Around 4:30 a.m. this morning dozens of Oakland Police officers in riot gear, along with backup from the Alameda County Sheriff's department and nearly a dozen area police agencies, again moved in to Frank Ogawa plaza in the latest clearing-out of the Occupy Oakland camp. A notice from Mayor Quan's office sent out Saturday afternoon, followed by a more stern eviction notice from the Oakland PD Sunday set off speculation that a raid was imminent, causing some protesters to brace for the raid by gathering in the street at 14th and Broadway early this morning. By 5 a.m. police forces had blocked off the area surrounding the plaza.

In anticipation of the raid, Bay City News reports many protesters left the encampment entirely. Several arrests were made when a small group of protesters stayed behind to hold a candlelight vigil at the interfaith tent. Three others were arrested while meditating in the amphitheater on the plaza and at least one protester who refused to leave his tent was also arrested, according to Occupy Oakland's website. Overall, the AP reports protesters put up little resistance as they watched authorities dismantle their camp while chanting and playing music at 14th and Broadway.

Protesters announced via the Occupy Oakland website that they intend to regroup inf front of the Oakland Public Library at 125 14th Street at 4 p.m. today.

At least one protester climbed a tree in Ogawa plaza and intends to remain there.

CBS5 has the early morning video report, which is quick to claim, "by all accounts, it looks like the occupation may be over in Oakland."

UPDATE: During a press conference after the raid, Quan said that Occupy Oakland "began to take a different path from the original movement," adding: "It was no longer about the abuses of the financial system, or foreclosures or the unemployed. The encampment became a place where we had repeated violence and, this week, a murder."

UPDATE II: Dan Siegel, Quan's top legal advisor, quits over early morning police raid in Occupy Oakland encampment.

[BCN/Appeal]
[AP/SFEx]