olson is the Iraq War veteran who suffered a fractured skull last month after he was  hit in the head by a projectile during a conflict with police.

    The conflict came hours after thousands of Occupy Oakland protesters marched on the Port of Oakland, disrupting operations at the nation’s fifth largest port and causing all maritime operations in the city to be shut down.

    Officials at the Port of Oakland said Wednesday that they hope to resume normal operations in the morning after protesters marched through the city all day and into the night on a “general strike” that saw banks and stores picketed and disrupted the flow of traffic.

    Demonstrators began marching to the port at 4 p.m. Wednesday, and by 5 p.m. all work had been halted at the port. A message on the website OccupyOakland.org said that the goal was “to stand in solidarity with the longshore workers and shut down the evening shift of the port.”

    Omar Benjamin, the director of the Port of Oakland, confirmed the closing of the port at a late-evening news conference.

    “Maritime operations remain effectively shut down. And the port is working to ensure that all workers in the harbor area can get home safely. … It is our hope that the work day can resume tomorrow and port workers will be allowed to get to their jobs without incident,” Benjamin said.

    “Continued missed shifts represent economic hardship for maritime workers, truckers and their families as well as lost jobs and lost tax revenue for our region,” he added.

    Wednesday’s march through Oakland was largely peaceful according to Oakland’s interim police chief Howard Jordan.

    “There’ve been no arrests, there have been no injuries. Earlier today at about 7:46 we received a call of a pedestrian that was struck by a vehicle,” Jordan said late Wednesday.

    Several banks were vandalized and a dozen windows were shattered at the Wells Fargo branch, while an area of Whole Foods was vandalized after rumors spread that employees who participated in the strike would be fired, according to ABC News affiliate KGO.

    Conflict among  protesters arose as some scrubbed graffiti from a branch of Wells Fargo bank and a group of protesters attempted to stop another from vandalizing a Whole Foods, KGO reported. A police spokesperson said that five businesses were vandalized throughout the day.

    Late Wednesday Oakland Mayor Jean Quan confirmed that the protesters were leaving the city’s port.

    “Literally thousands of people have demonstrated today in Oakland primarily peacefully. We are disappointed that a small group created some vandalism,” she said. “It looks like this was a good day for demonstrators and for the 99 percent movement.”

    Quan’s support of the protests has created controversy amongst city workers. After ordering officers to clear protesters last week, Quan now supports the movement and gave city workers other than police the day off to join the work stoppage.

    In an open letter from the police union, officers accused her of sending mixed messages.

    “As your police officers, we are confused,” the letter read. “Is it the city’s intention to have city employees on both sides of a skirmish line?”

    The Occupy Oakland has quickly become one of the largest movements in the country after the Occupy Wall Street movement began in mid-September. The movement in Oakland became a flashpoint last week when police used teargas to disperse crowds and Iraq War veteran Scott Owen was hospitalized with a critical skull fracture after he was hit with a projectile during a clash with police.

      Also Read
     
    • Bob Lee Swagger USMC  •  3 mths ago
      • The democrats and the liberal media have said that the occupy wallstreet party
      was a civic group "just like" the tea party.
      I report...you decide...
      • occupy party tea party
      arrests 4149+ 0

      rapes 12 0
      damage $10,000,000.00 0
      public defecation yes no
      antisemitic rants 12 0
      cost to taxpayers ( by 11/9) $19,327,487.00+ 0
      public masturbation 3 0
      molotov cocktails thrown 10 0
      fights started yes no
      children exploited yes no
      police cars damaged 2 0
      public drunkenness yes no
      drug possession arrest yes no
      concealed weapon arrest yes no
      drug overdose yes no
      thefts yes no
      burglaries yes no
      vandalism arrest yes no
      trespassing arrest yes no
      non fatal shootings 1 0
      public urination yes no
      urination on others yes no
      israeli flags burned 2 0
      american flags burned 1 0
      american flags danced on 1 0
      american flag desecration 25 0
      felony assault on an emt 1 0
      head/body lice outbreaks 1 0
      tuberculosis outbreaks 1 0
      murder 1 0
      suicide 1 0

      shots fired at white house 1 0
      scabies outbreaks 1 0
      obama endorsed it yes no
      pelosi endorsed it yes no
      cair endorsed it yes no
      socialist party endorsed yes no
      nazi party endorsed yes no
      muslim brotherhood endorsed yes no
      communist party endorsed yes no
      biden endorsed yes no
      hugo chavez endorsed yes no
      black panthers endorsed yes no
      hezbollah endorsed yes no
      marxist union endorsed yes no
      9/11 truther endorsed yes no
      bolshevik endorsed yes no
      iran government endorsed yes no
      ayatollah endorsed yes no
      north korea endorsed yes no
      farrakhan endorsed yes no
      nation of islam endorsed yes no

      oh, yes, i see the similarities now...
    • Bob Lee Swagger USMC  •  3 mths ago
      The democrats and the liberal media have said that the occupy wallstreet party
      was a civic group "just like" the tea party.
      I report...you decide...
      Reported occupy party tea party
      arrests 4149+ 0

      rapes 12 0
      damage $10,000,000.00 $0
      public defecation yes no
      antisemitic rants 12 0
      cost to taxpayers ( by 11/9) $19,327,487.00+ $0
      public masturbation 3 0
      molotov cocktails thrown 10 0
      fights started yes no
      children exploited yes no
      police cars damaged 2 0
      public drunkenness yes no
      drug possession arrest yes no
      concealed weapon arrest yes no
      drug overdose yes no
      thefts yes no
      burglaries yes no
      vandalism arrest yes no
      trespassing arrest yes no
      non fatal shootings 1 0
      public urination yes no
      urination on others yes no
      israeli flags burned 2 0
      american flags burned 1 0
      american flags danced on 1 0
      american flag desecration 25 0
      felony assault on an emt 1 0
      head/body lice outbreaks 1 0
      tuberculosis outbreaks 1 0
      murder 1 0
      suicide 1 0

      shots fired at white house 1 0
      scabies outbreaks 1 0
      obama endorsed it yes no
      pelosi endorsed it yes no
      cair endorsed it yes no
      socialist party endorsed yes no
      nazi party endorsed yes no
      muslim brotherhood endorsed yes no
      communist party endorsed yes no
      biden endorsed yes no
      hugo chavez endorsed yes no
      black panthers endorsed yes no
      hezbollah endorsed yes no
      marxist union endorsed yes no
      9/11 truther endorsed yes no
      bolshevik endorsed yes no
      iran government endorsed yes no
      ayatollah endorsed yes no
      north korea endorsed yes no
      farrakhan endorsed yes no
      nation of islam endorsed yes no

      oh, yes, i see the similarities now...
    • TheCentimillionaireAntiEs ...  •  Dearborn, United States  •  6 mths ago
      Why don't they try occupying a bath for once.
    • Sabreur  •  6 mths ago
      Can't get hired? Starting fires doesn't add to employment prospects but they don't want work, they want free-rides. They need a free ride to the cemetery if they put anyone at risk in any fashion.
    • Groucho  •  6 mths ago
      Get some, OPD!
      • t-bone 6 mths ago
        Just wait until the DNC convention in Charlotte, August 2012. If you thought that the 1968 DNC convention in Chicago (Humphrey/McCarthy) was bad, throw Hillary into the campaign 'fire' and see how insaen it gets. And yet the democrats still have Tom Hayden to play emcee host. It should be one heck of a party!!!
    • Follow to Website  •  6 mths ago
      I realize that most people are #$%$ off, are unsure as to how to fix a system that robs them of their resources. But causing chaos is counter productive.If you wish change, firstly become that change. Stop feeding the very monster that desires to consume. If you continue residing within the same mentality that created the problem in the first place, then you can only expect more of the same.
      • Lenore Keel 6 mths ago
        I totally agree. I wish the protesters hadn't done that. It is counter productive. There will always be a few lemons tho.
      • New Beginning 6 mths ago
        And i expect the 99 do expect more of the same...actually welcome it....OWS in Oakland and other cities is changing our perception of the issues...it is working...God Bless Them...
      • Chris 6 mths ago
        Ernzo! What issues! They are too busy blameing the wrong people for our problems! They are too lazy to actually do the leg work and read what has actually been going on in Washington instead of blindly believing the Marxists who have infiltrated our government (wolf in sheep's clothing)! They are too tunnel visioned to actually put 2 and 2 together when presented with facts and create 4. Every person out there protesting falls into one of 3 categories. 1) They know exactly what is causing the problems, yet are inciting people to blame the wrong parties in an attempt to move us farther toward marxism (followers of Saul Alinsky--look him up--a follower of Karl Marx who believes that you promote the revolution no matter what it takes--even lies!): 2) Useful idiots (the ones who are willing to accept everything being spoon fed to them by the supporters of said marxists without researching and thinking for themselves); and, 3) those who do not support the cause, but are just enjoying the free food, unlimited sex (yes, that has come out!), and free handouts and are waiting for the looting to begin so they can get even more free stuff!
    • MLCKFIP  •  6 mths ago
      I am neutral observer. I do not understand the point of setting a bonfire in the middle of a city. If you have something you want to say, say it - on TV, on blogs, with signs, whatever. What is the point of such destructive action?
      • B 6 mths ago
        The only logical conclusion is that it was agents
      • dianna 6 mths ago
        because ... patitions, faxes, emails, phone calls, blogs, etc have not done anything yet. And neither have the peaceful protests. What do you think the logical result is of doing things the right way only to be subject to tear gas and riot gear? Keep pushing, cops .... keep pushing .... that is what takes the peaceful protesting away.
      • MindWideOpen 6 mths ago
        What is the point of such destructive action?

        Anarchy! (and yes there are anarchists present to do exactly that)
    • blancojoe  •  Austin, United States  •  6 mths ago
      It is chaos! Chaos!! Quick ... find Nancy Pelosi and see how she is doing! Quickly! Surely is standing proudly with the protestors she supports whole heartedly, in the light of the street fires. She may get a rubber bullet in her butt, but she would then be a martyr for the cause!!
      • Dianna 6 mths ago
        She might want to turnaround an take a peek,it could be barney frank in her butt.
    • Right Side Only  •  6 mths ago
      What one person receives without working for...another person must work for without receiving.
      • Jim 6 mths ago
        So what you're saying is why should my taxes pay for your kids school, right? And why should I care if your house catches fire, so long as my house isn't burning too. And all those freeways -- what's -your- car doing on a road -my- taxes built? Some things have to be paid for by everyone, because they benefit everyone... that's kind of what taxes do.
      • New Beginning 6 mths ago
        WAY TO GO JIM. Thanks
      • Richard 6 mths ago
        Jim, Everything isn't being built by unions. Only too many things. You Union backers are #$%$
    • R  •  San Diego, United States  •  6 mths ago
      Ha they are confused on who to vandalize!!! And they are causing people in the 99 percent to lose wages!!! Oh yeah, these guys are amazing!
    • Ken  •  New York, United States  •  6 mths ago
      Why do we hear nothing about FAST and FURIOUS?
    • cntrlfrk1986  •  Sergeant Bluff, United States  •  6 mths ago
      '
      What the police did was uncalled for. All they had to do is set up a Job Fair in the middle of the OWS'ers and they would have scattered like cockroaches!!

      '
    • gbe  •  6 mths ago
      Looks like Jonathan Weslin of the new ACORN was caught attending OWS in New York. So, here we go. Part of the DNC machine is involved, just like I thought.
    • gbe  •  6 mths ago
      We can now officially call this mob People Of Occupy Protesters Movement, or POOP Movement.
    • Matt  •  New Boston, United States  •  6 mths ago
      I was all for peaceful protesting, even if I didn't agree with most of these people, but if you're starting to interfere with others (who are also 99%) getting to work and running their businesses, you've lost all credibility.
    • Rick Sr  •  6 mths ago
      Compare Occupy photos with Tea Party photos.
    • Joey Bloggs  •  6 mths ago
      Covering their faces. Just like terrorists. Bunch of cowards.
    • Dean  •  St. Paul, United States  •  6 mths ago
      A more truthfull headline, " Massive Protest Bonfire Prompts Police Response".
    • Bob  •  Irving, United States  •  6 mths ago
      Who is paying for Obama's campaign trips?
    • Michael  •  San Bernardino, United States  •  6 mths ago
      That's obammer community organizing skils... his goal is to create rebellion, and he don't care which side of the fight you're on, just so you get out and fight. He need the turmoil to advance his agenda, which don't have nothing to do with the old USA.
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