What a nice lady!! She peacfully closed the encampment!

[Donny]

Oakland Mayor Jean Quan
October 25, 2011
7:30 am

Statement from Mayor Jean Quan about
today’s enforcement action

Many Oaklanders support the goals of the national Occupy Wall Street movement. We maintained daily communication with the protest0rs in Oakland.

However, over the last week it was apparent that neither the demonstrators nor the City could maintain safe or sanitary conditions, or control the ongoing vandalism. Frank Ogawa Plaza will continue to be open as a free speech area from 6 am to 10 pm.

We want to thank the police, fire, public works and other employees who worked over the last week to peacefully close the encampment. We also thank the majority of the protestors who peacefully complied with city officials.

I commend Chief Jordan for a generally peaceful resolution to a situation that deteriorated and concerned our community. His leadership was critical in the successful execution of this operation. City Administrator Deanna Santana developed the plan and secured mutual aid from other departments and the State of California. She will direct departmental teams, including safety, public works, communications, to restore conditions at the Plaza so that it is available for public use.

The City welcomes all Oaklanders to continue to use the Plaza during daylight hours for peaceful protest.

[msongs]

1. US constitution does not restrict rights to daylight hours only nt

[truedelphi]

12. You tell em, kiddo. Though some might say, Constitution? What Constitution?

We have "Civil Servants" on all levels of government who have shredded the document beyond recognition.

But you are right about this, and it is a shame that Quan doesn't unerstand what she will be dealing with.

[ThomWV]

16. I believe it was Cheney who said "its just words on paper"

and if it wasn't him it should have been.

[truedelphi]

33. Be careful not to mis-quote Cheney -

You sure don't want a bullet in the face!

[Donny]

35. That was the genius GW Bush. I'm sure Cheney thought even less.

[redgiant]

18. "...it is not absolute, but relative... The Hague Case

"The privilege of a citizen of the United States to use the streets and parks for communication of views on national questions may be regulated in the interest of all; it is not absolute, but relative, and must be exercised in subordination to the general comfort and convenience, and in consonance with peace and good order;"

http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/data/constitution/amendment01/21.html#1

Consider this, when a group completely occupies a public space 24/7, it denies the use of that space by other members of the public who have an equal right to use that space for the legitimate uses for which that space has been designated. Just one example, the grounds of the Ohio State Capitol are used by office workers and others to sit down and have lunch, or just to take a break.

In general, a great many public parks and other facilities close after daylight hours. There are also public places that can be occupied overnight and tents erected. They are called "campgrounds."

[KamaAina]

23. Bull.

A wedding planned months ago for Oscar Grant (formerly Frank Ogawa) Plaza went off as scheduled a week or so ago, with the Occupiers as onlookers.

[redgiant]

26. You missed the point

About the law/Constitution.

[KamaAina]

28. You asked me to "consider this"

when a group completely occupies a public space 24/7, it denies the use of that space by other members of the public who have an equal right to use that space for the legitimate uses for which that space has been designated.

And I pointed out that the Occupiers did not deny the use of the plaza by the coule getting married.

[ArtiChoke]

25. Because the park really gets crowded with picnicers after 10pm?

How many campgrounds are next to City Hall or other public squares and free?

[redgiant]

27. You missed the point, too

See reply #22.

[ArtiChoke]

29. See reply #25, Ha, ha, I can play too!-nt

[louis-t]

How many times has she said 'peaceful"?

After instructing her goons to crack heads? She claims the police were there to protect citizens...by firing cannisters of gas into their heads?

[CreekDog]

13. Peaceful and bloody

wait. no. :eyes:

[hootinholler]

24. Well comatose people are pretty peaceful. n/t

[Desertrose]

2. What the ???!!!!!!!!!

Talk about rewriting (recent) history!!

[Shagbark Hickory]

3. She needs to resign.

[seabeyond]

4. "commend Chief Jordan for a generally peaceful resolution" rubber bullets, tear gas

and shooting a man in the head and he is near death.... right?

really? wow, this takes guts to put out this statement

[Fire Walk With Me]

5. Fuck you Quan! I say this with dulcet tones.

[Vincardog]

6. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press;
or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

[redgiant]

19. See reply #18 n/t

[redgiant]

22. In other words...

Show up in the morning, state your protest, go home at night. Show up in the morning, state your protest, go home at night. Repeat as needed. How would that be a violation of the 1A?

[jeff47]

30. Because you're creating a law restricting speech due to the the fact that it's "night"

There's nothing in the first amendment that restricts free speech to daytime hours only.

[redgiant]

32. Nope, not a restriction

Public venues, like parks, can close during the nighttime hours. Just walk out of the park and continue your free speech on the sidewalk. Obviously you'll need to observe the reasonable restrictions about not impeding pedestrian traffic or interfering with the legitimate rights of other citizens who want to use the sidewalk.

[jeff47]

34. Hanging up a "closed" sign doesn't suddenly turn public land into private land. (nt)

[fascisthunter]

37. sorry... public land is public

ha ha

[Aerows]

7. If that was "generally peaceful"

I'm the Queen of England.

[immoderate]

8. Wadda ya hafta do to be considered violent in Oakland?

:shrug:

--imm

[KamaAina]

20. Root against the Raiders

at the Coliseum. :scared:

[dtexdem]

9. Well, that was a peaceful coma induced by a peaceful head fracture ...

caused by a peaceful projectile to the head.

Now, why does Jean Con spell her last name "Quan"?

[Avalux]

10. She is an evil, arrogant woman. n/t

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. Watch the media run with this

[abq e streeter]

14. Tell Scott Olsen how peaceful the cops were...

:grr:

[Fumesucker]

15. A wonderful representative of the Democratic party...

I think she should be a keynote speaker at the DNC..

[Blue_In_AK]

17. Free speech ends when th sun goes down.

Isn't that written into the Constitution? :sarcasm:

[KamaAina]

21. And she gave us our own free speech area, too!

:sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm:

[kentuck]

31. "We also thank the majority of the protestors who peacefully complied..."

So why did you tear gas the "majority"??

[SoCalDem]

36. America...a "sundown" nation

sundown towns

[Donny]

38. I appreciate all the recs and positive feedback.

I think this person has to resign. She is disgraceful.

[musette_sf]

39. Yeah, Jean, Oaktown is just such a peaceful and trouble-free place

that OWS was the ONLY blight on the town. So it was A-OK to authorize the assault of a military veteran PEACEFULLY protesting. After all, Oakland is just a quiet little burg where NOTHING else ever requires law enforcement intervention.

:puke:

[Donny]

40. It's just so criminal

After 2 tours in Iraq (not my kind of tour by the way) fighting supposedly to protect America, and "the American Way" he comes back to the loving sanctuary of the good 'ol US of A.

I'm not a religious man, but I just have to say GOD help us all.