Occupy Oakland
Encyclopedia
Occupy Oakland is a series of demonstrations
including the occupation
of public spaces that began in downtown Oakland
at Frank H. Ogawa Plaza
in front of Oakland City Hall
in Oakland
, California
on October 10, 2011. It is allied with the Occupy Wall Street
movement in New York City and is one of several Occupy movement
sites in the San Francisco Bay Area
. Other sites included Occupy San Francisco
, Occupy San Jose
and Occupy Cal
.
Occupy Oakland began as a protest encampment at Frank H. Ogawa Plaza. It was cleared out by multiple law enforcement agencies on October 25, 2011. That evening when protesters tried to reclaim the site, clashes between police and protesters resulted in multiple injuries and over 100 arrests. Scott Olsen, an Iraq war veteran, suffered a skull fracture allegedly caused by a police projectile. His injury came to national attention and became a rallying cry for the Occupy movement. The site was re-occupied by protesters the next evening. The general strike
brought thousands of demonstrators to downtown Oakland for a day of action, including a march to the Port of Oakland
which was forced to shut down operations. That evening, clashes between protesters and police again occurred when protesters occupied a vacant building in downtown Oakland. Two more protesters, one of whom is an Iraq War veteran, were seriously hurt by police and both actions were captured on video. Investigations into the alleged police misconduct are being conducted by the Oakland Police department, the ACLU, and the National Lawyers Guild.
Law enforcement once again cleared the protest encampment at Frank Ogawa Plaza on November 14, 2011. Mayor Jean Quan’s decision to allow the police intervention resulted in the resignation of the mayor's unpaid legal adviser Dan Siegel and Deputy Mayor Sharon Cornu. Other protest encampments were created and subsequently dismantled by law enforcement. The last encampment at Snow Park was cleared after an early morning raid on November 21, 2011. The movement was left with no physical presence occupying any public space overnight in the city of Oakland.
, was symbolically renamed "Oscar Grant Plaza" by the protestors, referring to Oscar Grant, a young Oakland man killed by a BART police officer in 2009, an incident that became the catalyst for major protests during 2009 and 2010.
The occupation of Frank Ogawa Plaza officially began at 4 p.m. on October 10, 2011, with a rally attended by hundreds of supporters. This rally was held in tandem with Indigenous People's Day
, both as a statement of solidarity and an expression that this action firmly situated itself against colonialism and nation states. The first general assembly, an open democratic meeting based on Occupy Wall Street
's New York general assembly, was held in the plaza amphitheater at 6 p.m. and a couple dozen protesters set up tents that evening. The amphitheater continues to be used as the general assembly location on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings at 6 p.m.
Occupy Oakland planned and organized a number of direct actions including marches and rallies and guest speakers to build support for the movement. On October 14, protesters participated in a short march during rush hour. The following weekend, around 2,500 people, including actor and activist Danny Glover
, came out for a Saturday march and rally to show their support for Occupy Oakland. On October 17, the three American hikers recently freed from an Iranian prison made their first West Coast speaking appearance at Occupy Oakland, drawing an audience of around 300 people.
A diverse array of people inhabited the camp, ranging from students and professionals to unemployed workers and homeless people. The camp grew to roughly 150 tents that were used for both camping and to provide essential services to protesters and visitors. A "miniature city" evolved complete with a kitchen, library, a bicycle-powered media center, and children's village. The grass was strewn with straw and walkways were created using wooden pallets and boards. There were tents dedicated to arts and crafts, medical attention, supplies, and conflict resolution. Activities were scheduled throughout the day including committee meetings, discussion groups, and yoga classes. Actor and activist Danny Glover
spoke at a rally on October 15. Hip hop artist Lupe Fiasco
donated food, supplies, and tents to the protesters the night he played a concert in town. The grandnephew of labor leader and civil rights activist César Chávez
got married at the site on October 20, 2011. Mateus Chávez and his fiancé Latrina Rhinehart had not planned to be married at a protest encampment, but as supporters of Occupy Oakland, it made their wedding "that much more meaningful."
On October 22, protesters held a rally at the plaza, marched from the plaza to Snow Park and protested outside a branch of Well Fargo.
At 4:30 a.m. on October 25, 2011, police officers in riot gear arrived at the plaza to clear the encampment. About two hundred protesters attempted to defend the camp with a make-shift barricade consisting of crates, metal police barricades and dumpsters. As the police entered the camp, some protesters threw bottles, plates, and other kitchen items. Two local NBC reporters described the raid as "violent and chaotic at times." Interim Police Chief Howard Jordan said that tear gas and baton rounds were used in response to objects being thrown at officers. One protester saw and heard a flash bang grenade in the moments before the raid, though Jordan claims they were M-80 and M-1000 firecrackers thrown by protesters. The post-raid scene was described by reporters for the Oakland Tribune as looking like a "hurricane-struck refugee camp." 79 people were arrested, most for unlawful assembly and illegal lodging. Police erected metal barricades around the perimeter of the plaza as 200-300 protesters gathered around them chanting.
The Oakland Police department along with 500 officers from 17 local law-enforcement agencies participated in the morning raid and evening protection of the plaza under a "mutual aid" agreement. Officers were from the police departments of Alameda, Berkeley
, Emeryville, Fremont, Hayward, Newark, Palo Alto, Pleasanton, San Jose, San Leandro, and Union City, as well as the San Francisco Sheriff's Department
, Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office, Alameda County Sheriff's Office
, Solano County Sheriff's Office, California Highway Patrol
, and the University of California Police Department
.
At 5 p.m. between 500 and 1,000 people including clergy, students, and union members gathered at the downtown Oakland Public Library
for a rally and march back to the plaza to reclaim the space. At the rally, one reporter noted that "there was a feeling that the way the city responded to the camp was not only out of proportion to the problem, but that it was kind of a waste of money and energy that could be going to address these other issues."
On their way, they headed to the Oakland Police Department to protest, and were blocked by a line of riot police. There was a brief standoff and after a police officer forcefully arrested a woman, some protesters threw paint on the police. At 6 p.m. riot police began firing tear gas at the marching protesters. The protesters continued to regroup and, at one point, sat down with linked arms in the intersection of 14th and Broadway near the plaza. They were declared an unlawful assembly and told to leave or be subject to chemical weapons.The march continued around the city until about 9:30 p.m. when the protesters returned again to the plaza which was barricaded and guarded by 100 riot police wearing gas masks. Some protesters threw water bottles and other objects at the police. Police issued dispersal orders then again fired tear gas cannisters, baton rounds and possibly flashbang grenades and CS gas
at the crowd.
Oakland police chief Howard Jordan denied the use of flashbang grenades and said that the explosions came from M-80 firecrackers
thrown by protesters. Both witnesses and reporters from The Guardian
described these explosions as looking and sounding like flash-bang devices. Because of the presence of 17 other law enforcement agencies assisting the Oakland police department, Oakland city officials are not aware of exactly what weapons were being used by these outside police agencies, including possibly rubber bullet
s.
Iraq War veteran Scott Olsen suffered a skull fracture
caused by a projectile
that witnesses believed was a tear gas or smoke canister fired by the police. He was rushed to the hospital by other protesters, who were shot at with unknown police projectiles while attempting to aid him. At least two other protesters were injured. The American Civil Liberties Union
and National Lawyers Guild
are calling for an investigation into the use of excessive force by Oakland police.
Oakland resident Spencer Mills live streamed
the night's events which provided video footage seen by over 60,000 viewers.
for November 2. The fences were torn down by protesters chanting, "Whose park? Our park!" and one tent was erected. Mayor Jean Quan issued a statement urging non-violence and asked that there be no overnight camping; however, the city did not take steps to prevent the re-occupation.
The second occupation lasted for 18 days from October 26 to November 14. The "miniature city" was re-created with the addition of an interfaith tent and grew to about 180 tents. The city of Oakland distributed notices of violation to protesters for three days from November 11 through November 13. The notices stated that the protesters where in violation of the law by lodging overnight, obstructing the use of a public park, and making fires in a public park. Law enforcement cleared the camp the morning of November 14.
The Snow Park protesters initially spent time maintaining the grounds of the park. They were removed from the park by law enforcement on the morning of October 25, an hour after Frank Ogawa Plaza was raided. Six protesters were arrested. The camp was reestablished with one tent erected on October 26 or 27. The encampment grew to about 20 tents by November 13. On November 21, 100 campers peacefully left Snow Park after law enforcement arrived.
visited the protest site the next day on October 11, 2011, and "condoned the occupation". City administrator spokeswoman Karen Boyd said that the city's plan was to let the protesters stay "As long as they are peaceful and respectful of the rights of all the users of the plaza.". Bay Area U.S. Congress
members Barbara Lee
and Pete Stark
also released statements of support.
The Alameda County Health Department inspected the camp on October 19. The next day, October 20, the City of Oakland published and distributed an official notice of violation citing the camp for fire, safety, and sanitation hazards. The city issued violation notices threatening arrest for the next few days. The 300 to 400 demonstrators "appeared determined not to leave" and countered that "complaints about rats, drug crimes and violence in the area of 14th Street and Broadway went unchecked before they arrived."
and Iraq War veteran, and a member of Veterans for Peace
, suffered a skull fracture
caused by a projectile
that witnesses believed was a tear gas or smoke canister fired by the police.
A video by protesters has surfaced showing the explosion of what appears to be a flash-bang device thrown by one officer near protesters attempting to aid Olsen. The Associated Press
later reported that it was not known exactly what kind of object had struck Olsen or who had thrown or fired it, but that protesters had been throwing rocks and bottles.
The Guardian
reported that a projectile found near where Olsen fell was a so-called "bean bag round". Olsen was rushed to the hospital by other protesters, who were fired upon with unknown police projectiles while attempting to aid him. Doctors said that he was in critical condition
. At least two other protesters were injured. The American Civil Liberties Union
and National Lawyers Guild
are calling for an investigation into the use of excessive force by Oakland police. However, the investigation by the Citizens Police Review Board is expected to last several months.
Olsen has been released from the hospital, and is gradually recovering from his injuries, but has difficulty speaking. On November 14, he posted a statement on a social networking site stating, "After my freedom of speech was quite literally taken from me, my speech is coming back but I've got a lot of work to do with rehab." Details regarding Olsen's time in the U.S. Marines are emerging. He served two tours of duty in the Iraq War and received an administrative discharge
in 2009. He later became disillusioned with the Marines and created a now-defunct web site called, "I hate the Marine Corps".
News of his injury helped inspire the formation of Occupy Marines
.
. The apparently-unprovoked shooting was documented by the resulting point-of-view video from Campbell's own camera. Geoffrey Alpert, a criminal justice professor from the University of South Carolina said watching a video of the incident left him "astonished, amazed and embarrassed" and that "unless there's something we don't know, that's one of the most outrageous uses of a firearm that I've ever seen."
who served in the Iraq War and the War in Afghanistan
, was hit numerous times by a police officer with a baton then arrested on the evening of November 2. Sabeghi was charged with resisting arrest and remaining at the scene of a riot. While in police custody, Sabeghi complained of severe pain and asked for medical treatment but was transferred to Highland Hospital
14-18 hours after his arrest. Sabeghi underwent emergency surgery for a ruptured spleen and remained in the intensive care unit.
The organization Iraq Veterans Against the War
issued a statement on November 4 stating, "police struck Sabeghi with nightsticks on his hands, shoulders, ribs and back, and that in addition to a lacerated spleen
he suffered from internal bleeding" , a description that is corroborated by the video made available on November 18. The Oakland Police Department is "investigating the incident."
on November 2, the driver of a silver Mercedes-Benz was headed south on 11th Street when he encountered a stream of protesters walking along Broadway. Cell phone video footage shows the driver of the Mercedes attempting to drive through the intersection as the march is happening prompting one protester, Lance Laverdure, to jump in front of the car and bang on the hood. The driver hit the gas and both Laverdure and a nearby protester Margaret So were hit by the car and sustained leg and ankle injuries. Nearby witnesses then surrounded the car as emergency personnel attended to the protesters. The driver was questioned by BART police and released, angering witnesses who called for the driver's arrest. The two protesters suffered leg and ankle injuries and were taken to Highland Hospital.
On November 11, the two victims held a press conference alleging that the incident was a criminal act and questioned why the Oakland Police Department had not prosecuted the driver. Victims said that nine days after the incident, they still had not been contacted by police. Lance Laverdure told press that, "We want this person arrested for the attempted murder of myself and Margaret".
demonstrations at UC Berkeley.
On October 15, 2011, around 2,500 people, including actor Danny Glover
, came out for a Saturday march and rally to show their support for Occupy Oakland.
A second camp with about two dozen people was set up on October 18 at Snow Park near Lake Merritt.
From October 20 through October 24, the City of Oakland distributed official notices to the protesters citing "violence, assaults, threats and intimidation", among other complaints, and, forbidding lodging overnight. The demonstrators "appeared determined not to leave" and countered that "the rats, drug crimes, and violence in the area of 14th Street and Broadway went unchecked before they arrived."
On October 25, 2011, police officers in riot gear from various Bay Area
law enforcement agencies cleared the plaza and Snow Park during the early hours of the day. That evening, as protesters attempted to re-occupy the plaza, violence between the police and protesters resulted in Iraq War veteran Scott Olsen's head injury.
Between 1,500 and 3,000 people gathered peacefully at the plaza on October 26, 2011. The plaza was re-taken by protesters with at least one tent erected that evening. The general assembly voted to organize a general strike
for November 2.
About 2,000 people held a candlelight vigil for Scott Olsen at the plaza on October 27, 2011.
Documentary filmmaker Michael Moore
spoke to a crowd of about 1,000 protesters on October 28, 2011. In the hour-long address, Michael Moore encouraged Occupy Oakland by saying, "We've killed despair across the country and we've killed apathy."
Dozens of new tents have been erected in the plaza, including a medical tent provided and staffed by the California Nurses Association
.
Pro-democracy protesters in Egypt marched from Cairo's Tahrir Square to the U.S. Embassy in solidarity with Occupy Oakland.
Representatives of Occupy Oakland held a press conference detailing plans for the general strike on November 2.
The Oakland Police Officer's Association issued an open letter to the citizens of Oakland expressing "confusion" about Mayor Quan's decision making. The open letter took issue with Mayor Quan's decision to allow public employees to participate in the upcoming general strike:
Thousands of protesters gathered at Frank Ogawa Plaza to participate in rallies, marches, and teach-ins designed to empower citizens and to draw attention to economic inequity and corporate greed as part of the 2011 Oakland General Strike
. The last general strike in the United States was in Oakland in 1946. Local unions expressed solidarity for the strike
including Oakland's largest union, Service Employees International Union
Local 1021, Oakland Education Association, International Longshore and Warehouse Union
Local 10, and United Brotherhood of Carpenters
. While none of the unions were officially on strike, many urged their members to take a personal day, vacation day or to participate after work.
While most of the day-time activities were peaceful, Oakland Police chief Howard Jordan reported that a small group of "anarchists" vandalized a Whole Foods
storefront, and broke windows and ATM
s of Bank of America
and Wells Fargo
banks in the afternoon. Many buildings were vandalized, including some businesses that displayed signs of support for the General Strike. After the incidents of vandalism, members of Occupy Oakland organized to guard local businesses, board up broken windows, and clean graffiti caused by the black bloc
vandals. Oakland mayor Jean Quan described the vandals as "a small and isolated group" that "shouldn't mar the overall impact of the demonstration and the fact that people in the 99 percent movement demonstrated peacefully and, for the most part, were productive and very peaceful."
Thousands of protesters marched from Frank Ogawa Plaza to the Port of Oakland
, the fifth busiest port in the United States, in two separate groups leaving the plaza at 4:00 pm and 5:00 pm. The number of protesters marching to the port has not been confirmed. While police estimate 7,000 people marched, local organizers and participants put the number somewhere between 20,000 and 100,000. As protesters completely filled Middle Harbor Road, the main road leading to the port, all truck traffic entering or exiting the port was halted. Port operations were "effectively shut down" a couple hours later.
Later in the evening, a group of protesters took over a vacant building that once served as the headquarters of the Traveler's Aid Society, a non-profit organization that provided services to the local homeless population. Police soon arrived to break up the protesters gathered outside of the building. Some protesters fled while others set a barricade on fire. Police used teargas and flash bangs to try to clear protesters. At least one man was carried away injured after protesters said he was shot in the leg by a rubber bullet. Clashes continued past midnight. 103 people were arrested.
Various reports of police using excessive force later emerged, including a first-person-perspective video of a protester being shot by police, reports of a second Iraq war veteran hospitalized for injury sustained during arrest, and a journalist who after being swept up in mass arrests with protesters, witnessed acts of police brutality.
On November 5, the City Council met to consider a resolution by council member Nancy Nadel
in support of the Occupy Oakland encampment. After listening to over 100 members of the public, the council postponed its vote until November 15.
A downtown Oakland Wells Fargo branch closed for business because of the roughly 100 immigrant rights protesters who marched from Occupy Oakland's encampment to protest the bank's connection to companies that run immigrant detention centers
.
On November 9, five members of the Oakland City Council, Desley Brooks, Ignacio De La Fuente
, Pat Kernighan, Libby Schaaf, Larry Reid, two dozen clergy, and Oakland business owners held a press conference calling for the immediate eviction of Occupy Oakland. The group alleged that the ongoing protest had harmed the economy of downtown Oakland, and cited reports of fire hazards in the camp. Occupy protesters interrupted the press conference by chanting, "We are the 99 percent of Oakland." The council members counter chanted: "Occupy Oakland must go." The press conference ended earlier than anticipated.
On November 10, the one-month anniversary of the Occupy Oakland demonstration, a man was fatally shot about 25 yards away from the plaza's tent encampment. Occupy Oakland medics responded to the victim until the police and paramedics arrived. Initially, there were mixed reports about whether the people involved in the shooting were connected to Occupy Oakland, and many occupiers felt that the incident had unfairly become a catalyst for their removal. Police later determined that the victim, 25-year-old Kayode Ola Foster, was indeed an Occupy Oakland participant for the previous few days, as was one of two possible murder suspects. In response to the shooting, demonstrators observed a moment of silence, prayer, and held a candlelight vigil for the victim, led by one of the camp chaplains.
In the days preceding November 14, Oakland Police delivered 'notices of violations' to Frank Ogawa plaza. In the early hours of November 14, approximately 700-1000 police were mobilized. Supporters began arriving, and and a line of union workers wearing white arm bands formed a line to observe and mediate if necessary. At approximately 4:30 AM, police entered the plaza. Police initially made about 20 arrests, 14 of whom had been praying all night in the camp’s inter faith tent. Afterwards, police demolished the camp.
Dan Siegel
, Mayor Jean Quan's city hall Legal Adviser, resigned in protest, announcing, via Facebook: "No longer Mayor Quan's legal adviser. Resigned at 2 am. Support Occupy Oakland, not the 1% and its government facilitators." That same day, Oakland Deputy Mayor Sharon Cornu resigned her post as well.
On November 15, the Occupy Oakland website released a flyer and information about a planned "Mass Rally & March" through Oakland due to take place November 19 to "expand the Occupy Movement
". The website states the flyer was created in response to calls by the Occupy Oakland General Assembly convened on 11.11.11.
On the morning of November 21 the last Occupy camp at Snow Park was dismantled by the city. The roughly 100 protestors left behind nearly 21 truckloads of debris. The movement was left with no physical presence occupying any public space overnight in the city of Oakland.
Demonstration (people)
A demonstration or street protest is action by a mass group or collection of groups of people in favor of a political or other cause; it normally consists of walking in a mass march formation and either beginning with or meeting at a designated endpoint, or rally, to hear speakers.Actions such as...
including the occupation
Occupation (protest)
An as an act of protest, is the entry into and holding of a building, space or symbolic site. As such, occupations often combine some of the following elements: a challenge to ownership of the space involved, an effort to gain public attention, the practical use of the facilities occupied, and a...
of public spaces that began in downtown Oakland
Downtown Oakland
Downtown Oakland is the central business district of Oakland, California; roughly bounded by 6th Street or the Oakland Estuary on the southwest, Interstate 980 on the northwest, Grand Avenue on the northeast, and Lake Merritt on the east....
at Frank H. Ogawa Plaza
Frank H. Ogawa Plaza
Frank H. Ogawa Plaza is a historic location in the heart of downtown Oakland, California.-Location and elements:Frank H. Ogawa Plaza is located where Telegraph and San Pablo Avenues converge with Broadway and 14th Street. The west side of the plaza is the site of Oakland City Hall and Oakland...
in front of Oakland City Hall
Oakland City Hall
Oakland City Hall is the seat of government for the city of Oakland, California. The current building was completed in 1914, after its predecessor was destroyed in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. Standing at the height of , it was the first high-rise government building in the United States...
in Oakland
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
on October 10, 2011. It is allied with the Occupy Wall Street
Occupy Wall Street
Occupy Wall Street is an ongoing series of demonstrations initiated by the Canadian activist group Adbusters which began September 17, 2011 in Zuccotti Park, located in New York City's Wall Street financial district...
movement in New York City and is one of several Occupy movement
Occupy movement
The Occupy movement is an international protest movement which is primarily directed against economic and social inequality. The first Occupy protest to be widely covered was Occupy Wall Street in New York City, taking place on September 17, 2011...
sites in the San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
. Other sites included Occupy San Francisco
Occupy San Francisco
Occupy San Francisco is an ongoing demonstration located at Justin Herman Plaza in the The Embarcadero and in front of the Federal Reserve building on Market Street in the Financial District in San Francisco, California. It is based on the Occupy Wall Street movement that began in New York City on...
, Occupy San Jose
Occupy San Jose
Occupy San José is a peaceful protest and demonstration in City Hall Plaza in San Jose, CA. The demonstration was inspired by Occupy Wall Street and is part of the larger "Occupy" protest movement....
and Occupy Cal
Occupy Cal
Occupy Cal is an ongoing series of demonstrations that began on November 9, 2011, on the University of California, Berkeley campus in Berkeley, California. It is allied with the Occupy Wall Street movement in New York City, San Francisco Bay Area Occupy groups such as Occupy Oakland, Occupy...
.
Occupy Oakland began as a protest encampment at Frank H. Ogawa Plaza. It was cleared out by multiple law enforcement agencies on October 25, 2011. That evening when protesters tried to reclaim the site, clashes between police and protesters resulted in multiple injuries and over 100 arrests. Scott Olsen, an Iraq war veteran, suffered a skull fracture allegedly caused by a police projectile. His injury came to national attention and became a rallying cry for the Occupy movement. The site was re-occupied by protesters the next evening. The general strike
2011 Oakland general strike
The Oakland General Strike of 2011 was a general strike held in Oakland, California on November 2, 2011 as part of the larger Occupy Oakland movement. -General strike:...
brought thousands of demonstrators to downtown Oakland for a day of action, including a march to the Port of Oakland
Port of Oakland
The Port of Oakland was the first major port on the Pacific Coast of the United States to build terminals for container ships. It is now the fifth busiest container port in the United States, behind Long Beach, Los Angeles, Newark, and Savannah...
which was forced to shut down operations. That evening, clashes between protesters and police again occurred when protesters occupied a vacant building in downtown Oakland. Two more protesters, one of whom is an Iraq War veteran, were seriously hurt by police and both actions were captured on video. Investigations into the alleged police misconduct are being conducted by the Oakland Police department, the ACLU, and the National Lawyers Guild.
Law enforcement once again cleared the protest encampment at Frank Ogawa Plaza on November 14, 2011. Mayor Jean Quan’s decision to allow the police intervention resulted in the resignation of the mayor's unpaid legal adviser Dan Siegel and Deputy Mayor Sharon Cornu. Other protest encampments were created and subsequently dismantled by law enforcement. The last encampment at Snow Park was cleared after an early morning raid on November 21, 2011. The movement was left with no physical presence occupying any public space overnight in the city of Oakland.
Frank H. Ogawa Plaza
First occupation
The first occupation lasted for 15 days from October 10 to October 25. Frank H. Ogawa PlazaFrank H. Ogawa Plaza
Frank H. Ogawa Plaza is a historic location in the heart of downtown Oakland, California.-Location and elements:Frank H. Ogawa Plaza is located where Telegraph and San Pablo Avenues converge with Broadway and 14th Street. The west side of the plaza is the site of Oakland City Hall and Oakland...
, was symbolically renamed "Oscar Grant Plaza" by the protestors, referring to Oscar Grant, a young Oakland man killed by a BART police officer in 2009, an incident that became the catalyst for major protests during 2009 and 2010.
The occupation of Frank Ogawa Plaza officially began at 4 p.m. on October 10, 2011, with a rally attended by hundreds of supporters. This rally was held in tandem with Indigenous People's Day
Indigenous People's Day
Indigenous People's Day is a holiday celebrated in various localities in the United States, begun as a counter-celebration to Columbus Day. The purpose of the day is to promote Native American culture and commemorate the history of Native American peoples...
, both as a statement of solidarity and an expression that this action firmly situated itself against colonialism and nation states. The first general assembly, an open democratic meeting based on Occupy Wall Street
Occupy Wall Street
Occupy Wall Street is an ongoing series of demonstrations initiated by the Canadian activist group Adbusters which began September 17, 2011 in Zuccotti Park, located in New York City's Wall Street financial district...
's New York general assembly, was held in the plaza amphitheater at 6 p.m. and a couple dozen protesters set up tents that evening. The amphitheater continues to be used as the general assembly location on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings at 6 p.m.
Occupy Oakland planned and organized a number of direct actions including marches and rallies and guest speakers to build support for the movement. On October 14, protesters participated in a short march during rush hour. The following weekend, around 2,500 people, including actor and activist Danny Glover
Danny Glover
Danny Lebern Glover is an American actor, film director, and political activist. Glover is perhaps best known for his role as Detective Roger Murtaugh in the Lethal Weapon film franchise.-Early life:...
, came out for a Saturday march and rally to show their support for Occupy Oakland. On October 17, the three American hikers recently freed from an Iranian prison made their first West Coast speaking appearance at Occupy Oakland, drawing an audience of around 300 people.
A diverse array of people inhabited the camp, ranging from students and professionals to unemployed workers and homeless people. The camp grew to roughly 150 tents that were used for both camping and to provide essential services to protesters and visitors. A "miniature city" evolved complete with a kitchen, library, a bicycle-powered media center, and children's village. The grass was strewn with straw and walkways were created using wooden pallets and boards. There were tents dedicated to arts and crafts, medical attention, supplies, and conflict resolution. Activities were scheduled throughout the day including committee meetings, discussion groups, and yoga classes. Actor and activist Danny Glover
Danny Glover
Danny Lebern Glover is an American actor, film director, and political activist. Glover is perhaps best known for his role as Detective Roger Murtaugh in the Lethal Weapon film franchise.-Early life:...
spoke at a rally on October 15. Hip hop artist Lupe Fiasco
Lupe Fiasco
Wasalu Muhammad Jaco , better known by his stage name Lupe Fiasco , is an American rapper, record producer, and entrepreneur. As an entrepreneur, Lupe is the CEO of 1st and 15th Entertainment. He rose to fame in 2006 following the success of his critically acclaimed debut album, Lupe Fiasco's Food...
donated food, supplies, and tents to the protesters the night he played a concert in town. The grandnephew of labor leader and civil rights activist César Chávez
César Chávez
César Estrada Chávez was an American farm worker, labor leader, and civil rights activist who, with Dolores Huerta, co-founded the National Farm Workers Association, which later became the United Farm Workers ....
got married at the site on October 20, 2011. Mateus Chávez and his fiancé Latrina Rhinehart had not planned to be married at a protest encampment, but as supporters of Occupy Oakland, it made their wedding "that much more meaningful."
On October 22, protesters held a rally at the plaza, marched from the plaza to Snow Park and protested outside a branch of Well Fargo.
October 25 police raid & evening protest
At 4:30 a.m. on October 25, 2011, police officers in riot gear arrived at the plaza to clear the encampment. About two hundred protesters attempted to defend the camp with a make-shift barricade consisting of crates, metal police barricades and dumpsters. As the police entered the camp, some protesters threw bottles, plates, and other kitchen items. Two local NBC reporters described the raid as "violent and chaotic at times." Interim Police Chief Howard Jordan said that tear gas and baton rounds were used in response to objects being thrown at officers. One protester saw and heard a flash bang grenade in the moments before the raid, though Jordan claims they were M-80 and M-1000 firecrackers thrown by protesters. The post-raid scene was described by reporters for the Oakland Tribune as looking like a "hurricane-struck refugee camp." 79 people were arrested, most for unlawful assembly and illegal lodging. Police erected metal barricades around the perimeter of the plaza as 200-300 protesters gathered around them chanting.
The Oakland Police department along with 500 officers from 17 local law-enforcement agencies participated in the morning raid and evening protection of the plaza under a "mutual aid" agreement. Officers were from the police departments of Alameda, Berkeley
Berkeley Police Department
The Berkeley Police Department is the municipal police department for the city of Berkeley, California, USA.-History:Shortly after Berkeley was incorporated in 1878, a town marshal and constables were elected to provide law enforcement. In 1909, the town marshal was appointed to be the first...
, Emeryville, Fremont, Hayward, Newark, Palo Alto, Pleasanton, San Jose, San Leandro, and Union City, as well as the San Francisco Sheriff's Department
San Francisco Sheriff's Department
The San Francisco Sheriff's Department is the sheriff's department for the City and County of San Francisco. The department has 850 deputized personnel, and support staff....
, Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office, Alameda County Sheriff's Office
Alameda County Sheriff's Office
The Alameda County Sheriff's Office is a law enforcement agency serving Alameda County, California. The ACSO is accredited through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies , the American Correctional Association , National Commission on Correctional Health Care and the...
, Solano County Sheriff's Office, California Highway Patrol
California Highway Patrol
The California Highway Patrol is a law enforcement agency of the U.S. state of California. The CHP has patrol jurisdiction over all California highways and also acts as the state police....
, and the University of California Police Department
University of California Police Department
The University of California Police Department is the police agency charged with providing law enforcement to the campuses of the University of California system.-History:...
.
At 5 p.m. between 500 and 1,000 people including clergy, students, and union members gathered at the downtown Oakland Public Library
Oakland Public Library
The Oakland Public Library is the public library in Oakland, California. Opened in 1878, the Oakland Public Library currently serves the city of Oakland, along with some neighboring smaller cities including Emeryville and Piedmont. The Oakland Public Library has the largest collection of any...
for a rally and march back to the plaza to reclaim the space. At the rally, one reporter noted that "there was a feeling that the way the city responded to the camp was not only out of proportion to the problem, but that it was kind of a waste of money and energy that could be going to address these other issues."
On their way, they headed to the Oakland Police Department to protest, and were blocked by a line of riot police. There was a brief standoff and after a police officer forcefully arrested a woman, some protesters threw paint on the police. At 6 p.m. riot police began firing tear gas at the marching protesters. The protesters continued to regroup and, at one point, sat down with linked arms in the intersection of 14th and Broadway near the plaza. They were declared an unlawful assembly and told to leave or be subject to chemical weapons.The march continued around the city until about 9:30 p.m. when the protesters returned again to the plaza which was barricaded and guarded by 100 riot police wearing gas masks. Some protesters threw water bottles and other objects at the police. Police issued dispersal orders then again fired tear gas cannisters, baton rounds and possibly flashbang grenades and CS gas
CS gas
2-chlorobenzalmalononitrile is the defining component of a "tear gas" commonly referred to as CS gas, which is used as a riot control agent...
at the crowd.
Oakland police chief Howard Jordan denied the use of flashbang grenades and said that the explosions came from M-80 firecrackers
M-80 (explosive)
M-80s are a class of large firecrackers, sometimes called salutes. The Simulator, Artillery, M80, was originally made in the early 20th century by the U.S. Military to simulate explosives or artillery fire; Later, M-80s were manufactured as fireworks...
thrown by protesters. Both witnesses and reporters from The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
described these explosions as looking and sounding like flash-bang devices. Because of the presence of 17 other law enforcement agencies assisting the Oakland police department, Oakland city officials are not aware of exactly what weapons were being used by these outside police agencies, including possibly rubber bullet
Rubber bullet
Rubber bullets are rubber or rubber-coated projectiles that can be fired from either standard firearms or dedicated riot guns. They are intended to be a non-lethal alternative to metal projectiles...
s.
Iraq War veteran Scott Olsen suffered a skull fracture
Bone fracture
A bone fracture is a medical condition in which there is a break in the continuity of the bone...
caused by a projectile
Projectile
A projectile is any object projected into space by the exertion of a force. Although a thrown baseball is technically a projectile too, the term more commonly refers to a weapon....
that witnesses believed was a tear gas or smoke canister fired by the police. He was rushed to the hospital by other protesters, who were shot at with unknown police projectiles while attempting to aid him. At least two other protesters were injured. The American Civil Liberties Union
American Civil Liberties Union
The American Civil Liberties Union is a U.S. non-profit organization whose stated mission is "to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States." It works through litigation, legislation, and...
and National Lawyers Guild
National Lawyers Guild
The National Lawyers Guild is an advocacy group in the United States "dedicated to the need for basic and progressive change in the structure of our political and economic system . ....
are calling for an investigation into the use of excessive force by Oakland police.
Oakland resident Spencer Mills live streamed
Streaming media
Streaming media is multimedia that is constantly received by and presented to an end-user while being delivered by a streaming provider.The term "presented" is used in this article in a general sense that includes audio or video playback. The name refers to the delivery method of the medium rather...
the night's events which provided video footage seen by over 60,000 viewers.
Second occupation
The day after the police raid, October 26, between 1,500 and 3,000 people gathered peacefully for a speak-out and general assembly in the plaza's amphitheater. The grassy area of the plaza was empty and surrounded by chain link fences. The general assembly voted to organize a general strikeGeneral strike
A general strike is a strike action by a critical mass of the labour force in a city, region, or country. While a general strike can be for political goals, economic goals, or both, it tends to gain its momentum from the ideological or class sympathies of the participants...
for November 2. The fences were torn down by protesters chanting, "Whose park? Our park!" and one tent was erected. Mayor Jean Quan issued a statement urging non-violence and asked that there be no overnight camping; however, the city did not take steps to prevent the re-occupation.
The second occupation lasted for 18 days from October 26 to November 14. The "miniature city" was re-created with the addition of an interfaith tent and grew to about 180 tents. The city of Oakland distributed notices of violation to protesters for three days from November 11 through November 13. The notices stated that the protesters where in violation of the law by lodging overnight, obstructing the use of a public park, and making fires in a public park. Law enforcement cleared the camp the morning of November 14.
Snow Park
Snow Park, a small park beside Lake Merritt, was established on October 18 with about two dozen people occupying the park after Frank Ogawa Plaza had filled up with tents.The Snow Park protesters initially spent time maintaining the grounds of the park. They were removed from the park by law enforcement on the morning of October 25, an hour after Frank Ogawa Plaza was raided. Six protesters were arrested. The camp was reestablished with one tent erected on October 26 or 27. The encampment grew to about 20 tents by November 13. On November 21, 100 campers peacefully left Snow Park after law enforcement arrived.
Veterans Camp
About seven protesters with set up camp in front of the Veterans Memorial Building near the intersection of Harrison and Grand on Veterans Day, November 11. They were cleared out by law enforcement on November 14.Local government reaction
The reaction of local politicians and city officials was mostly positive at first. In fact, Oakland councilwoman Desley Brooks was among the protestors sleeping in tents on the inaugural night of the encampment. Councilwoman Jane Brunner expressed support for the movement by stating, "It's about time people are speaking up." Mayor Jean QuanJean Quan
Jean Quan is the Democratic mayor of Oakland, California. She previously served as City Council member for Oakland's 4th District...
visited the protest site the next day on October 11, 2011, and "condoned the occupation". City administrator spokeswoman Karen Boyd said that the city's plan was to let the protesters stay "As long as they are peaceful and respectful of the rights of all the users of the plaza.". Bay Area U.S. Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
members Barbara Lee
Barbara Lee
Barbara Jean Lee is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1998. She is a member of the Democratic Party. She is the first woman to represent that district. Lee was the Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus and was the Co-Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus...
and Pete Stark
Pete Stark
Fortney Hillman "Pete" Stark, Jr. is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1973. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Currently he is the 5th most senior Representative, as well as 6th most senior member of Congress overall...
also released statements of support.
The Alameda County Health Department inspected the camp on October 19. The next day, October 20, the City of Oakland published and distributed an official notice of violation citing the camp for fire, safety, and sanitation hazards. The city issued violation notices threatening arrest for the next few days. The 300 to 400 demonstrators "appeared determined not to leave" and countered that "complaints about rats, drug crimes and violence in the area of 14th Street and Broadway went unchecked before they arrived."
Scott Olsen head injury
On October 25, 2011, Scott Olsen, a former MarineUnited States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
and Iraq War veteran, and a member of Veterans for Peace
Veterans for Peace
Veterans For Peace is a United States organization founded in 1985. Made up of male and female US military veterans of World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, and other conflicts, as well as peacetime veterans, the group works to promote alternatives to war.-Foundation:The...
, suffered a skull fracture
Bone fracture
A bone fracture is a medical condition in which there is a break in the continuity of the bone...
caused by a projectile
Projectile
A projectile is any object projected into space by the exertion of a force. Although a thrown baseball is technically a projectile too, the term more commonly refers to a weapon....
that witnesses believed was a tear gas or smoke canister fired by the police.
A video by protesters has surfaced showing the explosion of what appears to be a flash-bang device thrown by one officer near protesters attempting to aid Olsen. The Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
later reported that it was not known exactly what kind of object had struck Olsen or who had thrown or fired it, but that protesters had been throwing rocks and bottles.
The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
reported that a projectile found near where Olsen fell was a so-called "bean bag round". Olsen was rushed to the hospital by other protesters, who were fired upon with unknown police projectiles while attempting to aid him. Doctors said that he was in critical condition
Medical state
Medical states or medical conditions are used to describe a patient's condition in a hospital. These terms are most commonly used by the news media and are rarely used by doctors, who in their daily business prefer to deal with medical problems in greater detail.Either or both of two aspects of...
. At least two other protesters were injured. The American Civil Liberties Union
American Civil Liberties Union
The American Civil Liberties Union is a U.S. non-profit organization whose stated mission is "to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States." It works through litigation, legislation, and...
and National Lawyers Guild
National Lawyers Guild
The National Lawyers Guild is an advocacy group in the United States "dedicated to the need for basic and progressive change in the structure of our political and economic system . ....
are calling for an investigation into the use of excessive force by Oakland police. However, the investigation by the Citizens Police Review Board is expected to last several months.
Olsen has been released from the hospital, and is gradually recovering from his injuries, but has difficulty speaking. On November 14, he posted a statement on a social networking site stating, "After my freedom of speech was quite literally taken from me, my speech is coming back but I've got a lot of work to do with rehab." Details regarding Olsen's time in the U.S. Marines are emerging. He served two tours of duty in the Iraq War and received an administrative discharge
Military discharge
A military discharge is given when a member of the armed forces is released from their obligation to serve.-United States:Discharge or separation should not be confused with retirement; career U.S...
in 2009. He later became disillusioned with the Marines and created a now-defunct web site called, "I hate the Marine Corps".
News of his injury helped inspire the formation of Occupy Marines
Occupy Marines
Occupy Marines is a group of non-active duty U.S. marines who support the Occupy movement. They established a Facebook page, Twitter feed, website and online petition shortly after Marine veteran Scott Olsen was injured by the police during an Occupy Oakland protest. They were also motivated by...
.
Scott Campbell shooting
Shortly before 1am on November 3, Oakland resident Scott Campbell was shot by police using a less-lethal round while he was filming a stationary line of police in riot gear, hours after the 2011 Oakland general strike2011 Oakland general strike
The Oakland General Strike of 2011 was a general strike held in Oakland, California on November 2, 2011 as part of the larger Occupy Oakland movement. -General strike:...
. The apparently-unprovoked shooting was documented by the resulting point-of-view video from Campbell's own camera. Geoffrey Alpert, a criminal justice professor from the University of South Carolina said watching a video of the incident left him "astonished, amazed and embarrassed" and that "unless there's something we don't know, that's one of the most outrageous uses of a firearm that I've ever seen."
Kayvan Sabeghi beating
Kayvan Sabeghi, a local business owner and former U.S. Army RangerUnited States Army Rangers
United States Army Rangers are elite members of the United States Army. Rangers have served in recognized U.S. Army Ranger units or have graduated from the U.S. Army's Ranger School...
who served in the Iraq War and the War in Afghanistan
War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
The War in Afghanistan began on October 7, 2001, as the armed forces of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Afghan United Front launched Operation Enduring Freedom...
, was hit numerous times by a police officer with a baton then arrested on the evening of November 2. Sabeghi was charged with resisting arrest and remaining at the scene of a riot. While in police custody, Sabeghi complained of severe pain and asked for medical treatment but was transferred to Highland Hospital
Highland Hospital (Oakland, California)
Highland Hospital is a public hospital located in Alameda County, Oakland, California. It is operated by the Alameda County Medical Center.It is a Level II trauma center.- History :-External links:*...
14-18 hours after his arrest. Sabeghi underwent emergency surgery for a ruptured spleen and remained in the intensive care unit.
The organization Iraq Veterans Against the War
Iraq Veterans Against the War
Iraq Veterans Against the War is an advocacy group of active-duty United States military personnel, Iraq War veterans, Afghanistan War veterans, and other veterans who have served since the September 11, 2001 attacks who are opposed to the U.S. occupation of Iraq...
issued a statement on November 4 stating, "police struck Sabeghi with nightsticks on his hands, shoulders, ribs and back, and that in addition to a lacerated spleen
Spleen
The spleen is an organ found in virtually all vertebrate animals with important roles in regard to red blood cells and the immune system. In humans, it is located in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen. It removes old red blood cells and holds a reserve of blood in case of hemorrhagic shock...
he suffered from internal bleeding" , a description that is corroborated by the video made available on November 18. The Oakland Police Department is "investigating the incident."
Susie Cagle arrest and imprisonment
Although she was obviously wearing a press pass, Journalist Susie Cagle was arrested in the early hours of November 3 and spent 14 hours at 2 different jails. She was charged with failure to leave the scene of a riot. Journalists' rights in the United States are constitutionally protected through the First Amendment. Cagle is one of several journalists covering the Occupy movement that have been arrested. Additionally, Cagle reported having been subject to and witness to mistreatment of protestors during her imprisonment.Protesters injured by car
During the evening march to the Port of Oakland as part of the general strike2011 Oakland general strike
The Oakland General Strike of 2011 was a general strike held in Oakland, California on November 2, 2011 as part of the larger Occupy Oakland movement. -General strike:...
on November 2, the driver of a silver Mercedes-Benz was headed south on 11th Street when he encountered a stream of protesters walking along Broadway. Cell phone video footage shows the driver of the Mercedes attempting to drive through the intersection as the march is happening prompting one protester, Lance Laverdure, to jump in front of the car and bang on the hood. The driver hit the gas and both Laverdure and a nearby protester Margaret So were hit by the car and sustained leg and ankle injuries. Nearby witnesses then surrounded the car as emergency personnel attended to the protesters. The driver was questioned by BART police and released, angering witnesses who called for the driver's arrest. The two protesters suffered leg and ankle injuries and were taken to Highland Hospital.
On November 11, the two victims held a press conference alleging that the incident was a criminal act and questioned why the Oakland Police Department had not prosecuted the driver. Victims said that nine days after the incident, they still had not been contacted by police. Lance Laverdure told press that, "We want this person arrested for the attempted murder of myself and Margaret".
Solidarity with local Occupy movements
Occupy Oakland protesters have joined the Occupy CalOccupy Cal
Occupy Cal is an ongoing series of demonstrations that began on November 9, 2011, on the University of California, Berkeley campus in Berkeley, California. It is allied with the Occupy Wall Street movement in New York City, San Francisco Bay Area Occupy groups such as Occupy Oakland, Occupy...
demonstrations at UC Berkeley.
Chronology of events
Weeks 1 - 4 (October 10 - November 6)
Occupy Oakland began on October 10, 2011, with a rally attended by hundreds and protest encampment of a couple dozen tents at Frank Ogawa Plaza.On October 15, 2011, around 2,500 people, including actor Danny Glover
Danny Glover
Danny Lebern Glover is an American actor, film director, and political activist. Glover is perhaps best known for his role as Detective Roger Murtaugh in the Lethal Weapon film franchise.-Early life:...
, came out for a Saturday march and rally to show their support for Occupy Oakland.
A second camp with about two dozen people was set up on October 18 at Snow Park near Lake Merritt.
From October 20 through October 24, the City of Oakland distributed official notices to the protesters citing "violence, assaults, threats and intimidation", among other complaints, and, forbidding lodging overnight. The demonstrators "appeared determined not to leave" and countered that "the rats, drug crimes, and violence in the area of 14th Street and Broadway went unchecked before they arrived."
On October 25, 2011, police officers in riot gear from various Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
law enforcement agencies cleared the plaza and Snow Park during the early hours of the day. That evening, as protesters attempted to re-occupy the plaza, violence between the police and protesters resulted in Iraq War veteran Scott Olsen's head injury.
Between 1,500 and 3,000 people gathered peacefully at the plaza on October 26, 2011. The plaza was re-taken by protesters with at least one tent erected that evening. The general assembly voted to organize a general strike
General strike
A general strike is a strike action by a critical mass of the labour force in a city, region, or country. While a general strike can be for political goals, economic goals, or both, it tends to gain its momentum from the ideological or class sympathies of the participants...
for November 2.
About 2,000 people held a candlelight vigil for Scott Olsen at the plaza on October 27, 2011.
Documentary filmmaker Michael Moore
Michael Moore
Michael Francis Moore is an American filmmaker, author, social critic and activist. He is the director and producer of Fahrenheit 9/11, which is the highest-grossing documentary of all time. His films Bowling for Columbine and Sicko also place in the top ten highest-grossing documentaries...
spoke to a crowd of about 1,000 protesters on October 28, 2011. In the hour-long address, Michael Moore encouraged Occupy Oakland by saying, "We've killed despair across the country and we've killed apathy."
Dozens of new tents have been erected in the plaza, including a medical tent provided and staffed by the California Nurses Association
California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee
The California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee , is a labor union and professional association of registered nurses in the United States. CNA/NNOC has a four-member Council of Presidents, currently including Deborah Burger, RN; Zenei Cortez, RN; DeAnn McEwen, RN; and Malinda...
.
Pro-democracy protesters in Egypt marched from Cairo's Tahrir Square to the U.S. Embassy in solidarity with Occupy Oakland.
Representatives of Occupy Oakland held a press conference detailing plans for the general strike on November 2.
The Oakland Police Officer's Association issued an open letter to the citizens of Oakland expressing "confusion" about Mayor Quan's decision making. The open letter took issue with Mayor Quan's decision to allow public employees to participate in the upcoming general strike:
[T]he Administration issued a memo on Friday, October 28th to all City workers in support of the “Stop Work” strike scheduled for Wednesday, giving all employees, except for police officers, permission to take the day off. That’s hundreds of City workers encouraged to take off work to participate in the protest against “the establishment.” But aren’t the Mayor and her Administration part of the establishment they are paying City employees to protest?
Thousands of protesters gathered at Frank Ogawa Plaza to participate in rallies, marches, and teach-ins designed to empower citizens and to draw attention to economic inequity and corporate greed as part of the 2011 Oakland General Strike
2011 Oakland general strike
The Oakland General Strike of 2011 was a general strike held in Oakland, California on November 2, 2011 as part of the larger Occupy Oakland movement. -General strike:...
. The last general strike in the United States was in Oakland in 1946. Local unions expressed solidarity for the strike
Strike action
Strike action, also called labour strike, on strike, greve , or simply strike, is a work stoppage caused by the mass refusal of employees to work. A strike usually takes place in response to employee grievances. Strikes became important during the industrial revolution, when mass labour became...
including Oakland's largest union, Service Employees International Union
Service Employees International Union
Service Employees International Union is a labor union representing about 1.8 million workers in over 100 occupations in the United States , and Canada...
Local 1021, Oakland Education Association, International Longshore and Warehouse Union
International Longshore and Warehouse Union
The International Longshore and Warehouse Union is a labor union which primarily represents dock workers on the West Coast of the United States, Hawaii and Alaska, and in British Columbia, Canada. It also represents hotel workers in Hawaii, cannery workers in Alaska, warehouse workers throughout...
Local 10, and United Brotherhood of Carpenters
United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America
The United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America is one of the largest building trades union in the United States. One of the unions that formed the American Federation of Labor in 1886, it left the AFL-CIO in 2001.-Early years:...
. While none of the unions were officially on strike, many urged their members to take a personal day, vacation day or to participate after work.
While most of the day-time activities were peaceful, Oakland Police chief Howard Jordan reported that a small group of "anarchists" vandalized a Whole Foods
Whole foods
Whole foods are foods that are unprocessed and unrefined, or processed and refined as little as possible, before being consumed. Whole foods typically do not contain added ingredients, such as salt, carbohydrates, or fat. Examples of whole foods include unpolished grains, beans, fruits, vegetables...
storefront, and broke windows and ATM
ATM
-In science and technology:*Adobe Type Manager, typeface management software from Adobe Systems Allocated*Air traffic management, synonym for air traffic control*Alternating Turing machine, model of computation used in theoretical computer science...
s of Bank of America
Bank of America
Bank of America Corporation, an American multinational banking and financial services corporation, is the second largest bank holding company in the United States by assets, and the fourth largest bank in the U.S. by market capitalization. The bank is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina...
and Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo & Company is an American multinational diversified financial services company with operations around the world. Wells Fargo is the fourth largest bank in the U.S. by assets and the largest bank by market capitalization. Wells Fargo is the second largest bank in deposits, home...
banks in the afternoon. Many buildings were vandalized, including some businesses that displayed signs of support for the General Strike. After the incidents of vandalism, members of Occupy Oakland organized to guard local businesses, board up broken windows, and clean graffiti caused by the black bloc
Black bloc
A black bloc is a tactic for protests and marches, whereby individuals wear black clothing, scarves, ski masks, motorcycle helmets with padding, or other face-concealing items...
vandals. Oakland mayor Jean Quan described the vandals as "a small and isolated group" that "shouldn't mar the overall impact of the demonstration and the fact that people in the 99 percent movement demonstrated peacefully and, for the most part, were productive and very peaceful."
Thousands of protesters marched from Frank Ogawa Plaza to the Port of Oakland
Port of Oakland
The Port of Oakland was the first major port on the Pacific Coast of the United States to build terminals for container ships. It is now the fifth busiest container port in the United States, behind Long Beach, Los Angeles, Newark, and Savannah...
, the fifth busiest port in the United States, in two separate groups leaving the plaza at 4:00 pm and 5:00 pm. The number of protesters marching to the port has not been confirmed. While police estimate 7,000 people marched, local organizers and participants put the number somewhere between 20,000 and 100,000. As protesters completely filled Middle Harbor Road, the main road leading to the port, all truck traffic entering or exiting the port was halted. Port operations were "effectively shut down" a couple hours later.
Later in the evening, a group of protesters took over a vacant building that once served as the headquarters of the Traveler's Aid Society, a non-profit organization that provided services to the local homeless population. Police soon arrived to break up the protesters gathered outside of the building. Some protesters fled while others set a barricade on fire. Police used teargas and flash bangs to try to clear protesters. At least one man was carried away injured after protesters said he was shot in the leg by a rubber bullet. Clashes continued past midnight. 103 people were arrested.
Various reports of police using excessive force later emerged, including a first-person-perspective video of a protester being shot by police, reports of a second Iraq war veteran hospitalized for injury sustained during arrest, and a journalist who after being swept up in mass arrests with protesters, witnessed acts of police brutality.
On November 5, the City Council met to consider a resolution by council member Nancy Nadel
Nancy Nadel
Nancy Nadel is a U.S. politician, businesswoman, and member of the Oakland City Council serving her fourth consecutive term. After two terms on the Board of the East Bay Municipal Utility District, Nadel was elected to the District Three Downtown-West Oakland City Council seat in 1996. In 2006,...
in support of the Occupy Oakland encampment. After listening to over 100 members of the public, the council postponed its vote until November 15.
A downtown Oakland Wells Fargo branch closed for business because of the roughly 100 immigrant rights protesters who marched from Occupy Oakland's encampment to protest the bank's connection to companies that run immigrant detention centers
Immigration detention in the United States
Immigration detention in the United States began in 1981, when the administration of President Ronald Reagan reacted to the mass migration of asylum seekers who arrived in boats from Haiti by establishing a program to interdict...
.
Weeks 5 - 7 (November 7 – November 27)
On November 7, Occupy Oakland accepted a $20,000 donation for urgent medical and legal expenses from Occupy Wall Street. The money was deposited into an Occupy Oakland lawyer's Wells Fargo bank account. The Occupy Oakland general assembly approved the decision to hold the money temporarily in a Wells Fargo account to be used immediately for bailing out jailed protesters. When the group's status as an unincorporated association is approved, the money will be transferred to a local credit union. This deposit was seen by some news outlets and some Occupy Oakland protesters as hypocritical because just a few days earlier, Occupy Oakland had protested against Wells Fargo. Wells Fargo spokesman Ruben Pulido said, "If this report is true, it demonstrates that even Occupy Oakland understands — firsthand — the value and service that Wells Fargo provides its customers. Wells Fargo welcomes the 100 percent of Americans to allow us to help them meet their financial needs."On November 9, five members of the Oakland City Council, Desley Brooks, Ignacio De La Fuente
Ignacio De La Fuente
Ignacio De La Fuente is an Oakland City Councilmember. He was also the President of Oakland's City Council until January 2009, when he became vice mayor of Oakland.-Background:...
, Pat Kernighan, Libby Schaaf, Larry Reid, two dozen clergy, and Oakland business owners held a press conference calling for the immediate eviction of Occupy Oakland. The group alleged that the ongoing protest had harmed the economy of downtown Oakland, and cited reports of fire hazards in the camp. Occupy protesters interrupted the press conference by chanting, "We are the 99 percent of Oakland." The council members counter chanted: "Occupy Oakland must go." The press conference ended earlier than anticipated.
On November 10, the one-month anniversary of the Occupy Oakland demonstration, a man was fatally shot about 25 yards away from the plaza's tent encampment. Occupy Oakland medics responded to the victim until the police and paramedics arrived. Initially, there were mixed reports about whether the people involved in the shooting were connected to Occupy Oakland, and many occupiers felt that the incident had unfairly become a catalyst for their removal. Police later determined that the victim, 25-year-old Kayode Ola Foster, was indeed an Occupy Oakland participant for the previous few days, as was one of two possible murder suspects. In response to the shooting, demonstrators observed a moment of silence, prayer, and held a candlelight vigil for the victim, led by one of the camp chaplains.
In the days preceding November 14, Oakland Police delivered 'notices of violations' to Frank Ogawa plaza. In the early hours of November 14, approximately 700-1000 police were mobilized. Supporters began arriving, and and a line of union workers wearing white arm bands formed a line to observe and mediate if necessary. At approximately 4:30 AM, police entered the plaza. Police initially made about 20 arrests, 14 of whom had been praying all night in the camp’s inter faith tent. Afterwards, police demolished the camp.
Dan Siegel
Daniel Mark Siegel
Daniel Mark Siegel, or Dan Siegel, is a civil-rights attorney at the Oakland-based law firm, Siegel & Yee.Siegel was born and raised in New York City and on Long Island. He attended high school in New York, graduating second in his class. He attended Hamilton College in 1963-1967 majoring in...
, Mayor Jean Quan's city hall Legal Adviser, resigned in protest, announcing, via Facebook: "No longer Mayor Quan's legal adviser. Resigned at 2 am. Support Occupy Oakland, not the 1% and its government facilitators." That same day, Oakland Deputy Mayor Sharon Cornu resigned her post as well.
On November 15, the Occupy Oakland website released a flyer and information about a planned "Mass Rally & March" through Oakland due to take place November 19 to "expand the Occupy Movement
Occupy movement
The Occupy movement is an international protest movement which is primarily directed against economic and social inequality. The first Occupy protest to be widely covered was Occupy Wall Street in New York City, taking place on September 17, 2011...
". The website states the flyer was created in response to calls by the Occupy Oakland General Assembly convened on 11.11.11.
On the morning of November 21 the last Occupy camp at Snow Park was dismantled by the city. The roughly 100 protestors left behind nearly 21 truckloads of debris. The movement was left with no physical presence occupying any public space overnight in the city of Oakland.