Police dismantled Occupy Oakland for the second time this morning, arresting about 25 people in the mostly peaceful process.
Police encircled the camp starting at 5 AM and began telling occupiers to leave. Police let anyone leave Frank Ogawa plaza, but did not let anyone in. At 5:30 police moved in and removed the only 30 or so tents that remained. By 6:30 the camp had been cleared and police began leaving. But occupiers are vowing to return. Ronald “Rasta” Jones tells The San Francisco Chronicle:
“If they take over the camp, we’re going to reoccupy. Our objective is for them to keep spending money. We are not going to stop.”
The second raid was more costly for the City of Oakland. The Chronicle reported Friday:
“It’s not an emergency anymore,” said sheriff’s spokesman Sgt. J.D. Nelson. “They basically allowed this to happen when the mayor allowed the encampment to come back in” after the Oct. 25 sweep.
“It’s changed from an emergency call to a planned event,” Nelson said.
Occupy Oakland has announced they will regroup at the Oakland Public Library this afternoon a 4 PM, just as they did the last time they were evicted from Frank Ogawa plaza.
