Occupy Oakland says it's not going anywhere

[robdogbucky]

Occupy Oakland says it's not going anywhere

Kevin Fagan, Justin Berton,Matthai Kuruvila, Chronicle Staff Writers

Friday, October 21, 2011


Oakland officials warned activists with the Occupy movement Friday that their 11-day-old encampment in the shadow of City Hall was illegal and that they would be arrested if they didn't leave.

Late Friday night, most of the estimated 300 to 400 people living in Frank Ogawa Plaza, many of whom have set up tents, appeared determined not to leave. Several organizers said they were concerned that there was a tiny number of potential troublemakers in the crowd, but most protesters said they were committed to nonviolence if a police confrontation were to occur.

Shortly after the 10 p.m. deadline set by the city to evacuate the camp, there was virtually no police presence around the plaza. Campers calmly milled about, talking and laughing as Bob Marley's "Get Up, Stand Up" played softly from a set of speakers.

City officials have issued warnings in recent days about fire hazards, sanitation issues and a growing rat problem at the Occupy Oakland camp, and Friday afternoon they posted flyers around the camp with an order to vacate Friday night...


Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/10/21/BA6S1LKNVB.DTL#ixzz1bUIpBsT8