Arrests as Oakland cops clear Occupy protesters
Source: Agencies |
October 26, 2011, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
POLICE in riot gear began clearing anti-Wall Street protesters from one California city before dawn yesterday, making arrests in the plaza where demonstrators have been camped out for about two weeks.
Television news footage showed numerous people in plastic handcuffs being led away from the Oakland site around 5am. The protesters did not appear to be resisting, although an officer did fire a non-lethal projectile from a shotgun at a protester who threw a bottle, authorities told the San Francisco Chronicle newspaper.
One of those arrested, Aiyahnna Johnson, 30, had been living at the camp with her 2-year-old daughter. "We want the best for you guys, that's all," the San Francisco Chronicle quoted her telling two officers who were leading her away.
The Occupy protests over economic inequality have spread from a single camp in New York City to cities across the United States and beyond since mid-September, overlapping with similar, earlier protests in Europe. An attempt earlier this month to clean the New York site, which protesters there feared was a tactic to shut them down, ended with authorities backing off.
But arrests and sweeps have occured in other cities. Yesterday's police action in Oakland began around 4:40am, when an officer on a loudspeaker told the protesters they were illegally blocking the plaza and were subject to arrest.
The San Francisco Chronicle reported that several hundred people appeared ready to defend the camp about an hour before police moved in, placing Dumpsters, boards, pallets and even metal police-style barricades around the plaza.
Police maintained a heavy presence in downtown Oakland into the morning. Streets were closed off.
City officials had originally been supportive of the protesters, with Oakland Mayor Jean Quan saying that sometimes "democracy is messy." But the city later warned the protesters that they were breaking the law and could not stay in the encampment overnight.
Television news footage showed numerous people in plastic handcuffs being led away from the Oakland site around 5am. The protesters did not appear to be resisting, although an officer did fire a non-lethal projectile from a shotgun at a protester who threw a bottle, authorities told the San Francisco Chronicle newspaper.
One of those arrested, Aiyahnna Johnson, 30, had been living at the camp with her 2-year-old daughter. "We want the best for you guys, that's all," the San Francisco Chronicle quoted her telling two officers who were leading her away.
The Occupy protests over economic inequality have spread from a single camp in New York City to cities across the United States and beyond since mid-September, overlapping with similar, earlier protests in Europe. An attempt earlier this month to clean the New York site, which protesters there feared was a tactic to shut them down, ended with authorities backing off.
But arrests and sweeps have occured in other cities. Yesterday's police action in Oakland began around 4:40am, when an officer on a loudspeaker told the protesters they were illegally blocking the plaza and were subject to arrest.
The San Francisco Chronicle reported that several hundred people appeared ready to defend the camp about an hour before police moved in, placing Dumpsters, boards, pallets and even metal police-style barricades around the plaza.
Police maintained a heavy presence in downtown Oakland into the morning. Streets were closed off.
City officials had originally been supportive of the protesters, with Oakland Mayor Jean Quan saying that sometimes "democracy is messy." But the city later warned the protesters that they were breaking the law and could not stay in the encampment overnight.
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