Solidarity protests take place in Oakland as Baltimore unrest continues

[brooklynite]

Source: KTVU

OAKLAND (BCN) - Roughly 100 protesters gathered in the vicinity of Broadway and 14th Street in Oakland Monday evening in solidarity with demonstrators in Baltimore, carrying signs that say "Rest in Power Freddie Gray."

Oakland police and California Highway Patrol Officers are currently on the scene.

As the group moved around downtown Oakland, around 7:10 p.m CHP officers blocked an on-ramp in the vicinity of Interstate Highway 980 and the interchange with Interstate Highway 880 in an effort to prevent demonstrators from walking onto the highway.

Monday's protests in Baltimore over the in-custody death of 25-year-old Freddie Gray, who died of a spinal injury, prompted Oakland police to increase staffing levels in anticipation of solidarity protests, City of Oakland officials announced Monday afternoon.


Read more: http://wn.ktvu.com/story/28913464/solidarity-protests-take-place-in-oakland-as-baltimore-unrest-continues

[Stryst]

1. Power to the people

Those rioting and looting are NOT part of these protests, they're opportunists taking advantage of the chaos.

[ellenrr]

4. and you know this how? In fact,

violence against property and police is a well-acknowledged strategy of revolutionary groups.
something is going on and you don't know what it is, do you?

Those people who don't know what is going on, should listen and learn,
instead of spouting trite sound-bites from the media.

[graegoyle]

5. "violence against property and police is a well-acknowledged strategy of revolutionary groups"

Also a not-so-well-acknowledged strategy of agents provocateur seeking to discredit popularly-supported movements and actions.

(Fun with hyphens!)

[Stryst]

6. As someone who personally saw this at the Tacoma and Olympia port shut down protests

I KNOW that this happens. I've seen people show up at carefully coordinated protests, folks that no one else knew, that weren't part of any of the groups participating, and they were the one's who threw bottles and little dumpsters on fire. Those same people immediately disappeared as soon as the tear gas and pepper spray came out.

At the WTO protests in Seattle we all saw the same things, I was just a little younger and more naive and didn't realize what I was seeing.

And no, I'm not saying there are government plants purposely trying to stir up trouble (I'm heavily suggesting it, but not saying it), but there are people who will take any opportunity to throw a brick or put something in their pockets.

[romanic]

2. Real solidarity.

[quadrature]

3. don't get mad ... get even ...nt

[Oktober]

7. Coming soon...

Arson...