The demonstration began with a rally at 4 p.m. on October 10, 2011. Protestors set up their tents that evening. In addition to the encampment of 150 tents, protestors have organized or participated in marches. The two protest sites at Frank Ogawa Plaza and Snow Park were dismantled by police officers early in the morning on October 25, 2011.
Initial reaction
Oakland councilwoman Desley Brooks, representing the Eastmont-Seminary district of Oakland, was among the protestors sleeping in tents on Monday, October 10, the first night of the protest.
Mayor Jean Quan visited the protest site on Tuesday, October 11, 2011, and "condoned the occupation." California congressional representatives Barbara Lee and Pete Stark also released statements of support.
Protest sites
Frank Ogawa Plaza
The Frank Ogawa Plaza camp was renamed Oscar Grant Plaza by the protestors. The camp had over 100 tents that included an information center, media center, kitchen, library, children's village, and a medical tent. Discussion groups, yoga classes, and seminars were offered. Notable visitors to the site included actor and activist Danny Glover and hip hop artist Lupe Fiasco. On October 17, 2011, the three American hikers recently freed from an Iranian prison made their first West Coast speaking appearance at Occupy Oakland drawing an audience of 300. They wanted to speak because they were inspired by the Occupy movement.
The Alameda County Health Department visited the site on October 19, 2011, because of a pre-existing rat problem that may have been exacerbated by the camp's kitchen. There had also been reports of violence and illegal drug use.
On October 20, 2011, the city issued an eviction notice to the protestors citing "deteriorating camp conditions, physical damage, and health and safety code violations." The protestors could still assemble between the hours of 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. The protesters "appeared determined not to leave" and countered that "the rats, drug crimes, and violence in the area of 14th Street and Broadway went unchecked before they arrived."
Snow Park
A second camp with about about two dozen people was set up on October 18, 2011, primarily because the Frank Ogawa Plaza site was running out of room. The Snow Park protestors have spent time maintaining the grounds of the park.
Marches
On October 22, 2011, protesters marched from Frank Ogawa Plaza to Snow Park carrying signs including, "Tax Wall Street" and "Revolt for a life worth living." Along the way, some protestors entered a Chase Bank branch and ripped up hundreds of deposit slips and threw them in the air. A few protesters stayed to help clean up the deposit slips. After leaving Chase, they protested outside of a Wells Fargo branch before returning to Frank Ogawa Plaza.
Police raids and response
Police officers in riot gear from various Bay Area law enforcement agencies cleared both protest sites in the early hours of October 25, 2011. The raid, described as "violent and chaotic at times", resulted in 75 arrests. Police fired bean bag rounds and tear gas at the protestors allegedly in response to objects being thrown at them.The post-raid scene was described as a "hurricane-struck refugee camp." The Snow Park camp was dismantled later in the morning. Six protesters were arrested.
Later that day, hundreds of protesters and supporters gathered in front of the main branch of the Oakland Public Library to march back to Frank Ogawa Plaza to reclaim the space. As the march progressed, police fired tear gas and rubber bullets while throwing flashbang grenades at the crowd.
All about: Occupy, Wall Street, New York. Barack Obama, Chicago , Oakland, California, Jean Quan
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