Oakland to seek 'stay away' orders against Occupy protesters

[maddezmom]

With more than 400 arrests in the Occupy Oakland protests in recent days and City Hall vandalized, officials will seek "stay away" orders against more than 100 repeat protesters to prevent them from returning.

Mayor Jean Quan told the Oakland Tribune on Monday, in the wake of vandalism and burning of American flags, that the city would seek orders forbidding some protesters from entering Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, and possibly all of downtown Oakland.

Quan also said there has been talk of a counter-demonstration to show public frustration with the movement.

more: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/01/oakland-mayor-city-will-seek-stay-away-orders-against-occupy-protesters.html

A spokesman for the city attorney's office says he will look in to the possibility of stay away orders and how large of an area can be included in an order. But the ACLU says stay away orders would present serious constitutional concerns because it restrains speech before its uttered. And protesters Saturday night said police were to blame for the fact that things got out of hand - saying they didn't give them enough time to disperse before they started using tear gas.

"If they would have just left us alone, it wouldn't be as much as it is now, which is craziness," said protester Lucky.

more:http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=news/state&id=8525001

[joeglow3]

1. "If they would have just left us alone, it wouldn't be as much as it is now, which is craziness,"

"Police say protestors used a crowbar Saturday night to pry their way into City Hall where they smashed display cases and burned flags"

If that is the case, that is a bull shit position by "Lucky."

[starroute]

2. Protesters have repeatedly said the doors were unlocked

According to http://www.ocregister.com/news/city-338002-occupy-oakland.html "On Monday city workers returned to work two days after Mayor Jean Quan said a protester used a crowbar to pry the main entrance of the historic building open, letting about 50 demonstrators inside. Protesters say the doors were unlocked."

Further, the description of a YouTube video of the protesters inside the building, uploaded three days ago, states, "To the surprise of Occupiers, City Hall front doors were unlocked and protesters went in...notice most people are peaceful (yes, a little rowdy as well). Why was it unlocked in the first place? Some people were shouting it was a trap. About 10 minutes after I shot this, a van full of police and SWAT team came and stormed in, arresting people. The media says protesters broke in and started a fire. That is completely false. I was there from the beginning, and the front doors were unlocked. If you go and check it now, there are no broken doors or windows, and who could pick the doors of a building like the City Hall? So much media spin right now, and it's only escalating a very tense situation and giving fuel to the Anarchists and opportunists who are looking for any excuse to create havoc and chaos in this city I love."

[Joe Shlabotnik]

3. thankyou,

this side of the story is getting swamped out by all flag burning faux outrage & media spin. Also people are starting to believe that the 400 or so arrested were all sacking city hall, when instead they were kettled and arrested for no reason, before any of this happened.

[boppers]

8. "who could pick the doors of a building like the City Hall"?

Any child above the age of 8.

Lock-picking isn't brain surgery.

[Thaddeus Kosciuszko]

10. "Protesters have repeatedly said the doors were unlocked"

I have no way of knowing whether that statement is true or false. I also have no idea why it would matter. If I forget to lock my front door on the way out, and return to a looted home, I have suffered an aggrievance.

If an unlocked door is employed as luring tactic, the trespasser has been outmaneuvered by a superior tactician.

[starroute]

12. It matters because Quan said they used a crowbar

I understand that in a legal sense, opening an unlocked door with criminal intent is no different from forcing it open. But in the court of public opinion, entering an unlocked public building, goofing around for a bit, and then committing scattered acts of petty vandalism is very different from breaking into a building with the intention of trashing the place.

It's really a matter of whose narrative is to prevail.

[Thaddeus Kosciuszko]

13. The matter of whose narrative prevails will be determined by whose tactics prevail.

[cyberpj]

4. "stay away" orders against more than 100 repeat protesters -cops have been documenting faces w/names

is what I remember reading in another DU post yesterday. cops on rooftops filming and others with photo profile handbooks seen paging through them in order to identify various people.

Otherwise, how would they know about '100 repeat protesters'?

I wish I was having a nightmare so I could wake up from it.

[bemildred]

5. Is "repeat protesting" some sort of crime?

Are they really this stupid?

[christx30]

6. I guess it is.

Just issue everyone tickets, like they do at the local carnaval. You show up at the protest, get your ticket punched. You exercise your 1st admendment rights, then when you leave, they see your ticket, and no admittance. See? They can do it without spying!

Seriously though... those cops are really stretching. Sure would be great to live in a free country. Guess we can count our blessings that they aren't being gunned down like the protestors in Libya or Syria.

[starroute]

7. Now there's a post at Daily Kos claiming those arrested are being tortured

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/01/31/1060354/-Breaking:-Oakland-Arrestees-Tortured

It's a "friend of a friend" story, so I'd take it with a grain of salt until those affected get out and can speak for themselves. But at least the parts about medicines being withheld and people being denied access to restrooms are in line with previous allegations. About the beatings part ... we shall have to see.

[unionworks]

9. So Strange

...that none of the flag burners, window breakers etc. Have been arrested yet. My guess is they never will be, because they are provocateurs. And an anti-Occupy demonstration! Who will be doing that? The Tea Party, no doubt. Looks like City Hall is really pissed and is going all out to protect theirinvestment in the organized crime syndicate known as the OPD.

[cyberpj]

11. And I ask yet again, Where is Governor Jerry Brown on this? A previous Mayor of Oakland (1999–2007)

If memory serves me, he was a bit of a peoples' activist in his earlier days (AND dated Linda Rondstat at the time).

This is the last I saw on Occupy Oakland from him and it wasn't the position I necessarily assumed he would take:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/29/jerry-brown-occupy-oakland_n_1175302.html

At any rate - he is still the current Governor of a state with a pretty big problem in a city of which he used to be Mayor.

I think it's sad he won't take a position or make a move.

But that's just me I guess.

[Trillo]

14. "stay away orders" need to be accompanied by some kind of anti-hypocrisy clause.

"stay away" orders issued, releases tax liability obligation.

Or something like that. It's a dream....