Oakland Mayor Asks Occupiers to Meet With Officials: ‘This Situation Is Costing Us Real Jobs’
- Posted on November 9, 2011 at 7:55am by
Billy Hallowell
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Protesters "Occupy" an Oakland building after breaking in, Nov. 3, 2011. (Photo: AP)
OAKLAND, Calif. (The Blaze/AP) — Mayor Jean Quan has renewed her appeal to Occupy Oakland representatives to meet with city officials and discuss the future of the growing encampment of protesters outside City Hall. Her latest overture comes as dueling video evidence was released by Oakland authorities and by a man who experts say appears to be the victim of excessive police force.
The month-old protest camp in a public plaza downtown has grown to about 180 tents and gas gained major media attention, distinguishing itself as the epicenter of unrest in the Occupy movement.
The mayor on Tuesday echoed concerns of business leaders, saying the tent city is hurting commerce – and, she added, straining an already stretched city budget. Officials day Occupy Oakland-related events though the end of October have cost the city slightly more than $1 million, mostly for police overtime.
“This situation is costing us real jobs,” the mayor said in a statement. “We can’t afford to lose a single job.”
Earlier in the day, the Oakland Tribune reported, Scott Campbell said police shot him with a rubber bullet or beanbag while he was videotaping a standoff between authorities and demonstrators following a “general strike” last week. Experts in police use of force say it appears the volley that hit Campbell was unprovoked and inappropriate.
Watch video of the incident, below (caution: graphic):
In the video, Campbell, 30, is heard calling, “Is this OK?” to a line of riot gear-clad officers. He told the newspaper that he was asking if his distance from them was adequate because an officer had asked him to step back. A firearm held by an officer then is seen going off, followed by Campbell’s yelps of pain.
Below, watch Campbell discuss the incident with Keith Olbermann:
The Oakland Police Department also has been criticized for wounding an Iraq War veteran during an Oct. 25 skirmish. City spokeswoman Karen Boyd said Tuesday that anyone who thinks they witnessed improper police conduct is encouraged to make a report with the police department‘s Internal Affairs division or Oakland’s Civilian Police Review Board.
University of South Carolina criminal justice professor Geoffrey Alpert said that unless something occurred off-camera to provoke the officer, the shooting was “one of the most outrageous uses of a firearm” he’d ever seen.
Campbell's wound (Courtesy of the Daily Mail)
“Unless there‘s a threat that you can’t see in the video, that just looks like absolute punishment, which is the worst type of excessive force,” Alpert said.
Campbell, who identifies himself as an anarchist, said he took video of the confrontation that occurred early Nov. 3 because he wanted to document any instances of excessive force, but did not imagine that he would be a target.
Authorities have said they moved to arrest more than 100 people and used tear gas and beanbags after a small group of self-proclaimed anarchists entered a vacant building with bottles and flares and then lit fires in the street when officers tried to clear the building.
Officer Johanna Watson, a department spokeswoman, said Campbell’s allegations already are being looked into.
Meanwhile, police released four videos of their own, these showing scores of protesters harassing officers before authorities used tear gas to disperse the crowd during the Oct. 25 confrontations that came hours after the temporary dismantling of the disputed encampment. The clips (available here) show hostile protesters surrounding police and throwing paint at them during a protest march through downtown. Police later fired tear gas and bean bags at the protesters, leading to several skirmishes that lasted into the wee hours.
“The images contained in this release are only a portion of what was captured,” Oakland police said in a release. “There are many hours of footage still being reviewed. … The officers were subjected to numerous assaults by the crowd throughout the incident.”
The Oct. 25 clashes came hours after an early morning police raid of the Occupy encampment. Quan allowed protesters to re-establish to their camp following the night of violence. Below, see footage from that night — from the perspective of the protestors (caution: language):
That move has prompted criticism. Last week, Joseph Haraburda, president of Oakland’s Chamber of Commerce, publicly blamed the city for three deals falling through. Haraburda said the plans collapsed after Quan allowed protesters back into the area. He said his chamber holds Quan “responsible for a peaceful and successful resolution.”
One protester, Jesse Smith, 32, who spoke with the mayor last week after a special City Council meeting, reiterated Tuesday that he and a few others in the movement are willing to meet with Quan despite Occupy Oakland’s overall stance.
Last week, demonstrators passed out fliers opposing meeting with city officials that read, “We Will Not Negotiate!” The back of the flier stated that the city’s special meeting “is an obvious attempt to capture and redirect our energy – into their chambers, on their terms and within the confines of their bureaucratic process. They are afraid.”
Smith said Quan’s appeals will likely be discussed during the protesters “General Assembly” on Wednesday. Protesters say they expect attempts from City Hall representatives to address the crowd.
Quan, as she has done repeatedly, also asked concerned individuals and organizations to reach out directly to protesters.
She expressed a desire for any future demonstrations associated with the anti-Wall Street movement to remain peaceful and said the protesters should help single out violent demonstrators.
“Oakland has demonstrated its support for the 99 percent,” Quan said. “Now is the time for the encampment to show its support for Oakland.”
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Comments (111)
Skee
Posted on November 9, 2011 at 9:09amSo what’s the problem?
Report Post »Mess with the bull and get the horns.
The police have shown great restraint
with these jackholes.
PooRBuckToe
Posted on November 9, 2011 at 10:28amAgreed. He should be grateful they didn’t use a shotgun.
Report Post »SanDiegoCountyCitizen
Posted on November 9, 2011 at 8:59amNegotiate with Anarchists and Marxists? Good luck with that, progressive idiots.
Report Post »Surrender your city, your bank accounts and your homes, and they might let you live.
Or, you can do the right thing and arrest every single protester and ENFORCE THE LAW!
agameofthrones
Posted on November 9, 2011 at 10:50amAmen to that! They are not reasonable, they are lawbreakers. They need to be rounded up and sent to Sherrif Joe’s home for idiotic criminal types. Not sure about the exact name of the facility.
Report Post »Tom K
Posted on November 9, 2011 at 12:18pmThe sorry A$$ excuse for a mayor is starting to figure out who she is really working for; the citizens of Oakland. Those citizens / voters should have a recall of this woman and elect someone with an I.Q higher than room terperature; how about a Conservative for a “ Change ” ?
gwssacredcause
Posted on November 9, 2011 at 8:51amIf the Occupy groups are so much like the Tea Party why would the police have to fire rubber bullets or beanbags at anarchist “journalist”, oh, that‘s right we didn’t occupy buildings and property we did not have permission for and we did not harass the police officers, we picked up after ourselves and treated each other with respect. I guess that would be a concept the “ intellectually elite” could not understand, you know respecting others!
Report Post »On The Bayou
Posted on November 9, 2011 at 8:56amThey said they want a revolution, they should expect to be shot at. If you don`t want the police to shoot at you go home.
Report Post »Bible Quotin' Science Fearin' Conservative American
Posted on November 9, 2011 at 12:40pmThe Tea Party are weekend warriors. Wanna be movement.
Report Post »PzV
Posted on November 9, 2011 at 11:22pm@ BS FeCe
“The Tea Party are weekend warriors. Wanna be movement.”
Well yes, people in the tea party actually have jobs and pay taxes. Did you miss this?
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on November 9, 2011 at 8:50amI expect the police to do stuff like this.
They have been in continuous low grade, urban combat for 1 month. They are being continuously provoked. As no one is attempting to rectify the situation, there is no end in sight. Their leadership is shitt, so morale is poor.
This is an insurgency & should be treated as such. That doesn’t mean shooting.
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on November 9, 2011 at 8:55amRead the work of French Lieutenant colonel David Galula.
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on November 9, 2011 at 8:59amMilitary History Quarterly Spring 2010
Why the Civil Rights Movement was an Insurgency by Mark Grimsley.
Technically the people behind OWS are not on the outside trying to gain power, because some of them are fellow travelers of Obama. But they want the whole ball of wax by any means necessary & they are not wanting to persuade people, lead by example, and wait for elections. This part of their operation is an insurgency. One which they have partial control over.
Report Post »Tickdog
Posted on November 9, 2011 at 8:44amNapalm the whole area.. that should fix it.
Report Post »SomeRandomPerson
Posted on November 9, 2011 at 8:49amDitto.
Report Post »progressiveslayer
Posted on November 9, 2011 at 9:01amWhen Quan is up for re-election her opponent’s slogan should be NO VC
Report Post »Bill Rowland
Posted on November 9, 2011 at 3:18pmNuke em till they glow, then shoot em in the dark
OMG
Report Post »Eleutheria
Posted on November 9, 2011 at 8:35amIf one goes looking for trouble, he will always find it. That fact is incontrovertible.
Report Post »Bermuda Onion
Posted on November 9, 2011 at 8:32amWhat are we waiting for!!!!
Thought you might find this interesting. Remember this the next time you stop your car for gas. Print and hang this on your wall. Get your Congress an Senator’s email addresses. Hit send!
Oil Anyone?
As you may know, Cruz Construction started a division in North Dakota just 6 months ago.
They sent every Kenworth (9 trucks) we had here in Alaska to North Dakota and several drivers.
They just bought two new Kenworth’s to add to that fleet; one being a Tri Drive tractor and a new 65 ton lowboy to go with it.
They also bought two new cranes (one crawler & one rubber tired) for that division.
Dave Cruz said they have moved more rigs in the last 6 months in ND than Cruz Construction moved in Alaska in the last 6 years.
Williston is like a gold rush town; they moved one of our 40 man camps down there since there are no rooms available.
Unemployment in ND is the lowest in the nation at 3.4 percent last I checked.
See anything in the national news about how the oil industry is fueling North Dakota’s economy?
Here’s an astonishing read. Important and verifiable information:
About 6 months ago, the writer was watching a news program on oil and one of the Forbes Bros. was the guest.
The host said to Forbes, “I am going to ask you a direct question and I would like a direct answer;
How much oil does the U.S. have in the ground?” Forbes d
Report Post »SanDiegoCountyCitizen
Posted on November 9, 2011 at 9:01amOP, get back on your meds.
Report Post »Rajabear1
Posted on November 9, 2011 at 9:43amYes, I have heard the story, but can’t remember the source. I am also at a loss why NO news agencies are report anything about the boom–good or bad. Odd, right? Is it because they would then have to validate why they cut off drilling in the gulf which lost thousands of jobs, permanently? I don’t know why, but it is to say the least odd why this is being kept hush hush.
Report Post »barber2
Posted on November 9, 2011 at 10:32amI just love the memory of the fact that Soros invested big bucks in Petrogas about that time. Hmmmm
Report Post »Bill Rowland
Posted on November 9, 2011 at 3:22pmWe have a mini boom going in south TX – experienced oil field hands are plentiful but laborers and truck drivers are critical. The companies will pay you while they train you. This shale field is supposed to start in this are and reach all the way to the Dakotas.
OMG
Report Post »drago
Posted on November 9, 2011 at 8:27amHey Mr. Mayor, you let the cockroaches in, now you will never get rid of them, sure hate it for your luck……
Report Post »paleoman
Posted on November 9, 2011 at 8:27amHay campbell have you ever seen what a 7.62×39 will do to a leg.
Report Post »brntout
Posted on November 9, 2011 at 8:56amOr a 7.62x 28 bottlenose?
Report Post »brntout
Posted on November 9, 2011 at 8:27amHey a cop that can shoot straight!
Report Post »Rob Adkerson
Posted on November 9, 2011 at 8:26amYour comment is as disgusting as these protests. Police should be allowed to use force where necessary, not shoot random people in a crowd. This guy wasn’t inciting violence, he was filming the officers after correctly asking whether or not he was at a reasonable, safe distance. You’re wrapped up in the mob mentality making you no better than half of these protesters.
Report Post »Berndt
Posted on November 9, 2011 at 11:28amA good way to see if he is at a safe distance – shoot him. If the bullet doesn‘t hurt then he’s at a safe distance. Seems so obvious!
Report Post »ares338
Posted on November 9, 2011 at 8:24amWhen you are supposed to be in authority and you are begging, you lose your credibility. Once a butt kisser always a butt kisser.
Report Post »alrunner58
Posted on November 9, 2011 at 8:22amThe mayor is a real genius, she finally figured out the city can‘t afford it and they’re losing jobs? Way to stay on top of things mayor. As far as the big baby that got hit with a rubber bullet, man up, it goes with the territory.
Report Post »AJAYW
Posted on November 9, 2011 at 8:32amThey need to move Mayor Jean Quan out of her office and onto the street. They got these people started now they can’t control them. Time to pay the price -Tear the city down
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on November 9, 2011 at 9:43amThis is the mayor’s last term. The business community will not support her. Most residents who pay property tax will not support her. The next time the citizen’s vote for Oakland mayor she is gone.
Report Post »Pamela Cinquini
Posted on November 9, 2011 at 1:02pmMy kids have gotten worse bruses from paintball family battles! What a whimp!
Report Post »progressiveslayer
Posted on November 9, 2011 at 8:22amSounds like mayor Quan doesn’t have any stones,the time for talking is long past and she needs to order police to disperse the crowd,it’s also a public health issue with these idiots living in filth.They don‘t have a permit to protest for months and months like they say they’re going to do.You can’t fart in this country without a permit yet these tools can do this as long as they want?
Report Post »Wringeaux
Posted on November 9, 2011 at 10:50am“Why do people say “grow some balls”? Balls are weak and sensitive. If you wanna be tough, grow a ******. Those things can take a pounding”
Report Post »― Betty White
Wringeaux
Posted on November 9, 2011 at 10:54amv@g!n@
Report Post »BONETRAUMA
Posted on November 9, 2011 at 8:12ampoor little duchebag. love those beaver teeth!
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on November 9, 2011 at 8:44am1stshe warranted the 1st half of your comment. Lose the 2nd half.
Report Post »BrerRabbit
Posted on November 9, 2011 at 8:11amCould not happen to a finer mayor. Wasn’t she the one that gave city employees a day off to join in on all the fun?
Just one more city to add to those I will NOT visit. The loss of tourist dollars will hurt in the end.
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on November 9, 2011 at 8:09am.
Report Post »A line of Cop’s in full RIOT Gear, and your gonna go skipping in front of them. Oh good lord, where the hell is the mobile Vet Clinic? We have to Spay and Nuter the whole lot fast, before they start breeding out of control……..
Realman30
Posted on November 9, 2011 at 9:06amThen you play a game of ‘Simon Says.’
‘Can I take two steps to the right?’
The loser got what was coming to him.
Report Post »Moozmom
Posted on November 9, 2011 at 8:07amWell, big Duh, Mayor. That is the purpose of the Occupy groups-to shut American down and bring her to her knees.
Report Post »Why don’t you all elitists understand that you have been trained to destroy America.
RichNGadsden
Posted on November 9, 2011 at 8:06amSo, Jean Quan has finally begun to understand which side of her bread is buttered? Funny how cities just don’t work without tax money flowing in and these fools have been stopping a lot of it.
Report Post »paulusmaximus
Posted on November 9, 2011 at 8:05amSo the mayor wants to let them know IT’S WORKING!
Report Post »barber2
Posted on November 9, 2011 at 10:11amAgree. News flash: these people are anarchists ! They want to destroy the “system” and they hate authority as in , the police! DUH. Mayor, don’t they teach history anymore? You need to do some of your own home-schooling so you wouldn’t play into their hands ! TODAY’S HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT: read up on “anarchy.”
Report Post »hightide
Posted on November 9, 2011 at 8:04amI thought she supported them? It was ok to allow them to occupy an American port and disrupt shipping traffic a few days ago. She should be removed from office for inciting riot and treason.
Report Post »ramburner
Posted on November 9, 2011 at 8:53amIf it were only possible to try her and the others for treason! Including the Potus! However, I don’t think this country understands the penalty for treason anymore or even understands that for treason, we actually carry through with the death penalty! How many Progressives in BOTH Parties could we get rid of this way, if we only had the balls to do it?!!
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on November 9, 2011 at 8:04amThe occupy groups want to bring down the system, and that is what they will do just as the unions brought the nation to a halt in teh 20s and 30s; watch for the attack on trucks, stores, food sights and more to grow worse and worse.
Report Post »RightUnite
Posted on November 9, 2011 at 8:02amToo bad they weren’t shooting these fools with real bullets…. Can’t wait for that to happen.
Report Post »Dustyluv
Posted on November 9, 2011 at 8:00amMan it was funny to see the cops shoot that guy. I loved it!!
Report Post »Rob Adkerson
Posted on November 9, 2011 at 8:20amWhy? I’m as disgusted with the “protesters” as any sane person, but that camera man wasn’t doing anything. Don’t get wrapped up in the mob mentality of the other side either.
Report Post »Dustyluv
Posted on November 9, 2011 at 7:58amI hope they meet with him and beat some sense into him…He is a bigger loser than they are. Liberalism is a mental disease.
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