I was writing a blog about my experiences in Oakland on J28, and am still having issues presenting the message I would like to. Instead I have decided to share a few videos with you, which show a more truthful picture of what happened that day. It started as a party, and apparently OPD has a problem distingishing between happy protesters, and a riot. We were tear gassed, had flash grenades lobbed at us, and less lethal projectiles shot at us. We were corralled or as they like to say "kettled" with many getting beat up at the YMCA, out of sight of many of the cameras.

This is not the way american citizens, nor the citizens, and friends of the city of Oakland should be treated. We need to bring attention to the ever expanding police state, as I fear we are already too late.

Here is a well produced video entitled: The Battle For Oakland

The Battle of Oakland from brandon jourdan on Vimeo.

 

This is the Kettling that the guy above missed, where the fence was torn down to save us from the cops who were moving in. This happened in front of a monument made up of statues of of the Peace Leaders of the World, including Mother Theresa, Ghandi, MLK, and others.... Ironic getting tear gassed in their presence.

I did not get kettled by the YMCA, as the streamer I was buddying with (we don't go ANYWHERE alone in Oakland) had her phone stolen, and I chased the guy who took it. We got to the police lines, and were not allowed beyond, until the informations officer came to speak to the press. They let us in, then blocked our view with buses.

The official Statement from the Occupy Oakland Move in Assembly can be found here. (click me!)

Mayor Quan of Oakland asked that we "the leaders" of the other occupies across the nation denounce Occupy Oakland. Instead we here in Los Angeles consented on a Statement of Support where reads as followed:

Statement of the General Assembly of Occupy Los Angeles, February 1, 2012

Occupy Los Angeles has always stood in unwavering solidarity with Occupy Oakland.  After Occupy Oakland’s most recent victimization by the illegal and brutal tactics of OPD, Oakland City Council and Mayor Jean Quan, we feel it necessary to restate our unequivocal support for our comrades–we call for the dropping of charges against those arrested.

We consider every horizontally structured, autonomous group fighting for social and economic justice, and intent on providing services for the community that the government has failed to provide, as our brothers and sisters.  As long as the civil government of Oakland remains derelict in creating an equal and just society, it falls to the people to provide for themselves. We support and respect Occupy Oakland’s courage and collective state of mind that we must strive for in order to enact real change in our world.

Oakland, Los Angeles and the United States have been the “playground” of the 1% and their lackeys in government for too long. We will not tolerate police brutality, the oppression of free speech and the systematic violence used against our comrades in any situation, and we will certainly not denounce or declare ourselves against those who fight for justice in a police state – particularly those adhering to our shared principles and values.  An injury to one is an injury to all, with this call to denounce Occupy Oakland being only the latest in an ever-growing list.  There are only so many injuries we will allow you to inflict upon us.”

 

I don't believe we should be violent, however I do believe protecting each other is what we need to do. I truly believe we need to stand up against this show of police opression and force, the fear tactics, the violence, as it is just being used to keep us from standing up for ourselves and each other.

I have been suffering from Post Tramatic Stress Disorder since my return, when I sleep, I am being chased, and fired upon in my dreams. When I am awake, I find myself looking at the world around me in a whole new light.

I stress to you all, do not look at what the main stream media has presented as truth because it is not. Just ask those who were there. Just ask those who are fighting for our freedom, before the last of it vanishes.