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thomhartmann

(3,978 posts)
Tue Jan 31, 2012, 01:16 PM Jan 2012

Thom Hartmann: Occupy Oakland: 400 Arrests, Tear Gas & Flag Burning



Mass arrests, chemical weapons, and nationwide solidarity - the Occupy Wall Street movement was the big story over the weekend - and so too was how hundreds of Americans were screwed out of their constitutional rights to free speech and assembly. More than 400 members of the Occupy movement were arrested Saturday in downtown Oakland as riot police using flash-bang grenades, chemical weapons, and less-lethal rubber-coated steel bullets cracked down on an attempt to occupy a long-abandoned city building. An unknown number of patriots were hospitalized with injuries after the assault by Oakland Police, and at least four journalists were arrested - the most since Mayor Bloomberg’s midnight raid on Zuccotti Park last November. All-in-all it was an ugly day in Oakland Saturday.

But the nationwide Occupy Wall Street movement rebounded on Sunday with solidarity marches across the nation. Within just 24 hours - marches were organized in at least 27 cities in America - from Denver to Boston to New York City. Unfortunately - many of those peaceful marches also ended in arrests. And in Washington, DC today - the nation’s oldest and largest remaining occupations are in danger of being evicted. At the behest of Republicans in Congress like former criminal Darryl Issa - the National Park Service told demonstrators who’ve been occupying two spaces in downtown DC for months that they have until noon today to remove any camping gear or face immediate arrest. That deadline came and went without eviction - but when the sun goes down and the ban on sleeping goes into effect - things could get ugly.

For the latest on all these coast-to-coast events - and what the state of the Occupy Movement is after a tumultuous weekend - I'm joined from Oakland by Susie Cagle - freelance journalist and Contributor to The Guardian. And here in our DC studios - Ben Zucker - a participant with Occupy DC. And - Eric Lotke - also a participant with Occupy DC - and author of the book, "2044: The problem isn't Big Brother, it's Big Brother Inc."

The Big Picture with Thom Hartmann on RT TV & FSTV "live" 9pm and 11pm check www.thomhartmann.com/tv for local listings

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Thom Hartmann: Occupy Oakland: 400 Arrests, Tear Gas & Flag Burning (Original Post) thomhartmann Jan 2012 OP
I'm curious just what time all these arrests took place. I have not found a time anywhere. Alameda Jan 2012 #1

Alameda

(1,895 posts)
1. I'm curious just what time all these arrests took place. I have not found a time anywhere.
Tue Jan 31, 2012, 02:50 PM
Jan 2012

The reason I'm curious is I took BART on Saturday and took the exit that was in front of me.. That exit took me out onto Oscar Grant Plaza. I knew something had happened by the helicopters swooping above, but was not swept up in it, as it seems the mass arrests were over when I got there around 7 PM. I was late, and had planned on being there earlier. This was just to transfer from BART to a bus. The area of Broadway and 14th street is a major transfer point.

Although I support the aim of OWS, at my age (70) and in my condition of health (lung issues) I am not about to put myself in a position that could kill me, and cause resource drain. However it does seem that just a small difference in time and I could have been swept up. I wonder how many others could have been in the same position. I remember reading about people just trying to get home, to work or whatever being swept up in these mass arrests.

Just saying, just taking note.

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