A Day of Demonstrations: Occupy Oakland General Strike

Thursday, 9:45 a.m. For today’s updates, click here.

Thursday, 7:09 a.m. From AP this morning:

A protest that shut down the Port of Oakland to show the broadening reach of the Occupy Wall Street movement ended in violence when police in riot gear arrested dozens of protesters overnight who broke into a vacant building, shattered downtown windows, sprayed graffiti and set blazes along the way.

At least four protesters were hospitalized Thursday with various injuries, including one needing stitches after fighting with an officer, police said. Several officers were also injured but didn’t need hospitalization. Full story

The Oakland Tribune’s account here.

Yesterday’s posts

Occupy Oakland has called for a day of demonstrations and a general strike. We’re keeping up with events as they unfold. Reporters out in the field covering today’s events are also sending back photos.

Latest live-blog updates

9:48 p.m. We’re signing off for tonight, but we’ll be back in the morning with the latest developments on the status of Occupy Oakland.

Of the thousands that demonstrated for a general strike on The Port of Oakland, at this hour only about 150 remain, reports Sean Maher of The Oakland Tribune. About 50 port workers are still trying to get out and go home, he says.

For those who remain or are headed back to Frank Ogawa Plaza, reporter Emily Loftis tweets that AC Transit is offering a free ride back.

If you’re staying up late tonight, you can follow these folks on Twitter using this master feed that KQED’s social media guru Ian HIll has put together from local news organizations following events moment-to-moment. Or keep up by following our blog updates below.

Live stream from Occupy Oakland:

9:01 p.m. Even though some are staying at the port, it seems that many are heading back to Frank Ogawa Plaza. Oakland Tribune photographer and multimedia producer Jane Tyska captures a moment of people celebrating at what many see as the successful closure of the port.

Meanwhile in the downtown area, two pedestrians were struck by a car in the intersection of 11th Street and Broadway Avenue, The Oakland Tribune’s Martin Reynolds reports. ABC affiliate KGO TV adds that one protestor “slapped” the car before being hit.

8:39 p.m. There seems to be confusion among demonstrators gathered about whether the port was officially closed. Oakland North tweets that people initially cheered at an announcement the port was closed. KCBS reporter Doug Sovern tweets that police officers have left Maritime and West Grand Ave. Gavin Aaronson tweets that some protestors plan to stay at the port to block the morning shift.

8:30 p.m. Mother Jones’ Gavin Aaronson gives insight as to why some longshoremen showed up for work this evening. He tweets a message from the union spokesman “workers got a dispatch call to come to the port at 7pm but couldn’t get in. The next shift is 7am.”

8:00 p.m. Reporters on the ground say the mood at the port is “festive,” and that a group of about 100 people are leaving to go home.

KGO Radio reporter Kristin Hanes tweets that the longshoremen’s union called off the 7:00 p.m. shift at the port this evening, affecting about 200 workers.

7:30 p.m. Our Kelly Wilkinson is still with the marchers at the port, and updates with Cy Musiker again, noting people are prepared to stay, for awhile, at least. Listen here:

7:19 p.m. KQED’s Kelly Wilkinson is at the port and tells us that people are hanging out. A group that she is near just voted to keep truckers from entering the port, but allow workers who just ended their shift to leave and go home.

Mother Jones editorial fellow Gavin Aronson also says the atmosphere is “relaxed,” “But a woman speaking through a bullhorn has just starting calling for a picket line.”

7:09 p.m. Earlier this evening, Mayor Jean Quan and other city officials held a press conference. ABC’s local affiliate KGO posted the news conference:

7:00 p.m. Our Kelly Wilkinson is with the marchers at the port, and speaks with Cy Musiker to update the situation on the ground. Listen here:

6:45 p.m. The first few reports of police at the port are trickling in. San Francisco Chronicle reporter Demian Bulwa tweets this photo of a line of officers at the port.

6:30 p.m. The Port of Oakland issued this statement (PDF) on their website about 15 minutes ago. It reads in part:

At this time maritime operations are effectively shut down at the Port of Oakland. Maritime area operations will resume when it is safe and secure to do so.

Safety, security, respect and dignity for everyone remain of paramount importance. We continue to ask that everyone remain calm, respectful, and safe.

Specifically, we ask that the marchers allow port workers safe passage home. Please allow your fellow 99% to get home safe to their families.

The Port of Oakland is an economic engine: Through our activities and those of our tenants and customers we support over 73,000 jobs in our region and are connected to more than 800,000 jobs nationwide. These are jobs for the 99%.

The port also tweeted “Some marchers climbing on structures at Port. We take safety seriously for all. Keep protests to the road to avoid accidents. Thank you.”

6:19 p.m. Our Kelly Wilkinson says there are still more people coming toward the port. There are also people playing musical instruments, she says. Oakland North tweets this photo of Sistah Boom, making music and marching.

6:00 p.m. From the twitter-sphere, people continue to march toward the port. Joshua Holland, reporter from Alternet, tweets, “people streaming in literally stretch as far as the eye can see.” Oakland North reporters tweet photos, saying that thousands are already there, and thousands more are on their way.

KQED’s Kelly Wilkinson confirms that the second mass of marchers has arrived at the report and is as large or larger than the first group.

5:30 p.m. KQED’s Catilin Esch attended a press conference with the Port of Oakland’s Executive Director this afternoon, and she reports that marine operations have been shut down.

Interim Police Chief Howard Jordan stated at a press conference that the total for today’s crowd numbered at about 4,500, with an estimated 3,000 at the port.

5:24 p.m. Oakland North reporters tweet this photo (right) of demonstrators “occupying” a truck at the port. Our Kelly Wilkinson says people are chanting the familiar “we are the 99 percent,” while some are trying to direct incoming marchers to different entrances to the port.

5:19 p.m. KQED’s Kelly Wilkinson is on the ground and says that truckers are honking their horns, presumably in support of the march. She says people are splitting into groups of about 2,000, stationed at each entrance. Reporter Emily Loftis tweets a similar account.

Wilkinson hasn’t seen any uniformed police from her location.

5:00 p.m. The ABC affiliate TV station, KGO, reports that the crowd marching toward the port is estimated between 5,000 and 10,000. Their live aerial video feed is currently showing the large crowd.

The Oakland Tribune’s Josh Richman is covering the protest and tweets this photo of the march, on 14th street between Clay and Jefferson, near the I-980 overpass.

Reporters from the hyper-local news site Oakland North tweets, “the air is filled with car horns, the smell of sage, and legions of brightly colored signs.”

4:30 p.m. The march to the Port of Oakland is underway. Buses are shuttling demonstrators that need assistance to the port. ABC has live aerial coverage online.

3:50 p.m. KQED’s Caitlin Esch talked to a witness who says about 15-20 minutes ago a handful of protesters broke off from the main group of marchers and started arguing with a Wells Fargo security guard. Before a physical confrontation could occur, one of the protesters smashed a Wells Fargo sign, and then others smashed multiple windows in the building, which is actually the headquarters of Clorox.

There is glass everywhere now, Esch reports, and window blinds have been pulled out. A spray-painted anarchist symbol covers the Wells Fargo sign. There are also a few drops of blood on the pavement.

More photos

The vandals were wearing bandanas and masks, the witness says.

3:35 p.m. Wells Fargo spokesperson Holly Rockwell says a second office at 2040 Franklin was closed mid-afternoon. There was no information whether employees were sent home or to work at other branches.

3:30 p.m. Whole Foods has tweeted multiple messages about the incident at its store. “no one is losing jobs for #generalstrike,” reads one message. “We even offered to help cover shifts for people who wished to go.”

3:00 p.m. Our reporter Andrew Stelzer says he saw a group of about 150 black-clad protesters among a mainstream contingent of marchers, on their way to the Whole Foods. One or two from this group smashed windows of a Chase bank and another bank. The individual who smashed the window of the second bank was then tackled by someone else in the crowd.

When the group dressed in black reached Whole Foods, they spray-painted windows, and then, apparently, through tables through them.

Andrew Stelzer says there have been skirmishes between the black clad demonstrators and the other protesters. Many people are trying to grab anyone they see committing acts of property destruction, he says.

Several windows have also been smashed at a Bank of America, Stelzer reports.

2:43 p.m. KQED’s Wendy Goodfriend reports that protesters have smashed the front windows at Whole Foods on 27th Street and Harrison Street by throwing tables into them.

There has been a Twitter rumor going around that Whole Foods announced it would discipline employees who took part in the strike. Earlier in the day, our intern Reena Flores talked to a Whole Foods spokesperson in Austin, Texas, who said it was a “crazy, out of control rumor. In fact, our store team leaders talked to our stores in Oakland and Berkeley and said they support their right to do this.”

More here…

Twitter news feed

Right now the most thorough coverage is happening through Twitter. Check out this master feed that KQED’s social media guru Ian HIll has put together from local news organizations following events moment-to-moment. Or keep up by following our blog updates below.

Live stream from Occupy Oakland:

Updates

3:30 p.m. Whole Foods is tweeting

3:00 p.m. Our reporter Andrew Stelzer says he saw a group of about 150 black-clad protesters among a mainstream contingent of marchers, on their way to the Whole Foods. One or two from this group smashed windows of a Chase bank and another bank. The individual who smashed the window of the second bank was then tackled by someone else in the crowd.

When the group dressed in black reached Whole Foods, they spray-painted windows, and then, apparently, through tables through them.

Andrew Stelzer says there have been skirmishes between the black clad demonstrators and the other protesters. Many people are trying to grab anyone they see committing acts of property destruction, he says.

Several windows have also been smashed at a Bank of America, Stelzer reports.

2:43 p.m. KQED’s Wendy Goodfriend reports that protesters have smashed the front windows at Whole Foods on 27th Street and Harrison Street by throwing tables into them.

There has been a Twitter rumor going around that Whole Foods announced it would discipline employees who took part in the strike. Earlier in the day, our intern Reena Flores talked to a Whole Foods spokesperson in Austin, Texas, who said it was a “crazy, out of control rumor. In fact, our store team leaders talked to our stores in Oakland and Berkeley and said they support their right to do this.”

2:35 p.m. Wall Street Journal headline: Call for General Strike in Oakland Fizzles

The Occupy Oakland protesters’ call for a general strike Wednesday largely fizzled as organizers failed to rally significant support from unions, causing only minor disruption to businesses and schools.

Occupy Oakland, the West Coast’s most volatile branch of the Occupy Wall Street movement, said on its website that it was “asking all workers go on strike, call a vacation day or simply walk off the job.” Last week, demonstrators and police in Oakland clashed in violent skirmishes that caught international attention.

But calm reigned here Wednesday, raising questions about the breadth of the movement’s support.

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2:15 p.m. Time out for mockery. Colbert has his way with a couple of Occupy Wall Street protesters.

1:50 p.m. KCRA reports that “several carloads” of Occupy Sacramento protesters are headed for Oakland.

1:44 p.m. Video: Flash mob performs “I Will Survive,” the anthem of choice for any world-changing political movement: