Today, presumably under orders of Oakland, CA, mayor Jean Quan, police used rubber bullets and tear gas to break up a completely peaceful demonstration.
Here’s an account posted by a journalist on the scene.
Here you can read the Twitter feed as the raid happened, and watch a video.
Outraged? Let them know!:
Mayor Jean Quan 1 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza 3rd Floor Oakland, CA 94612 Contact phone: (510) 238-3141 fax: (510) 238-4731 TTY: (510) 238-3254
Stories like this just reinforce my already strong feelings about how government is run in this country. So far, our little band of occupiers here in Lancaster is doing fine camped out between the police station and the art college (major thoroughfare through town). They’ve been there for about a week-and-a-half and have permits through the end of the year. They’ve been proactive about welcoming the larger community to join in General Assembly and working group meetings and this past Saturday had a community day featuring a variety of workshops. It’s interesting to observe as I pass them to and from work, and I have been stopping over from time to time to talk as well.
The police action aside, this was not a completely peaceful demonstration. Members this group of occupiers physically attacked the press, threatened and attacked other individuals camped out in the plaza who has differing views and were willing to share them with the media. Apparently paramedics were not allowed in after a report of a severe beating. “Your right to swing your fist ends at my nose”.
http://www.ktvu.com/news/29584034/detail.html