Oakland mayor’s top legal aide quits in solidarity with ‘Occupy’ protest

[babsbunny]

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/11/14/oakland-mayors-top-legal-aide-quits-in-solidarity-with-occupy-protest/

By Andrew Jones
Monday, November 14, 2011

The chief legal adviser to Oakland mayor Jean Quan decided to resign late Sunday evening over how the city’s police have treated “Occupy Oakland” protesters.

According to The San Francisco Chronicle, Dan Siegel was disgusted by local authorities’ judgement on raiding the protesters’ camp near Oakland’s City Hall, calling their actions ”tragically unnecessary.”

“The city sent police to evict this camp, arrest people and potentially hurt them,” Siegel said. “Obviously, we’re not on the same page. It’s an amazing show of force to move tents from a public place.”

[teddy51]

1. Thank God we have someone in Oakland with integrity. n/t

[dixiegrrrrl]

2. If anyone can find this guys contact info, pls post.

He really really deserves to hear a lot of "atta boys"...integrity is in such short supply, his actions are brave and honest.

[izquierdista]

3. Watch Countdown

He was on with Keith tonight. You can find Current TV here: http://www.thertv.eu/

[EFerrari]

5. At Siegel & Yee

http://www.siegelyee.com/dansiegel.html

[dixiegrrrrl]

7. Good going, and many thanks.

[dixiegrrrrl]

8. I just emailed him a short appreciation for his integrity.

[EFerrari]

12. That's nice.

When people like him step up, they really should get an atta boy. :)

[Downwinder]

4. I'm thinking there must be some liability involved.

[EFerrari]

6. Yeah, what's the deal.

Although his background is civil rights law.

[SoDesuKa]

10. "Take the Park" Dan Siegel

As UC Berkeley Student President in 1969, Siegel is known for his role in the student rebellion on "Bloody Thursday," when thousands of students clashed with hundreds of California Highway Patrol officers and Alameda County sheriff's deputies sent by the office of then-California governor Ronald Reagan to assert control over a piece of property known as "People's Park." During a rally at Sproul Hall on that day, May 15, 1969, Siegel received the microphone as the crowd of 3,000 agitated to reclaim their community space, and when he yelled "Take the park!" a riot ensued that ended with authorities firing at demonstrators, killing one.<1><2>

Siegel was denied a license to practice law by a subcommittee of the State Bar of California. Siegel took his appeal to the California Supreme Court, which overruled the State Bar and found that Siegel possessed the requisite "moral character" to practice law.<3>



"Don't let the pigs beat the shit out of you."

[EFerrari]

13. Now, that is cool.

:)

[MzNov]

9. He's a good guy and his speaking out will mean a lot

especially when Oakland decides to vote out this awful Mayor. Good on him and many thanks Dan Siegel! :bounce:

[MedleyMisty]

11. Rumor on Twitter

is that the deputy mayor has resigned now as well. Again - it's just a rumor. Will be looking for more info and confirmation.

Reminds me of keeping up with the defections from the Gaddafi regime in a way. And this is how it starts, with officials stepping down in disgust with the brutality on peaceful fellow citizens.

[dixiegrrrrl]

14. Ahhhh..reminescent of Nixon's Saturday Night Massacre.

As young as I was back then, the importance of that event was not lost. It was a very heady time to be alive.

For those who were not around at the time, it is worth the short read on Wiki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturday_Night_Massacre