Posted on 11/03/2011 5:46:13 AM PDT by broken_arrow1
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - A day of demonstrations in Oakland that began as a significant step toward expanding the political and economic influence of the Occupy Wall Street movement, ended with police in riot gear arresting dozens of protesters who had marched through downtown to break into a vacant building, shattering windows, spraying graffiti and setting fires along the way.
"We go from having a peaceful movement to now just chaos," said protester Monique Agnew, 40.
The far-flung movement of protesters challenging the world's economic systems and distribution of wealth has gained momentum in recent weeks, capturing the world's attention by shutting down one of the nation's busiest shipping ports toward the end of a daylong "general strike" that prompted solidarity rallies across the U.S.
About 3,000 people converged on the Port of Oakland, the nation's fifth-busiest harbor, in a nearly five-hour protest Wednesday, swarming the area and blocking exits and streets with illegally parked vehicles and hastily-erected, chain-link fences.
Port officials said they were forced to cease maritime operations, citing concerns for workers' safety. They said in a statement they hope to resume operations Thursday "and that Port workers will be allowed to get to their jobs without incident. Continued missed shifts represent economic hardship for maritime workers, truckers, and their families, as well as lost jobs and lost tax revenue for our region."
Supporters in New York, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and elsewhere staged smaller-scale demonstrations; each group saying its protest was a show of support for the Oakland movement, which became a rallying point when an Iraq War veteran was seriously injured in a clash with police last week.
(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.myway.com ...
Agree....this is rehearsal time to get the wrinkles out. Next year will be much more organized and finessed.
Holder’s people were waiting for this looting opportunity.
When your group leader is named "Boots," what could possibly go wrong...?
“...marched through downtown to break into a vacant building, shattering windows, spraying graffiti and setting fires along the way.”
Score:
Protestors 100 Small business owners 0
If they go down this road they will fail. Spectacularly.
People will flock to whatever schlub the GOP nominates, just as they flocked to Nixon in ‘68.
The real danger is that they will get Socialist ideas circulating in the economy, that are populist AND popular (like forgiving student loans and banning bank fees) which will be co-opted by well-scrubbed politicians in three-piece suits.
Bottom Up is doing it’s job...waiting for the Top Down blitzkreig!
When rats don’t get their free cheese, they tend to behave badly.
Add alochol, drugs and a sense of entitlement to the rat and they behave even worse.
Obama said “we are our brother’s keeper”. who are we to stand in the way of these protesters. It is only ours to satisfy their demands. We must sacrifice our good for theirs. That’s the collectivist way.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDkejTcSlY4&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a61fPIgJfgs&feature=related
Protesters also threw concrete chunks, metal pipes, lit roman candles and molotov cocktails, police said.
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The City Council needs to be charged for malfeasance and neglect of duty. Very few of those in the streets are from Oakland.
uNtil the media either stops the sympathy act or actually joins with the protesters,, this won’t stop. Innocents will die,, protesters will lie,, politicos will cry,, and local businesses will continue to do what they have done for years here,, disappear. and with them, Jobs.
Helluva strategy..
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