Oakland

I don’t see anything today about what happened in Oakland yesterday. I assume this is because every reporter in the world is Very Very Concerned about Whoopie Cushion Candidate Cain’s singing career. No matter, I did find this article that shows the powers that be in Oakland, Ca. are realizing some problems won’t go away, even if you hit it with nightsticks, tear gas it, beat it up and arrest it [via Business Week]:

Embattled Oakland Mayor Jean Quan, who has been criticized for her handling of the protests, said in a statement that she supported the goals of the protest movement that began in New York City a month ago and spread to dozens of cities across the country.

“Police Chief (Howard) Jordan and I are dedicated to respecting the right of every demonstrator to peacefully assemble, but it is our duty to prioritize public safety,” she said.

Interesting strategy. Make the protesters laugh so hard they can’t march.

The president of the police officers’ union said he was worried officers were being scapegoated by Quan and “set to fail” if Wednesday’s actions got unruly.

“We’re going to be seen as the establishment, and it’s not fair to the police, it’s not fair to anyone,” Oakland Police Officer’s Association President Sgt. Dom Arotzarena said.

Excuse me while I wipe this tiny tear from my cheek. Look, I don’t mind the police being The Establishment, provided they remember The Establishment’s duties don’t include assault, brutality and civil rights violations. Perhaps remind your members of that, maybe.

It’s an interesting article with less than the RDA of scoffing at ye hippies, check it out. And if you happen across an article about what happened, stick a link in the comments. In the mean time, please think of the mothers, the children and even the grandmothers!

The Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce said in a letter to the mayor Tuesday in which President Joseph Haraburda expressed concern for “the mothers and children, and even grandmothers, who plan to come to Oakland to conduct their regular business” and for business owners who “must face a day of uncertainty” if they do not close for the strike.

Because Real Men don’t shop in Oakland.

p.s. I can haz The 99% vs. John Galt blog tag?

Posted by Hunger Tallest Palin on 11/03/11 at 08:32 AM • Permalink

Categories: Politics •

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This piece from AP was on my Comcast home page and the NYTimes had this one. Small piece of P. 5 of the Denver Post - Hermie Cain occupied 90% of P. 2. Priorities. must. be. kept. straight. people.

Comment by marindenver on 11/03/11 at 11:49 AM

That would be “on” P. 5.

Comment by marindenver on 11/03/11 at 11:49 AM

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/201 1/11/03/BANI1LQ2HO.DTL&ao=all

If OccupyOakland doesn’t get a handle on the usual “anarchists” they’re going to rapidly loose support. Fire up the drums!

Comment by Nellcote on 11/03/11 at 12:22 PM

btw part of the Port was already shut down over concerns about exploding containers (!) from Vietnam

http://www.insidebayarea.com/oaklandtribune/localnew s/ci_19242889

Comment by Nellcote on 11/03/11 at 02:05 PM

http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19247017?source=most_viewed

Comment by Nellcote on 11/03/11 at 02:26 PM

Not many mentions in the media of the Mercedes-driving asshole who deliberately rammed OWS protesters, sending 2 of them to the hospital. The crowd held the guy/car there for the cops, but the Oakland cops let him go, after taking his name of course, in case they need to investigate or anything. Wonkette and Charlie Pierce both have that story, and the video of the 2 people being hit by the car.

I guess most media outlets don’t find this story very interesting.

Comment by StringOnAStick on 11/03/11 at 06:41 PM

The “usual anarchists” are always a problem in any protest action here in Oakland. They’re the same bunch that smashes windows in Berkeley every couple of years. It’s hard to get a handle on them because, as we saw, they wait until after the rest of the demonstrators - who did all the work, marching for a long day in the sun - have gone to sleep, then come out and fuck things up. The other (sane) demonstrators tried to restrain them during the day, and were partially successful, but these asswipes sleep all day and break things all night. I heard a report on local news radio that the next day Occupy organizers gave out letters of apology to places that got vandalized, even the banks.