MEDIA ROOTS – Over the last two months I have witnessed an organic uprising take root in my backyard of Oakland, CA.  Although it’s been emotionally tumultuous to incur the harsh police state crackdown on the First Amendment and witness the brutal Oakland PD assault against peaceful protesters, it’s always inspiring as hell to see thousands of people taking it to the streets to denounce police brutality and reject the two-party corporatocracy.

I have compiled a set of photographs from the first day of Occupy Oakland and another set of highlights from the historic general Occupy Oakland strike and shutdown of the Port of Oakland that took place on November 2, 2011.  Below is another series of photographs taken randomly of various marches and rallies held during the initial weeks of the local encampments, including some of riot cops taken the morning of the first raid of Occupy Oakland at Snow Park.

Abby Martin

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Photography by Abby Martin