Thousands go on strike in Oakland
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China.org.cn, November 3, 2011
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Thousands of protesters took to the streets in the West Coast city of Oakland and forced its port to shut down on Nov. 2, 2011, in a general strike called by the Occupy Oakland group. [Chinanews] |
The Occupy Oakland group Wednesday called on thousands of protesters to take to the streets in the west coast city and force its port to shut down in a general strike.
People from all walks of life joined the strike, including workers, teachers and students.
The strike is the first of its kind in the city since 1946, according to The Oakland Tribune, a local newspaper.
The demonstrators marched along downtown streets and held rallies, with some of them pounding on doors of downtown banks and defacing ATMs with graffiti.
The strike was largely peaceful, although, in the afternoon, some protesters with bandanas over their faces smashed windows and threw paint at banks, a grocery store and two small businesses. Some protesters told local TV the vandalism was not what they represented.
Police said in an evening press conference no arrests had been made.
Before sunset, about 5,000 protesters, by police estimates, marched to the Port of Oakland, the fifth busiest container port in the U.S., and clogged the main port entrance and seven other gates as the sun went down.
Port officials said in a statement that maritime operations were "effectively shut down" and dozens of trucks were unable to enter or leave.
In the evening, two protesters in downtown Oakland were hit and injured by a Mercedes car, which was then surrounded by a mob of protesters as emergency workers tended to the injured, who were reported to be conscious.
The unidentified driver was questioned by police and then allowed to leave.
In a statement posted on the Occupy Oakland website, the organizers said they are calling for "no work and no school" on Wednesday as part of the general strike.
They said that, in addition to supporting the worldwide "Occupy" movement, the strike was also aimed at ending police attacks on local communities and defending Oakland schools and libraries.
The organizers also called for strike participants to oppose "an economic system built on colonialism, inequality and corporate power that perpetuates all forms of oppression and the destruction of the environment."
At least 15 percent of Oakland teachers took the day off to participate in the strike, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
About 5 percent of city employees called in to say they would be taking either an unpaid furlough or paid vacation day, according to the report.
Mayor Jean Quan said while she supported the goals of the protesters, it was also the city hall's duty to "prioritize public safety."
"Many Oaklanders will not be participating in today's events, even if they may support the overall goals of those demonstrating. We must make sure that those who have to go to work and keep their businesses open are able to do so," she said in a statement issued early Wednesday.
Last week, police in Oakland fired tear gas at "Occupy" protesters trying to retake a plaza outside Oakland City Hall, where their tents had been torn down.
The event caught nationwide attention and Oakland authorities later changed local by-laws to allow the encampment to return.
By Wednesday, the plaza encampment had been expanded to include medical services, meditation tents, children's zones, portable toilets and free food.
Oakland, located about 13 kilometers east of San Francisco, has a population of nearly 400,000 and is the eighth-largest city in the state of California.
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