Downtown Oakland's Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building was blocked this morning by a group over a dozen protestors who chained themselves together. The protest began as in San Francisco BART protests resulted in no major delays.
The protestors in Oakland have said they want to reclaim the legacy of the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., writes the Chronicle. “3rd World Unite,” “Silence is Violence,” “Third World for Black Power,” and “Global Resistance Against Police Violence,” were some rallying cries written on signs.
The demonstrations started 6:30 a.m. Yesterday, protesters chained themselves together in a similar action, blocking Oakland police headquarters. As then, federal building protesters said they planned to stay for 4 hours and 28 minutes, a symbolic length of time representing the 4 hours and 28 minutes the slain Michael Brown lay in the street in Ferguson, Missouri last summer.
The twin-tower building located at 1301 Clay St. houses federal offices, and the entrance to federal courthouses in the south tower remained open during the demonstration.
Protest at Oakland Federal Building. #3rdWorld4BlackPower pic.twitter.com/WwHZOg1mRq
— Steph Harris-Alvarez (@stephlalvarez) January 16, 2015
It appears that the main banner at the protest was attached to a helium balloon.
Helium rigged banner at #3rdWorld4BlackPower Oakland federal building protest #ReclaimMLK #BARTFriday pic.twitter.com/QqRIa4lWSq
— Julia Carrie Wong (@juliacarriew) January 16, 2015
And apparently there was also a flyer circulating for a protest planned at the Fruitvale BART station for tomorrow at 3 p.m.
There will also be a huge protest tomorrow, Saturday at 3:00PM at the Fruitvale BART station, Oakland per a flyer circulating online.
— Jenni (@JenniHesterman) January 16, 2015
Previously: BART Spokesperson: 'We Didn't Have Any Major Delays' From #BARTFriday Protest
