re. Oakland Police - flashback from the anti-war protests 8+ years ago

[inna]

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines03/0407-07.htm

Published on Monday, April 7, 2003 by the San Jose Mercury News

Police Violence Shocks Activists, Others at Port of Oakland Protest


An anti-war demonstration at the Port of Oakland turned violent this morning when Oakland Police opened fire with wooden dowels, ``sting balls,'' concussion grendades, tear gas and other non-lethal weapons when protesters at the gates of two shipping lines refused an order to disperse. Scores of protesters ran from a line of police or tried to hide behind nearby big rigs. At least a dozen demonstrators and nine longshoremen who were standing nearby were injured.

...

There have been so many anti-war demonstrations in the Bay Area in recent months that they have almost become routine, and most have been peaceful. Monday's events mark the first time that local police have used projectiles to disperse crowds, and many demonstrators said they were stunned that the projectiles were fired at such close range.

``I was just marching in a big circle and the police lowered their guns at us,'' said Scott Fleming, 29, who took off his shirt to reveal four large red and swollen welts on his back. ``I turned to run and I started getting hit with wooden bullets. They just kept shooting at us, and I kept running. I'm a lawyer, and I'm seriously considering filing charges.''

...

``I got hit a few times with rubber bullets,'' said Dan Siegel, an attorney and member of the Oakland School Board. Siegel pulled a sting ball out of the pocket of his business suit and said he was outraged that the police fired on a peaceful protest.

...

cont.:
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines03/0407-07.htm

[slay]

1. Oakland police - a history of violence and over-reacting

sounds like a pattern to me. these thugs don't think twice before firing on unarmed peaceful protesters. i hope MANY lawsuits are filed. fuck the Oakland PD - seriously. :mad:

Some pics from last night's Oakland PD attack on the protesters:

[inna]

2. what I want to know is, who gave direct orders this time. 8 years ago, supposedly,

it was Jerry Brown, and he has consistently defended the police violence all along - the reason he's been pretty much dead for me as a politician since that day. :mad:

[Odin2005]

5. OMG, that poor guy in a wheelchair!

:grr:

[slay]

7. From what I read - it's an old lady who's battery died on her electric wheelchair

leaving her trapped in choking tear gas. :grr:

[BanzaiBonnie]

6. But it's for your own good

We must do this so that you're safe. Yeah... that's the ticket. We must insure your health and safety.

[IndyPragmatist]

3. What ever happened to all those anti-war protests?

Oh thats right, now that a Democrat is in office, war is cool.

[Starry Messenger]

4. k&r