Occupy Oakland's Violent End
Oct 26, 2011
Oakland, California police were deployed for an all-day all-night armed vigil to protect the city where Governor Jerry Brown and First Lady Anne Gust Brown have their principal residence.
Citizens of the large California city were terrorized by more than 1,000 Occupy Oakland protesters breaking windows and screaming while throwing bottles and rocks at riot police.
The situation deteriorated into violence, explosions, gunshots and choking clouds of tear gas as the screams of fear consumed Oakland.
"Just when I thought I was losing my mind from all the insanity, the helicopters, explosions, gunshots and screaming pushed me over the edge. My children wouldn't stop crying hysterically. My father began clutching his chest, saying he couldn't breathe as my next-door neighbor busted through my front door with a gun, yelling that his family was running to the car to flee the city. I feel like I'm living in Iraq. This 'Occupy' thing is a bunch of sh*t," exclaimed Marlene, who lives downtown and owns a shop.
Oakland Police Chief Howard Jordan justified the police department's use of force, tear gas and swift violence.
"We were in a position where we had to deploy gas in order to stop the crowd and people from pelting us with bottles and rocks," he declared.
Occupy Oakland protesters had reportedly thrown "any solid objects they could get their hands on" at law enforcement. Police used bean bag rifle rounds to disperse the violent protesters, though many claim they were hit with rubber bullets.
Protesters and police officers have been injured but the number of injuries and possible deaths can only be known after the smoke clears.
What is perfectly clear to all, however, is that the goal of police is to put a definitive end to the movement known as Occupy Oakland.
