Police Destroy Occupy Oakland Teepee

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Police arrest Occupy Oakland teepee protesters

(01-05) 09:47 PST OAKLAND -- Police arrested about a dozen Occupy Oakland protesters and dismantled a tepee outside City Hall late Wednesday, two days after the city revoked a permit for the structure.

Officers in riot helmets converged on Frank Ogawa Plaza about 11:50 p.m. and arrested the protesters, some of whom had been sleeping near the tepee in violation of the temporary permit, officials said.

The city had granted demonstrators a three-day permit for the teepee Nov. 29 that could have been renewed for one-week periods. But in the ensuing days, protesters lived on the plaza, distributed food without permits, set up trash cans and stored personal belongings, officials said.

About a dozen protesters were gathered at the entrance to the plaza at 14th Street and Broadway early today. Organizers have put out a call for a 2 p.m. rally that would culminate in an attempt to occupy Mayor Jean Quan's office.

Rachel Dorney, 23, said Wednesday night's arrests were part of a harassment campaign by police.

"They want people to get tired," Dorney said. "They want people to stop showing up. But we can't show the police they're winning."

Dorney said religious leaders planned to raise an interfaith tent at a rally this afternoon and that marchers would head to Quan's office.

The plaza has been the main gathering spot for Occupy Oakland activists since fall. Police dismantled large encampments there Oct. 25 and Nov. 14, arresting demonstrators each time.

On Friday, interim Police Chief Howard Jordan and Deputy Chief Jeff Israel spent an hour with protesters in the plaza and told them they had to remove their belongings by 2 p.m. that day.

When the deadline passed and protesters remained, officers trying to remove the items were punched, spat on and pushed, and 13 people were arrested, police said. One officer was hit in the head with a chair, authorities said.

On Tuesday, city workers put out a fire at the Frank Ogawa statue on the plaza, steps away from the teepee, officials said.

"While the city of Oakland will continue to facilitate the expression of First Amendment rights to free speech, in the interest of public health and safety, and the public enjoyment of Frank Ogawa Plaza, unpermitted and unregulated conditions will not be allowed," the city said in a statement this week.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/01/05/BA9A1MLAHJ.DTL#ixzz1icEdl8zd

[ScottnIzabela 25]

good riddance

Police arrest Occupy Oakland teepee protesters

(01-05) 09:47 PST OAKLAND -- Police arrested about a dozen Occupy Oakland protesters and dismantled a tepee outside City Hall late Wednesday, two days after the city revoked a permit for the structure.

Officers in riot helmets converged on Frank Ogawa Plaza about 11:50 p.m. and arrested the protesters, some of whom had been sleeping near the tepee in violation of the temporary permit, officials said.

The city had granted demonstrators a three-day permit for the teepee Nov. 29 that could have been renewed for one-week periods. But in the ensuing days, protesters lived on the plaza, distributed food without permits, set up trash cans and stored personal belongings, officials said.

About a dozen protesters were gathered at the entrance to the plaza at 14th Street and Broadway early today. Organizers have put out a call for a 2 p.m. rally that would culminate in an attempt to occupy Mayor Jean Quan's office.

Rachel Dorney, 23, said Wednesday night's arrests were part of a harassment campaign by police.

"They want people to get tired," Dorney said. "They want people to stop showing up. But we can't show the police they're winning."

Dorney said religious leaders planned to raise an interfaith tent at a rally this afternoon and that marchers would head to Quan's office.

The plaza has been the main gathering spot for Occupy Oakland activists since fall. Police dismantled large encampments there Oct. 25 and Nov. 14, arresting demonstrators each time.

On Friday, interim Police Chief Howard Jordan and Deputy Chief Jeff Israel spent an hour with protesters in the plaza and told them they had to remove their belongings by 2 p.m. that day.

When the deadline passed and protesters remained, officers trying to remove the items were punched, spat on and pushed, and 13 people were arrested, police said. One officer was hit in the head with a chair, authorities said.

On Tuesday, city workers put out a fire at the Frank Ogawa statue on the plaza, steps away from the teepee, officials said.

"While the city of Oakland will continue to facilitate the expression of First Amendment rights to free speech, in the interest of public health and safety, and the public enjoyment of Frank Ogawa Plaza, unpermitted and unregulated conditions will not be allowed," the city said in a statement this week.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.co...L#ixzz1icEdl8zd

[slim 1,530]

"in violation of a temporary permit" uh... isn't that what the police are supposed to do?

[TBoneTX 45,542]

spat on

Finally -- some writer SOMEwhere who knows the correct past tense of "spit," si man.