There were 300 arrests today at #OccupyOakland during the Rise Up Festival and Move-in Day (FAQ) attempt to both try to establish a community center and remind folks that there are 4 vacant homes for every homeless person in America.
Following a brutal crackdown by the authorities who used flash bombs, tear gas, and reportedly rubber bullets that is on par with the methods used by tinpot dictators, the protesters diverted their march. A bit later, various law enforcement agencies who were shipped in on golden time completely kettled the protesters at the YMCA, then conducted a mass arrest for "failure to disperse." A couple hundred managed to escape after folks in the YMCA gave them passage.
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