The people of Oakland California stood up for their rights yesterday, and most of them did it following the rules of the Occupy movement: peaceful, non-violent protests.  That’s the message the stalwart members of Occupy Oakland wanted to present yesterday and, for most of the day, that was the picture.  Unfortunately, as in any large crowd, there are a few who want to play by their own rules.

Some anarchists and perhaps provocateurs infiltrated and broke some windows, sprayed graffiti, and spread the wrong message.  But they were the minority of the marchers participating in yesterday’s general strike.

This is what the strike looked like:

 

Kids Marching - photo via Wendy Kenin @greendoula

This is what it looked like late last night:

15th and Broadway - Photo by @greendoula - Wendy Kenin

I found a fascinating write-up about the strike and stunning photos in a most unlikely place: Business Insider!

Around 5:00 p.m. PST Oakland’s Mayor Jean Quan and her fellow officials held a press conference.

They said that the city had sustained minimal damage during the day’s protest, but that the police were calling in reinforcements from other cities anyway. She also said that the crowds preparing to march on the Port of Oakland were peaceful.

Most importantly, she said there were only around 4,500 marchers. According to pictures, and reports from other media outlets, to us, that estimate seems low.

From here in New York, we at Business Insider watched the protests escalate from a peaceful demonstration, to a powerful show of frustration from police, occupiers, and Oakland residents. There were fires, there was tear gas, and there were people who got very badly hurt. You can see it all in these photos from the Associated Press.

Last night the Occupation showed that it is a force to be reckoned with. That, if it so desires, it can put enough people on the street to cause chaos. Bodies, after all are power. But that power comes at a cost, not just to the city of Oakland, but to the public’s perception of the occupation.

Listen: stay peaceful.

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/occupy-oakland-taking-over-city-2011-11##ixzz1cfOfwPNf

 

This morning, unable to arouse the sleeping protesters in Oakland, I read Joshua Holland‘s twitter stream from yesterday.  It began at around 9am PT with

Joshua Holland

JoshuaHol Joshua Holland
New: #OccupyOakland Attempts to Shut Down City with America’s First #GeneralStrike in 65 Years bit.ly/vwWuUv#OWS
Some of the highlights throughout the day…
Crowded in #OO camp; spilling into intersection.twitpic.com/79vl74
This rebellion is in the milling about waiting for something to happen stage. Speechifying about to start. #OO
About 800 marching on Wells Fargo a block up B’Way. #OO
March headed out. #OOhttp://twitpic.com/79wnfy
“oh my god, stay close, I don’t want to get separated!” bottle-blonde tv reporter to camerman. #OO
Oakland economic activity has not been ground to a halt, but there are a number of these. #oohttp://twitpic.com/79wtey
At this early hour, protest totally peaceful; minimal police presence. Actually none here. #OO
Crowd has “taken” intersection of clay and 15th. Can’t hear announcements over ppls mic. #oo
Maybe 1000 ppl now. Arrived at wells Fargo 12th and bway. #oo
Funny how people don’t get stupid absent aggressive crowd control by police clad in body armor. Very peaceful. #OO
Kids at the diner where I’m charging my phone say principle sent memo that school is closed. Trying to figure out if this is widespread. #OO
Radical icecream truck offers free food, tips for police engagement. #OOhttp://twitpic.com/79y4zm
Awesome schoolchildren’s march. “Play nice and share!” they chant. http://twitpic.com/79yllq
There are approximately 2000 at the plaza, but that’s only part of the total. There are two other marches in the area. #OO
Now a third wave of protesters from a satellite march approaching the plaza. Earlier reports of 5k protesters now looking accurate.
Bit of a lull. Crowd has split–half in front of plaza, half protesting banks on 12th st. Blockade of citibank contonues. Very peaceful. #OO
This is bad. Vandalism, and these are just offices in the same building as wells #OO http://twitpic.com/7a0li1
Frustrating: the story today should be how mellow this has been. Just a couple of knuckleheads–or, who knows, agents provocateurs. #OO
That’s bad mojo. I fear that this will justify whatever actions police take later. Leaving for Port of Oakland soon. #OO
We have just boarded one of 6 party buses headed toward port. #OO http://twitpic.com/7a0vnx
Arriving at the sprawling port of Oakland. #OO
Ton of media at the port. Buses are dropping off groups at different entrances. #OO
Longshoreman: I love what you’re doing. I been working here 59 yrs. Supposed to be big money, but I’m living paycheck to paycheck. #OO
Huge number of reinforcements arriving in waves from the plaza. #OO
Mojo editor reports that port director said operations shut down. #OO
Been walking past people for 20 minutes. Many thousands here. 5th busiest container port in US is thoroughly occupied. #OO
Huge crowds sitting down over several miles of access road around port. Quiet, no police in sight. #OO
You get past one huge mass of people and then there is another and another. Huge turnout. #OO
Organizers say they are awaiting confirmation that the port is shut down before withdrawing. #OO
Running home to write. I’ll be back out in an hour or two.
My very quick-and-dirty recap of the day is up at AlterNet:http://bit.ly/sL7GCB Headed back out to Oakland shortly. #OO
10pm PT
Breaking: I am tired.
Festive mood at the plaza. Large crowd remains. Long line at the food station. #OO
Probably 200 ppl still in intersection of 14th and bway. Everyone’s playing music. Think thus is what a win looks like. #OO
11pm PT
Probably 200 ppl still in intersection of 14th and bway. Everyone’s playing music. Think thus is what a win looks like. #OO
Ok, the next phase, I’m told, is to reoccupy vacant buildings. They grabbed a building, and word is police are on their way. #OO
Could definitely be a rumor. But several 100 occupiers have moved to 16th st. And erected a barricade. #OO
Barricade, as rumors swirl that police are coking to evict building. #OO http://twitpic.com/7a6yz2
Helicopters overhead and rumors of imminent police arrival raising tension. Some cries of ‘fuck police’ but most remain kinda festive. #OO
Things have gotten kinda weird. But there’s every possibility nothing is really happening. #OO
A somewhat credible report by byclist whio just saw 100+ police in riot gear massing at opd station. #OO http://twitpic.com/7a71sb
Barricade getting bigger. #OO
Around midnight PT:
16 vans filled with riot police just pulled up at 17th st, one block away. #OccupyOakland #OO
This will end badly. http://twitpic.com/7a7cjb
Huge mass of riot police staging 1 block from barricade. #OOhttp://twitpic.com/7a7d39
2 waves of police readying. This is going to be ugly. #OO #OccupyOakland
Blast, smoke on broadway. Must be a flash bang. No gas masks. #OO #Occupyoakland
Occupiers have set barricade on fire. Now pretty big blaze. #OO #Occupyoakland
Flames 15 feet high. Cops at the ready half block away. Repeating order to disperse. #OO # occupyOakland
Police moving forward.
Round after round of flashbangs. Maybe 9. #Occupyoakland
Terrifying scene. Protesters in there must be hurting. #OccupyOakland http://twitpic.com/7a7kqj
NBC cameraman said a lot of gas was deployed in intesection of 17th and bway–where I heard earlier blasts. #OO #Oakland
Now on the other side — 14 and bway. Eyes, throat sting from residual gas. Oh, and some guys skateboarding in front of the riot cops #OO
The scene is best described as post-apocalyptic dystopia with a drum circle. #OO
And it was such a peaceful day of protests.
And there’s more, but that seemed like a fitting place to end.  Read Joshua Holland’s full twitter account of yesterday here,  and his reports at AlterNet here.
This morning on the show, was joined by Crooks and Liars new managing editor, Tina Dupuy, who I found in Washington DC on her way to Occupy Baltimore, and comedian John Fugelsang.
It was a long week, and I’m getting old.  I shall try to celebrate turning 52 tomorrow and, barring anything that would prevent it, I’ll be back Monday morning…