Occupy Oakland-related e-mails leaked: Earlier this evening, The Bay Citizen and San Jose Mercury News published thousands of e-mails from Oakland mayor Jean Quan dating back to the initial crackdown on Occupy Oakland. Here’s a sample e-mail, from page 14 in this document: Despite Quan’s claims that she was not keeping a close eye on the Occupy drama, this e-mail says that she was in fact watching every minute of a key altercation between protesters and police. Dig in. (ht ProducerMatthew)
Whenever journalists are arrested/detained for reporting the news, everyone’s freedom is at risk.KGO Radio reporter Kristin Hanes • Discussing her arrest late Saturday as the Occupy Oakland protests flared up. She and Gavin Aronson of Mother Jones were among the over 200 people placed into custody Saturday night, as the Oakland protests reached a new breaking point — including the burning of an American flag. Both mayor Jean Quan and the police were quick to pin negative attention on the protesters: “The Bay Area Occupy Movement has got to stop using Oakland as their playground,” Quan said in a statement. However, it’s important to keep in mind the nature of the police actions — including violence towards protesters and the use of tear gas grenades. An OpenSalon writer has a pretty informative first-person piece worth reading, which describes both the nature of the protesters (not as bad as reported) and why things flared up Saturday. source (via • follow)
Also under investigation: Victor Garcia, the officer who, as can be seen in this video, fired the projectile at Scott Campbell, an unarmed protester filming the November 3rd protests. Garcia has already been removed from the SWAT team, and Joyner has been placed in a “bureaucratic job” while the investigation is carried out.
It’s so unfair. I’m the first Asian-American mayor of a major American city. They are not going to take me out without a fight.Oakland Mayor Jean Quan • Expressing anger at the fact that there’s a recall campaign floating around against her. (Edit: As noted below, her assertion that she’s the first Asian-American big-city mayor is incorrect — rather, she’s the first female Asian-American big-city mayor.) Quan struck the ire of many in the city due to the city’s strong-arm tactics in handling Occupy Oakland, which many activists blamed her for. “Friends of mine are moving to (counter the recall), but I wish I had time,” she said, noting that she’s taking the recall attempt seriously despite the fact that recall efforts are difficult to push through.
This despite threats by officials to shut it down. In what might be a good example for the New York movement as it attempts to regroup, members of Occupy Oakland have joined with the Occupy Cal movement to start a fresh encampment. This isn’t without controversy, however: Occupy Cal had its camp torn down November 9, and the university isn’t exactly taking so kindly to having a new one. “We will not allow encampments equivalent to what has occurred in Oakland and San Francisco,” said Chancellor Robert Birgeneau. The move could potentially lead to a conflict with police. Meanwhile, the San Francisco encampment is staying strong, and plans to meet with Mayor Ed Lee today. source
I was recently on a conference call with 18 cities across the country who had the same situation where what had started as a political movement and a political encampment ended up being an encampment that was no longer in control of the people who started them. And what I think you’re starting to see is that the Occupy movement is now looking for more stability.Oakland Mayor Jean Quan • Speaking to The Takeaway about the Occupy movement, noting in particular that she’s talking to other mayors about the movement, and seemingly trying to make decisions for them. “There’s been a lot of… talking to peaceful demonstrators…who wanted to separate themselves from anarchists,” she continued. “They’re now looking for a private space where they can go to do community organizing around the issues that started the movement, so I think you’re going to find that…the encampments are going to try to move to place where they’re not in direct conflict with the public.”
No longer Mayor Quan’s legal adviser. Resigned at 2 am. Support Occupy Oakland, not the 1% and its government facilitators.Attorney Dan Siegel • Revealing that he resigned as Oakland mayor Jean Quan’s legal counsel, in protest of the treatment of Occupy protesters. In an early-morning raid of the camp, 32 people were arrested, including many clergy members. As we previously reported, the Occupy Oakland group received eviction notices Friday night, a day after a shooting death brought fresh negative focus onto the movement. source (via • follow)
The notice of eviction for those at Occupy Oakland. Click for full image. (Source: Oakland Police Department)
Occupy Oakland will be forced to close after shooting: According to a press release released by the City of Oakland, above, the Occupy encampment will soon close, and those who do not follow the order will be arrested. “Last night’s tragic incident on the Plaza has elevated concerns about the safety of the encampment and people who also use the space,” the press release says. The risks are too great and it is time for the encampment to end.” The shooting did not involve a member of the encampment, but happened nearby. This week has been tough for the movement — there have been many deaths related to the Occupy movements, and many encampments, including the one in Portland, are being forced the close.
Occupy Salt Lake City occupant found dead in tent: A day after a particularly violent turn of events in two separate Occupy cities (Oakland and Burlington, Vt.), the Occupy movement suffered another setback after the death of an Occupant in Salt Lake City led to authorities shutting down the camp entirely. The occupant reportedly died from a combination of a drug overdose and carbon monoxide poisoning caused by a portable heater. City officials say they can no longer allow for the camp to continue due to safety reasons. (Photo by KSL reporter Shara Park)
But seriously … I am not kidding.
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#@#$%!.tumblr.com
Oh my God.
From the Oakland Tribune’s reports via Twitter, the shooting happened on the periphery of the Occupy Oakland encampment: those with the protesters say it has nothing to do with them. Some Occupiers are reported to be decamping; a cameraman was also attacked after the shooting, and has suffered a concussion; it’s unclear if this was related.
This is some scary stuff.
We’ve been covering this on our end. The cameraman was a KGO photographer who was trying to take a picture of the shooting victim. The station has a story up about the incident; the victim’s death has been confirmed by them as well.
Here’s video of the reported shooting near the Occupy Oakland encampment. Video is 45 seconds in; KGO-TV was on the scene and captured the sound of gunfire while reporter Laura Anthony was on camera near the encampment. To clarify, protesters may not have been involved, but the person shot upon reportedly ran from the people in the encampment. ”This is known throughout the world,” noted spokesperson Shake Anderson. “If someone does something wrong in their community, they may want to come here and this is not the place for that.”
Via @ProducerMatthew, a photo of a KGO photographer who was punched when attempting to get a photo of the victim in the Occupy Oakland shooting. (Photo by Jane Tyska of The Oakland Tribune)
Shooting near Occupy Oakland: According to KGO-TV, the shooting involved a person who may have hid out from a person or group of people at the encampment. That person was wounded. More info as we get it.
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