Posted on 31 December 2011 by Benjamin Phillips
The Oakland Police Department conducted what was, even by their standards, a brutal and unwarranted raid at the Occupy Oakland vigil today.
The reasons given for the first arrests were having “possessions in the plaza”, which is not a crime. Watch this video:
The police then escalated the level of violence:
video via @geekeasy
This is a quick synopsis of a police raid that occurred on vigilers at OGP today at approximately 2pm.
Commentary via @hyphy_republic:
At around 12pm, police arrived at the tree sit and began to arrest people in the vicinity. No reason was given. These people are known in the camp as:
Leila Josh
Momo
Around the same time, at 12pm DC Jeffrey Israel of OPD told vigilers that their area was taking on “the appearance of an encampment” people needed to clean up, and have the area organized to avoid arrest and citation. Vigilers conferred as a group, cleaning and organizing. But they also pointed out that property had been taken without compensation in a previous raid last week.
According to witnesses, property had still not been given back. At around 2pm, OPD Lt. Harrison, arrived, the same officer who led raid before. Witnesses say that Harrison claimed that he was now leading the operation, and that everything would have to be cleared or people claiming their items would be arrested.
Vigilers then began to take possession of their items. The food table was moved off site. Officers then began to arrest vigilers and others present. Those arrested are known in the plaza as:
Carly Shorty Khalid
Alex
Update: These people were also arrested earlier, according to other witnesses. Hamza Brian
Tiffany
And one other who’s not identified as yet.
According to witnesses, those arrested had done nothing apparently illegal, and no reason was given for their arrest. WItnesses asked for the cause of arrest, were told to talk to the public information officer, who also refused to answer questions Shorty is a diabetic and needs medication, according to witnesses. The interfaith tent and tree sit remain, and were not subject to arrest.
The Egyptian Women’s Solidarity Rally continues as scheduled.
Stay tuned for Occupy Oakland’s response to this latest unwarranted attack.
