Occupy Oakland Protesters: Eleven Ordered To Stay Away From Frank Ogawa Plaza

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Eleven people who were arrested during the weekend's turbulent Occupy Oakland protests were ordered Tuesday to stay away from the plaza outside Oakland City Hall that serves as the movement's main staging area, and city officials said they hoped the move would quell future disturbances.

Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O'Malley said two judges granted her office's request for the stay-away orders during the demonstrators' arraignments. Four men facing felony charges, such as assault on a police officer and drug possession, were directed to keep away from both Frank Ogawa Plaza and the Oakland Convention Center.

Seven protesters charged with misdemeanors such as vandalism, battery on a police officer and resisting arrest may not go within 300 feet of the plaza. Prosecutors hope to secure a similar order against an eighth person whose arraignment was postponed for a week, O'Malley said.

"While we respect every citizen's right to protest peacefully, we will not tolerate individuals who come to Oakland with an organized strategy to riot, clash with police officers, vandalize property and wreak havoc upon the city," she said.

The dozen people already charged were among more than 400 people arrested Saturday when a midday march to protest economic inequality devolved into a clash between some rock-throwing protesters and police who responded with tear gas. City Hall was broken into, vandalized and an American flag taken from there burned.

O'Malley says her office is reviewing police reports with an eye toward charging and seeking stay-away orders for additional protesters.

The mass arrests came more than two months after a series of highly publicized clashes between Oakland police and demonstrators associated with the city's offshoot of the Occupy Wall Street movement. In November, officers disbanded the tent city that Occupy Oakland supporters erected in the City Hall plaza, but local activists have continued holding biweekly planning meetings there.

After surveying the damage from Saturday's melee, Mayor Jean Quan said she wants a court order to keep Occupy protesters who have been arrested several times out of Oakland, saying repeated demonstrations have cost the financially troubled city about $5 million.

 

 

Comments

[Los Pepes]

12:33 AM on 02/05/2012

Why arn't they named in the article? They should put up a name and photo for each one.

[John Milford PA]

09:33 PM on 02/02/2012

I hope the voters remember that Obama, Pelosi and Reed thought this was the voice of the American youth movement when it started

[Bystander]

09:36 AM on 02/03/2012

I agree! More generally, I think Americans see the types of people that this lib-supported "movement" naturally attracts...nanny-staters, anarchists, malcontents, miscreants, moochers, class envy warriors, etc. Can't wait to see what these OWSers do during the Chicago G8 and NATO Summits in May...more great optics for the libs and the Democrats that have aligned themselves with OWS, like BO, Pelosi and Reed! Ha! Their denials will flow like water. Disappointing but certainly not surprising.

[lqw]

05:57 PM on 02/02/2012

"Four men facing felony charges, such as assault on a police officer and drug possession, were directed to keep away from both Frank Ogawa Plaza and the Oakland Convention Center. Seven protesters charged with misdemeanors such as vandalism, battery on a police officer and resisting arrest may not go within 300 feet of the plaza....................They should have kept them in jail.

[novictim]

12:24 PM on 02/02/2012

Again, why are the Anarchists not being named for starting this trouble? This is a really disturbing failure in reporting...the web has many videos showing the Black Flag/BLack Bloc anarchists damaging property.

"two judges granted her office's request for the stay-away orders during the demonstrators' arraignments"...uhhh, no.

You either jail these folks or you don't ...this stay-away order isn't going to pass constitutional muster.

[indyclem]

01:03 PM on 02/02/2012

maybe you should all get uniforms so we know whos who

[novictim]

01:46 PM on 02/02/2012

The anarchists have uniforms! Watch the multitude of online home vids. They are not subtle or secret.

Hint: all dressed in black, black hoods, black face masks, black flags...duhhh

[Killermolls44]

05:33 PM on 02/02/2012

They said YOU should get uniforms. Something bright and noticeable. Like bright yellow jumpsuits.

[bkerensa]

03:51 AM on 02/02/2012

Now people are being banished from the very public property they pay taxes on.

[renk175]

02:04 PM on 02/02/2012

That is what happens when you are a criminal.

[MrStat1]

02:35 PM on 02/02/2012

You obviously have zero understanding of the judicial process.