After this morning's temporary disembowelment of Occupy Oakland by the city of Oakland, the group sent out a strongly worded message in which they claim a) "it's not finished" and b) that they will regroup this afternoon to plan their next move. At the request of city officials, police moved in on Frank Ogawa Plaza -- shortsightedly renamed Oscar Grant Plaza by a few unfocused activists -- between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. today to clear out the area.
According to Occupy Oakland, they will fight back:
This morning at 5am over 500 police in riot gear from cities all over central California brutally attacked the Occupy Oakland encampment at 14th & Broadway. The police attacked the peaceful protest with flash grenades, tear gas, and rubber bullets after moving in with armored vehicles. Apparently the media was not allowed in to document this repression, and the police established barricades as far apart as 11th and 17th. Over 70 people were arrested and the camp gear was destroyed and/or stolen by the riot police.Contact the mayor and tell her what you think of her actions.
Reconvene today at 4pm at the Oakland Library on 14th & Madison. Occupy Oakland is not finished, it has only begun.
The protesters vow to keep the momentum going, along with the hope that the growing numbers can maintain focus on spirit of Occupy Wall Street. Fingers crossed.
"This is not going to be an end to our encampment by any stretch," Kevin Seal, an Occupy Oakland member, told reporters. "It's now a question of where are we going to be."
