Official current update from occupy San Diego

[nadinbrzezinski]

OFFICIAL CURRENT UPDATE: Early this morning, squads of SD County Sheriff and SDPD moved through the Civic Center and pushed our Occupiers down 3rd Street. The police picked off a few people separately (like Kali, our media team member... her birthday is tomorrow by the way!!!), but the majority according to onsite reps were arrested while sitting down in the CC and locking arms, maintaining peaceful resistence.

In all, 51 Occupiers were arrested according to the ACLU. We have reports that a number of Occupiers were hit with batons in the CC. There appear to be blood stains present on the concrete according to on site reports. The police's current stand is that all those arrested will be held until Monday. Bail is supposedly being set from $150 to $5,000 per person according to our reps on site.

Unclear what happened at Children's Park, but it was cleared as well.

About 100+ people are currently at the CC protesting. A few moments ago, about half that number were in the plaza.

THE CALL NOW is for a rally at the Civic Center tonight at 6PM. There is also a call for a Solidarity Sleep Over at the CC tonight. The San Diego Labor Council, which represents thousands of workers, is supporting this! Vets for Peace and Iraq Vets against the War are also with us.

Below is a photo from last night BEFORE the police raid. We will be posting more on this, but I personally wanted to let people know that the perspective that has been posted here and elsewhere in the media about how we supposedly destroyed the coffee lady's business, the CC was in an unsanitary condition, and that the place was a giant cluster, etc., was absolutely ridiculous!!! The Civic Center last night prior to the raid was a place of patriotism, organization, and peaceful assembly. More later! BUT PASS THE WORD... we had a wonderful encampment filled with intelligent people last night. Yeah, we often disagree during GA, etc., but we are a cohesive bunch with a lot of love and talent, all dedicated to making the world a better place.

http://www.facebook.com/OccupySD

*****

Personal note, the health and safety violations (and you could make the argument) were not what the city means...it was the homeless...the...undesirable element to paraphrase our lovely city. There has been an effort to gentrify the area and drive them invisible people away from the area for years. Oh and further contest, on local politics, we could not allow them "hippies" to disturb the morning SANDAG meeting.

[Downwinder]

1. Making progress.

Yesterday it was an impersonal report, today it is WE. Keep us informed.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. It is straight out of their website

Mine will be impersonal as I am there as a reporter when I am there...

Oh and thanks, dopey me I forgot the link. These all fall under creative commons any way.

[Downwinder]

6. I'm not criticizing.

I'm applauding. If I could walk, forgot how (MS), it would be we.

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. You can do this

Find a site (online) and do the updates here.

Anything helps.

I will not be able to be there tonight and wish I could. So will keep my eye on it.

[in_cog_ni_to]

3. Thanks for the update! The camp doesn't look unsanitary to me.

Excuses, excuses. They cannot stop this movement. How much money are they going to continue wasting to keep beating a dead horse over the head? Idiots.

[louslobbs]

4. Thanks Nadin. n/t

Lou

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. Further, they've retaken the civic center

Occupy SD is stronger then ever and has reoccupied Civic Center Plaza after a FAILED attempt to disperse the occupation. This morning at 1:45am the cops raided and beat the occupiers. All of our signs were confiscated as per Chief of Police Landsdown's instruction and over fifty (50) protesters were arrested. The failed attempt only emboldened the group and tonight we will all be staying overnight at the Civic Center Again! Our freedom of speech and freedom to assemble peacefully with signs and protest slogans will not be stifled. Bring a sleeping bag, warm clothes, lots of blankets, and blank poster board! We will continue to Occupy Together!

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. Official ACLU statement

Official San Diego ACLU Response on the Occupation and last night's police raid:

“I spoke with Police Chief William Lansdowne this morning to express my concern over the arrest of the Occupy San Diego protesters who will be in jail for three to four nights unless they can afford to post bail. I urged the chief to drop the charges, release the protesters, and find an alternative space and way to accommodate overnight protest activity. Historically, the San Diego Police Department has managed protest activity exceedingly well with a focus on accommodation of speech in the broader public interest.

Overnight presence is fundamental to the political message of the Occupy San Diego movement. The Police and City officials should find a way to accommodate this expression and impose only those restrictions necessary to ensure that other public and civic activity can proceed unimpeded. This might mean finding an alternative location. For the future, the City should develop rules and a system for accommodating other overnight activities with a political purpose, which would include reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions.”

[nadinbrzezinski]

9. Current update

Occupy San Diego
OFFICIAL UPDATE: According to today's police press conference, Occupiers are welcome to return to the Civic Center, but not to camp. Whether or not that means they will let people lay down & sleep is open to interpretation.

Currently there are about 75-100 people participating in the open Mic/free speech hour @ the CC.

If you ever wanted to support Occupy Wall Street, tonight is the night. At 8pm, there is scheduled a rally with union support. We need people to attend. Be part of history. Make a difference. Get down here.

Photo below by Johnny Nguyen. Following an emotional speech describing the incident that sent 51 protesters to the Vista jail, fellow Occupiers gathered beside Michael Bastidas' side for support and comfort this morning 10/28.

Sent via cell phone on site @ the Civic Center.
- Rick

[Fire Walk With Me]

10. More and more of "us" are becoming "them", the invisible people, thanks to Wall Street.

And they want to get rid of us? What sort of utter monstrosity are they? (That's rhetoricsl.)