The Oakland City Administrator called today’s actions of the Occupy Goons “bullying by threats of violence and illegal activity“…said she would not be bullied.
The Occupy Oakland Thugs announced their intention to take over the Henry Kaiser Convention Center and turn it into a social center and political hub today. The criminals carried out their threat by marching through the streets and creating destruction and chaos along the way. Perimeter fencing was torn down and construction equipment was destroyed.
According to the AP, “Police said they issued a dispersal order and used smoke and tear gas after some protesters pelted them with bottles, rocks, burning flares and other objects.”
AP reports,
Police used tear gas and “flash” grenades Saturday to break up hundreds of Occupy protesters after some demonstrators started throwing rocks and flares at officers and tearing down fencing.
Three officers were hurt and 19 people were arrested, the Oakland Police Department said in a release. No details on the officers’ injuries were released.
Police said the group started assembling at a downtown plaza Saturday morning, with demonstrators threatening to take over the vacant Henry Kaiser Convention Center. The group then marched through the streets, disrupting traffic.
The crowd grew as the day wore on, with afternoon estimates ranging from about 1,000 to 2,000 people.
The protesters walked to the vacant convention center, where some started tearing down perimeter fencing and “destroying construction equipment,” the release said.
Police said they issued a dispersal order and used smoke and tear gas after some protesters pelted them with bottles, rocks, burning flares and other objects.
… Most of the arrests were made when protesters ignored orders to leave and assaulted officers, the release said. An hour later, the bulk of the crowd had left the convention center and headed back downtown.
The demonstration comes after Occupy protesters said earlier this week that they planned to move into a vacant building and turn it into a social center and political hub. They also threatened to try to shut down the port, occupy the airport and take over City Hall.
In a statement Friday, Oakland City Administrator Deanna Santana said the city would not be “bullied by threats of violence or illegal activity.”
… Oakland officials said Friday that since the Occupy Oakland encampment was first established in late October, police have arrested about 300 people.
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You can watch the chaos and felonious mayhem play out LIVE here.
