Occupy Oakland: Did police use flashbangs and rubber bullets on protesters?

[PoliticAverse]

Source: The Washington Post

Following the violent clashes that broke out between police and Occupy Oakland protesters last night, some have started to questions the level of force used.

In a statement, police said they fired canisters of tear gas and bean bag rounds at protesters, but denied they used flashbangs or rubber bullets.

Protesters say police are lying about their use of force, posting photos of welts on Twitter to prove rubber bullets were used, and slow-motion videos of the clashes on YouTube they say shows that police used flashbangs.

Below, Jen Lasher tweeted a photo of a welt she says was caused by a rubber bullet:

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/blogpost/post/occupy-oakland-did-police-use-flashbangs-and-rubber-bullets-on-protesters/2011/10/26/gIQAL4pOJM_blog.html

[panader0]

1. It looked like flashbangs to me.

Or stun grenades.

[truedelphi]

2. And see if you can make out what is being used:

Video here:


http://www.ktvu.com/video/29587714/index.html

Keep in mind that even tear gas canisters can inflict quite serious injuries, if they hit a person's body hard enough.

[PoliticAverse]

4. Excellent video recorded by someone right in the middle of things. n/t

[KansDem]

3. I don't see how they can just keep lying about this...

...denied they used flashbangs or rubber bullets.

It's caught on video! :shrug: The evidence is overwhelming...

[seacaves]

5. Since beanbags are prohibited by policy, How did the police

get them? The police themselves say they used them!





The Oakland Police Department’s crowd management policy explicitly bans the use of bean bags.

But police say they were in the right to use bean bag rounds last night because protesters had thrown M-80 explosives, paint, and other hazardous materials at them. Protesters do not deny having used these.

[pasto76]

8. yeah. an M80 is an explosive. basically no difference between that and a flashbang

one has cool packaging, one doesnt. You dumbshit "protestors" who are using them have that kids blood on your hands.

[quakerboy]

9. Link please

one stating that protestors say they used explosives and hazardous materials

[seacaves]

11. I had taken it from the link in the OP. But I see the

story has some changes now--now it "updated."

ummm.. I suspect the authors of the story had to cover themselves.



http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/blogpost/post/occupy-oakland-did-police-use-flashbangs-and-rubber-bullets-on-protesters/2011/10/26/gIQAL4pOJM_blog.html


Posted at 01:52 PM ET, 10/26/2011
Occupy Oakland: Did police use flashbangs and rubber bullets on protesters?
By Elizabeth Flock

This post has been updated.

Now it says:
Police say they were in the right to use bean bag rounds last night because protesters had thrown M-80 explosives, paint, and other hazardous materials at them. Reporters at the scene said protesters were throwing objects at the police.

[quakerboy]

12. I suspect that

one would find most if not all "protestors" throwing objects happened to be wearing face masks and boots strangely similar to those worn by the riot police.

Could be wrong, but that would be my expectation.

[truedelphi]

10. Please watch video (if still up) in response

Number two.

You can see that the police threw things like tear gas canisters at this crowd, even though there weren't any explosives thrown at police.

All the crowd was doing was shouting. But one young adult is now in critical cre, with a skull fracture, and from reports i have heard, it could be that there are bone fragments in the man's brain.

[Muskypundit]

6. This was caused by a bean bag?

[SoapBox]

7. Like others...Thre are VIDS!

Hello? Police Militia LIARS????

There is TONS of proof! And LIVE witnesses!!

Time for OWS and the 99% to take back America from the Baggers, Haters and 1%.

I want my tax dollars to work for me, NOT them.

[truedelphi]

13. We need to stick together on this.

The Oakland and BART police always claim they have to shoot usi9ng what can be deadly force.

And they lie.

I am glad to know we have each other's backs.

:toast: