MEDIA ROOTS– Abby Martin of Media Roots reports from the front lines of the immediate aftermath of the predawn Oakland police raid against the peaceful Occupy Oakland encampments on Tuesday, October 25, 2011. The raid was perpetrated under the ironic pretext of ‘sanitation and safety,’ even though the encampments were in accordance with safety standards.
Abby Martin questions the Oakland PD about the raid and seeks the elusive “press officer.”
During the brutal police raid of Occupy Oakland at 5:30 am, Tuesday morning, 500+ unprovoked Oakland and other agency police officers unlawfully used smoke bombs, tear gas, and rubber bullets on people, some with children and even as they lay sleeping, before completely destroying the two encampments of peaceful protesters. 90+ protesters were then arrested at Snow Park and Frank Ogawa Plaza (which protesters have renamed Oscar Grant Plaza). Inexplicably, protesters continued to be arrested after park curfew was over.
Attorney and Occupy Oakland-supporter, Jesse Palmer, reported Wednesday on KPFA/Pacifica radio’s “Morning Mix” the various police agencies involved in the predawn raid:
“So, the police came and cracked down and destroyed the encampment, as you know yesterday. And they came with overwhelming force. And as you said, you know, we were on the streets, you know, early in the morning and people were picking out all of the odd police forces, the Pleasanton police force and the Union City police force. And I saw the East Bay Regional Parks, um, police force there. And they came with overwhelming force. And they, you know, there was, um, there was no real, I mean, there was no way to resist that.”
Check out exclusive Media Roots TV coverage later that day of the intense showdown between Occupy Oakland and the Oakland PD (alongside 16 other police agencies) in the moments before and up to the first brutal attack on the crowd, which appeared to be a coordinated national security operation against popular dissent. The unprovoked Oakland police again launched smoke bombs, tear gas projectiles, and rubber bullets into
the group of unarmed, peaceful Occupy Oakland protesters. Similar raids and crackdowns occurred across the U.S.
Contact Oakland Mayor Jean Quan,
who conveniently left for Washington, D.C. throughout the ordeal, to
voice your views on this brutal repression of Constitutionally-protected
assembly.
Nice post. I didn’t realize that #occupyOakland was in accordance with safety and sanitation standards. That’s important, I encourage that to continue.
Here are some vids of the night of the 25th, protesters putting out vehicular arson and risking lives to keep the protest peaceful, a navy veteran interviewed, and a shaky retreat from the teargas and beanbag rounds.
http://bit.ly/vAxgF2
Like George Bush said ” The Constitution aint nothin’ but a God-damned piece of paper.” and now they’re proving it. Look out FEMA camps here we come!!