Night Of Police Clashes With Occupy Oakland Protestors

By on October 26, 2011 in News 46

Tuesenhanced-buzz-23938-1319631603-0day morning, police forcibly cleared hundreds of people from the public plaza near Oakland’s City Hall. When the protesters tried to reassemble at the plaza last night, officers over loudspeaker ordered people to disperse or risk “chemical agents.” Riot police then attacked with tear gas, smoke bombs, and rubber bullets in a scene that seemed to devolve into chaos. Firsthand accounts and video footage make it pretty clear that this was a case of widespread and unprovoked police brutality, including officers gassing and firing upon children, the elderly, veterans, and the disabled.

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  • greg

    in what world was this unprovoked?

  • Mr Willow

    What video were you watching?

  • http://twitter.com/berniecrowsheet bernard crowsheet

    http://crowsheetstudios.blogspot.com/2011/10/good-job-oakland-pd-nypd.html Oakland PD made it into my exclusive daily comic strip called Zombi bin Laden, they get a GOOD JOB FELLAS from the zombi. See folks, i’m like a spammer, but i bring funny current events! Obviously I think someone getting shot in the head for exercising their american freedoms is wrong, who thinks that is good? Who thinks you should get shot in the face with a gas canister for voicing your opinion, as protected in the constitution? 

  • Anti_Secret_Squirrel

    This is totally fucked up! What are we the damn USSR again? Oh, yea we are. We are worse to be exact.

  • Anonymous

    anybody else notice how rawstory.com’s server was mysteriously blacklisted as soon as this story broke?

  • Kev

    holy shit

  • Sebjamar

    U-S-A U-S-A U-S-Oh, wait. Fuck.

  • Shaneequa Sarkozy

    I’ve been watching this video non-stop for the past hour and a half.

    I also watched a few others from the same time and area. There was a man in a wheelchair near the barricade when they started firing tear gas and he could not get away in time. In some videos you can see a man running up to help him get away. Down a little ways from that, there was an injured woman lying on the ground. When people saw her, about 8 or so people rushed up to help her. A few seconds later the cops threw a grenade right into the middle of that small crowd trying to help the woman. I believe that’s where the image of the girl with the head injury came from because we see them carrying her away moments after that.

    What has our country become that there are those who would cheer on the cops for attacking and injuring unarmed U.S. citizens? And why do I have to watch foreign news to see these images?

  • Mysophobe

    I was just reading about the fin stabilized shotgun-fired rubber bullets that were used in this state sponsored terrorist attack. They are very accurate and meant to be fired at the lower body, yet there are reports of headwounds caused by rubber bullets, including an Iraq war vet with a fractured skull and brain swelling. I am left to conclude that some of these cowards were sadistically and intentionally taking head shots at unarmed civilians who were peacefully protesting.

  • greg

    according to the article, the protesters were told to leave or risk being on the receiving end of chemical agents.  apparently the OPD was not bluffing.

  • Nick Violette

    Why does everyone always play the veteran card?

    Why aren’t there reports of thirty year old middle school English teachers that volunteer at pet shelters, who have never killed anyone, who teach their students to form their own opinions, being injured?

  • http://www.ContraControl.com/ Zenc

    You know, that’s a very good point.

    And I think I’ll just start implementing that policy personally.

    I’ll give people a warning “Stop doing whatever it is that’s pissing me off or I’ll crack your skull!” then if they don’t clear out in a few minutes, I’ll start cracking skulls.

    Who cares if I have the legal authority to do that, I’ve the physical power to do it and apparently might makes right.

    Glad you clued me into that.

    Getting donuts will be more fun than ever now, thanks to you.

  • http://www.ContraControl.com/ Zenc

    You know, that’s a very good point.

    And I think I’ll just start implementing that policy personally.

    I’ll give people a warning “Stop doing whatever it is that’s pissing me off or I’ll crack your skull!” then if they don’t clear out in a few minutes, I’ll start cracking skulls.

    Who cares if I have the legal authority to do that, I’ve the physical power to do it and apparently might makes right.

    Glad you clued me into that.

    Getting donuts will be more fun than ever now, thanks to you.

  • Nick Violette

    How is that justification?
    Why do they have to use “chemical agents” in the first place?

    No one was setting buildings on fire. They weren’t taking hostages or constructing molotov cocktails. These are/were peaceful protesters.

  • Olegsanders

    Only a matter of time before the protesters show up with real weapons, guns and ammunition.  Obama and his staffers are not morons.  The overseas troops were brought home for a reason.  And this video is just a small taste.  This country is destined for a massive showdown between the government and the people.  Eventually the country will be put into a state of martial law.  The people can win.  they have got to realize that massive  numbers who are unafraid can easily overwhelm a small army.  

  • http://www.facebook.com/ronald.g.richard Ronald Gregory Richard

    “Why does everyone always play the veteran card?”
    One Mr. Scott Olsen, a vet who served 2 tours in Iraq, was struck in the head with a projectile in Oakland and now is in critical condition with a fractured skull. Thats not a card, it’s a stomach churning fact.

  • http://www.facebook.com/ronald.g.richard Ronald Gregory Richard

    “Why does everyone always play the veteran card?”
    One Mr. Scott Olsen, a vet who served 2 tours in Iraq, was struck in the head with a projectile in Oakland and now is in critical condition with a fractured skull. Thats not a card, it’s a stomach churning fact.

  • Anonymous

    Fascism lives…

  • Adam

    I live about an hour-and-a-half from the Bay, and it’s well known that the Oakland PD has been out-of-control for a long fucking time (see: Oscar Grant, which wasn’t even the regular OPD it was a fucking BART cop).  Sadly, this film isn’t exactly shocking to me; if you’re not a cop or don’t personally know a cop in the Bay Area, THEY WILL FUCK WITH YOU.   

  • Adam

    I live about an hour-and-a-half from the Bay, and it’s well known that the Oakland PD has been out-of-control for a long fucking time (see: Oscar Grant, which wasn’t even the regular OPD it was a fucking BART cop).  Sadly, this film isn’t exactly shocking to me; if you’re not a cop or don’t personally know a cop in the Bay Area, THEY WILL FUCK WITH YOU.   

  • Adam

    I live about an hour-and-a-half from the Bay, and it’s well known that the Oakland PD has been out-of-control for a long fucking time (see: Oscar Grant, which wasn’t even the regular OPD it was a fucking BART cop).  Sadly, this film isn’t exactly shocking to me; if you’re not a cop or don’t personally know a cop in the Bay Area, THEY WILL FUCK WITH YOU.   

  • http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/SDGHYKRODBXAIPWTZPPUUMCOAI Ray

    People must realize that the corporate game can be avoided.  Take their money in wages, but buy your consumer goods elsewhere: second-hand, co-ops.  Quit making large purchases.  At all.

  • Malk

    ya you’re supposed to declare on area off limits, wait for an hour, arrest a couple of hippies, wait for an hour, over half the people disperse, reappear somewhere else, rinse lather repeat.

    the whole rubber bullet scheme is just bullshit too… when I lived in Seattle during the WTO riots years ago they were shooting peoples teeth out. The only violence outside of the police was a gang of anarchists from Oregon that ran around in black masks and broke stuff all night, keeping out of reach of the cops, playing it smart and working together. The rest of the protestors had no idea what was going on while most of them were rushed gas and threatened with rape in King county jail. It was 8 people that ruined it for hundreds and the cops went overboard on the hundreds, never caught anyone dangerous, never arrested anyone causing trouble, all teachers, activists, and students.

    same thing here and everywhere else they pull the gas out. uneducated violence in response to something they will never understand.

  • Ronniedobbs

    NWA anyone?

  • Brawny Bronson

    First off Malk. It wasn’t simply 8 “anarchists from Oregon.” Second off, since when is destroying public property considered violence? Is anyone hurting a building by breaking a window? That is ludicrous rhetoric employed by the police and corporate run media. Third, underground militant actions can work hand in hand with aboveground pacifist activists. If you honestly believe that cops need “violent” protesters as an excuse to open fire then you are quite naive. The essence of the military and police themselves is violence.  

  • Mysophobe

    Apparently the protesters had the crazy notion that their constitutional right to peaceably assemble to petition the government for a redress of grievances supercedes all state and local ordinances regarding camping, loitering, curfews, etc.

  • Anonymous

    Because it makes hysterical liberals angry.

  • Kev

    I agree with you on this but weren’t the troops schedule to leave overseas anyways by the end of the year

  • Anonymous

    No, actually the ONE and ONLY reason the US has said they will withdrawal is because “the Iraqi parliament failed to indemnify US troops from War Crimes prosectution.”

    -Bruce Smith on Democracy Now.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_5M4L5B7FXCQXLTDYCIQ4GMYNTI Potter

    Anarchist or Police Infiltrator?

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_5M4L5B7FXCQXLTDYCIQ4GMYNTI Potter

    The Oakland PD said This in a press release yesterday: Q. Did the Police deploy rubber bullets, flash-bag grenades?
    A. No, the loud noises that were heard originated from M-80 explosives
    thrown at Police by protesters. In addition, Police fired approximately
    four bean bag rounds at protesters to stop them from throwing dangerous
    objects at the officers. …(tharr be more) Here’s the link to the PR. http://www2.oaklandnet.com/oakca/groups/cityadministrator/documents/pressrelease/oak031911.pdf They also said this yesterday in another PR:
    “During the evening protest, a number of officers were assaulted,
    doused with hazardous materials and hit with large rocks and bottles,
    which resulted in the declaration of an unlawful assembly and the order
    to disperse. To assist in the dispersal efforts, officers used less
    lethal force tactics. At approximately 10:00pm this evening, a
    group of approximately 300 protesters in the area of Frank Ogawa Plaza
    began throwing large rocks and bottles at officers after receiving the
    order to disperse, which again prompted the use of less than lethal
    munitions.” Here’s the link for that PR: http://www2.oaklandnet.com/oakca/groups/cityadministrator/documents/pressrelease/oak031912.pdf Here’s the actual proof of what they did. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=QqNOPZLw03Q  Please pay special attention to  0:32 and the events that follow.  The OPD are liars, bullies and tools. And, now, everyone can see this for themselves.

  • Anti-Citizen1

    Like Frankentstien.

  • Anti-Citizen1

    Needs more second amendment solutions.

  • Anti-Citizen1

    At any rate it all fits Derrick Jensen’s Endgame premise 4. There is a clearly defined yet often un-articulated hierarchy in our society, violence is only allowed to move down the hierarchy. Violence done by those at the top to those below is done fairly constantly and is usually ignored, but when it is not it is fully rationalized and “justified”. If and when violence is sent up the hierarchy it is treated with shock, horror and the fetishization of the victims, as well as retribution.

  • http://voxmagi-necessarywords.blogspot.com/ VoxMagi

    Good link. Frankly…at this point…although it may seem a shame, anything done by protesters against the OPD is by default legitimate…no matter how extreme it may be. It is abundantly clear that whether they act peacefully or not…violence WILL be used against them. Knowing that this is certain, the only rational course of action is to be prepared for violence. It may seem unfortunate, but OPD has made its position clear: unarmed civilians are fair game for any attack the police wish to make. Once that becomes clear…anything that comes afterwards rests on the bloodstained hands of the police.

  • Anonymous

    Because of the hypocrisy. For better or for worse, Veterans represent in the minds of many, the ultimate form of Patriotism. In many ways that is a correct assessment as the military is expected to give “the last full measure of devotion” to country. So, when the ultimate in patriotism says the government and powers that be are unjust and said veteran is brutally injured by the police state, that ruffles feathers

  • Anonymous

    and came forth a hearty lol

  • Anonymous

    pothole, black spray painted gravel to blend in with asphalt…

    (it will only blend in at night, keep in mind)

  • Anonymous

    These idiots think we’re goose stepping along with the herd.

    “Why not a school teacher?! BAWWWWWWWW”

  • Brawny Bronson

    The whole anarchist vs. police infiltrator dichotomy is moot. The police feel its win win when they have an undercover cop dressed up as an anarchist. Even if they don’t provoke much violence the awareness of the “agent provocateur” will lead outsiders to discredit the authenticity of any “violent” actions and the anarchist movement as a whole. Anarchism itself is then called into question along with the medias overwrought assertions of “Self-described anarchist.” This last moniker implies that one cannot asserts oneself to be anarchist but only deemed so by the media and/or police and even then it is used as a slur conjuring up age old images of crazed lunatics who hurl bombs and care nothing for harm done to bystanders and innocent civilians. Anarchism is nothing more than complete and total democracy. The word democracy was intended as a slur against those ancient Greeks who wanted total control in the hand of the citizens and NOT a republic. A REPUBLIC IS NOT A DEMOCRACY. It is only fitting that Greece has led the world with its display of outrage and anarchist movement that is not some subculture or underground. It is a large sector of the populace.

  • Anonymous

    Silence. We are not ready for Revolution. America is not ready for 25,000,000 people dead at the least.

  • http://twitter.com/jasonpaulhayes jasonpaulhayes

    I live near Oakland and know it well, although many of you may not be aware of its history this indeed is nothing new to the people of Oakland. Many of the old Black an White photos you’ll see of African Americans being Fire Hosed and attacked by German Shepherds in the US were taken in Oakland, Ca.

    It’s a great city with some of the strongest minds in the nation but it’s a target for brutality because it’s a multicultural, political hub. That’s just how it is … in case you haven’t been paying attention, your Southern Xtian Fascist Dictators will never accept you of you don’t Sieg Heil.

    WELCOME TO THE 4TH REICH !!!

  • 5by5

    Mmmm…. smells like Seattle WTO circa 1999.

    And in about a year, Oakland city officials are going to be just like Seattle city officials back then — paying out millions of dollars in lawsuits for violating people’s guaranteed constitutional rights.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_5M4L5B7FXCQXLTDYCIQ4GMYNTI Potter

    What are you, 12?  That’s just pathetic.

  • Anonymous

    Not to mention we already arrived in Africa to pillage and plunder their resources.

  • Jarel

    Truth!!