I arrived at Frank Ogawa Plaza, otherwise known as Oscar Grant Plaza, last Saturday afternoon- just in time for the final march of move in day at Occupy Oakland. My few moments of hesitation quickly passed and I joined the tail end of the occupiers.
Protesting Vacant Buildings
Though we were strong in our numbers, I couldn’t help but notice the riot police that followed directly behind us- a large line of police in black gear holding their infamous shields in front. The march proceeded a few more blocks before any one of us noticed that we were about to be cornered and kettled. I attempted to leave the march, but the police were one step ahead. I was squared in with a few other participants with no way to follow the dispersal order from the police or to avoid the teargas canisters that were about to invade the air and my fellow occupiers.
A few months prior I participated in the Occupy General Strike- on this historical day I was floored by the difference in tactics that were used by a wide range of general strike participants. With 20,000 other people around my side we faced only slight monitoring by the police and were able to successfully shut down the ports ofOakland. But on the other hand there were many other moments that day that could have ended in similar police tactics such as the ones we faced last Saturday.
Oakland Screams "That's Enough"
And I’ll admit- when a group of people started to push over a fence to get us through I was relieved to have a way out. Some of us took advantage of our escape but there were many others that continued in the streets and with their march. These brave occupiers continued down the street with their merciless chant: “Whose streets? Our Streets!” Just a few blocks later my fellow occupiers were kettled again, and hundreds were arrested. Although many reports came out suggesting that the occupiers had tried to invade a YMCA office- it is more truthful to say that many were only trying to escape. Many of the protestors were taken to Santa Rita jail located in Dublin, CA. Behind these walls many protestors faced inhumane treatment. Reporters received anonymous confessions from those involved acknowledging the mistreatment of protests in jail. Many reports that I have read online- from the Huffington Post to The SF Bay Guardian have reported that many inmates were denied medical treatment and access to necessary mediation, some faced physical harm, and many were placed into small holding cells with more than twenty other people. Needless to say, the action take by the police was incredibly illegal.
We continue to move forward in our movement because we have not stopped believing in what this movement stands upon. Although we will continue to face many tactics and obstacles, we will not be stopped. Fear does not have a place with us because we know that we fight for will overcome our temporary discomfort. It is critical that we continue to support occupiers all over the country, and especially inOakland, in order to prevent further violence. We have the societal right to dissent that which we oppose, and we have the right to do so without fear and violent consequence.
Zena Andreani,
Student at Santa Clara University