Oakland Police Evict Occupiers From New Location
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It’s like a political cancer and it’s spreading. From the Mercury News:
Police cleared an Occupy Oakland encampment at 19th Street and Telegraph Avenue Sunday morning.
There were no arrests or injuries during the 8 a.m. raid in Oakland’s uptown district, said Oakland police spokeswoman Johnna Watson.
After the raid about 150 protesters were milling around, some yelling at line of police, who remained impassive. Many protesters said they hadn’t camped out but were awakened by friends texting them before the raid. The crowd had thinned to a few dozen two hours later.
The new camp was established Saturday after an afternoon of peaceful rallies at Frank H. Ogawa Plaza and a march of more than 1,000 people through the streets of downtown Oakland.
Occupy protesters pushed down a chain-link fence surrounding a vacant city-owned lot at 19th Street and Telegraph Avenue, pitching about a dozen tents and declared they established a new encampment.
Uptown district residents had spent recent days discouraging protesters from occupying the lot near the Fox Theater and an arts school, while city officials announced Friday that overnight lodging at the property would not be allowed.
On Sunday morning, campers said police gave them a 20-minute warning at 8 a.m. and moved in 40 minutes later. The campers used the time to cut down their tents and gather their belongings, which they said were being moved to a storage unit.
Mayor Jean Quan issued a statement Sunday about the morning’s police action saying the camps were putting a strain on Oakland’s resources.
“We will continue to be vigilant and ensure that public safety remains our first priority and that our downtown businesses are protected from vandalism. We will not tolerate lodging on public property, whether in parks or open space; it is illegal.” Staff Writers Angela Hill and Lisa P. White contributed to this report.Related posts:
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