For Immediate Release Press Contact:
Natalia Abrams
Los Angeles, CA (January 29, 2012) – On February 1, 2012 (#F1), Occupy Colleges will participate in National Solidarity Day with Occupy Oakland, with a heavy heart but a decisive voice: Violence against unarmed activists – anywhere – is not acceptable and will not be tolerated. This call to action is a result of a day of police violence at Occupy Oakland’s January 29 (#J29) rally where over 400 activists were arrested and more were injured as waves of beatings, projectiles, tear gas and flash grenades were shot without restraint at unarmed activists.
Diana Delgado is a free lance writer primarily focused on local government, politics, women's rights and Hispanic/Latino issues. She is also a public relations professional with experience in the private, public and non-profit sectors. Ms. Delgado has been on board with Occupy Colleges since October 2011. She holds a graduate degree from Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey, and is based out of New York, New York. Please follow her on Twitter: @dduchessny.
Natalia Abrams
OCCUPY COLLEGES ORGANIZES SOLIDARITY WEDNESDAY
Written by: Diana Delgado
Colleges and Universities denounce police violence and abuse of power at Occupy Oakland, Occupy UC Riverside and other Occupies that have encountered recent police aggression.
Los Angeles, CA (January 29, 2012) – On February 1, 2012 (#F1), Occupy Colleges will participate in National Solidarity Day with Occupy Oakland, with a heavy heart but a decisive voice: Violence against unarmed activists – anywhere – is not acceptable and will not be tolerated. This call to action is a result of a day of police violence at Occupy Oakland’s January 29 (#J29) rally where over 400 activists were arrested and more were injured as waves of beatings, projectiles, tear gas and flash grenades were shot without restraint at unarmed activists.
Occupy Oakland, one of the largest anti-corporation affinity group of Occupy Wall Street in the West Coast, rallied in an attempt to seize a vacant building they wanted to transform into a haven for the homeless and a community hub. However, as activists neared the building, Oakland Police formed a line of defense around the abandoned dwelling and blocked any attempts of marching onward in any direction. A community was awakened and more activists joined the standoff, which inched forward only to be pushed back. Relations were peaceful until OPD decided to disperse the marchers exercising their right to assembly and free speech with inappropriate force and intimidation. Batons were used and then tear gas was thrown before bullets were fired into this crowd of unarmed men and women. The scene played out again and again throughout the day as activists, whose only crime was an unyielding will to rally for a cause, were met by violence, more bullets, gas and flash grenades. At least one woman was shot unconscious during this attack. As activists surrounded her in order to protect and relocate her, OPD fired bullets and tear gas directly at them.
Since October 2011, Oakland Police Department has arrested upwards of 600 activists, injured hundreds more and critically injured many including Iraq war veteran and U.S. Marine Scott Olsen. At least 400 activists were arrested on January 29 alone, including 7 members of the press. OPD refused to honor press passes by several media members, again violating standard procedure.
OPD’s extreme measures and inequitable responses are what has given the OPD notoriety among the citizens it is supposed to serve. Its civil rights violations predate Occupy Wall Street and include planting evidence, beating up and robbing suspects. As a result of these and other violations, OPD is currently under a five-year consent decree, meaning its daily operations are under court supervision. In addition, according to crowd management policy specifically implemented to address abuse of powers in the past, they must “use minimal amount of force and intimidation” when managing crowd control. Oakland Mayor Jean Quan, a Berkley alumna with a history in activism herself, is the controversial and divisive mayor at the helm of the OPD and has been quoted as supporting and opposing Occupy Oakland all in the same month.
This sort of police brutality is a culmination of a series of violent action against protesters around the country and include the recent projectile firing on student activists in UC Riverside, pepper spraying of students at UC Davis and the bullying and beating of students at CUNY’s Baruch College.
This call to action is in solidarity with Occupy Oakland and all city and campus Occupies across the nation who have been victim of police violence and intimidation tactics. It will include an all day strike, with protesting students gathering in a centrally located area on campus. This is a peaceful protest and all organizers are encouraged by Occupy Colleges to take the Pledge of Non-Violence.
Please log on to Occupy Colleges official website at http://occupycolleges.org/
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Diana Delgado is a free lance writer primarily focused on local government, politics, women's rights and Hispanic/Latino issues. She is also a public relations professional with experience in the private, public and non-profit sectors. Ms. Delgado has been on board with Occupy Colleges since October 2011. She holds a graduate degree from Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey, and is based out of New York, New York. Please follow her on Twitter: @dduchessny.
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