Occupy Oakland Protestors March for Injured Iraq Vet, Retake Encampment

October 27, 2011 from Democracy Now!

Thousands of people reclaimed the Occupy Oakland encampment in front of City Hall Wednesday after police dispersed them twice on Tuesday -- first in a pre-dawn raid on the camp and 12 hours later at night when protesters attempted to retake the park -- using beanbag projectiles and tear gas. Many protesters expressed outrage over of the injury of Oakland protester Scott Olsen, a 24-year-old Iraq War veteran whose skull was fractured by a projectile fired by police Tuesday night. He is hospitalized in critical condition and is reportedly under sedation by doctors monitoring his injury. Democracy Now! speaks to Jesse Palmer, an Occupy Oakland protester who helped move Olsen to safety, and to Aaron Hinde, a close friend of Scott Olsen and a fellow member of Iraq Veterans against War. One of Olsen's other friends, Adele Carpenter, told Reuters, "The irony is not lost on anyone here that this is someone who survived two tours in Iraq and is now seriously injured by the Oakland police force." Aaron Hinde talked about why Olsen joined the Occupy Oakland movement: "He was a very motivated and dedicated individual and he believed in the Occupy movement because it's very obvious what's happening in this country, especially as veterans, we've had our eyes opened by serving and going to war over seas."

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Occupy Oakland

Occupy Oakland is an ongoing series of demonstrations in Oakland, California. As part of the Occupy movement, protestors have staged occupations, most notably at Frank H. Ogawa Plaza in front of Oakland City Hall. Occupy Oakland is allied with New York City's Occupy Wall Stree... Explore this topic

Occupy movement

The "Occupy" protests are an ongoing series of international protests which began in mid-September 2011 and are primarily against social and economic inequality, corporate greed and influence of corporate money and lobbyists on government. The protests take their name from the... Explore this topic

Scott Olsen

Scott Olsen is a Marine veteran who was seriously injured in downtown Oakland at the Occupy Oakland demonstration on the evening of October 25, 2011. Olsen's skull was fractured in the incident, allegedly after he was hit by a police projectile. He is presently in a stable yet... Explore this topic

Oakland

Oakland, located in the U.S. state of California, is a major West Coast port city and the busiest port for San Francisco Bay and all Northern California. It is the third largest city in the San Francisco Bay Area, the eighth-largest city in the state, and the 47th-largest city... Explore this topic

Tear gas

Tear gas, formally known as a lachrymatory agent or lachrymator, is a possibly lethal chemical weapon that stimulates the corneal nerves in the eyes to cause tears, pain, and even blindness. Common lachrymators include OC, CS, CR, CN, nonivamide, bromoacetone, xylyl bromide an... Explore this topic

Oakland Police Department

The Oakland Police Department is a law enforcement agency responsible for law enforcement in the city of Oakland, California. Explore this topic

Downtown Oakland

Downtown Oakland is the central business district of Oakland, California; roughly bounded by 6th Street or the Oakland Estuary on the southwest, Interstate 980 on the northwest, Grand Avenue on the northeast, and Lake Merritt on the east. The Downtown area is sometimes expande... Explore this topic

Oakland City Hall

Oakland City Hall is the seat of government for the city of Oakland, California. The current building was completed in 1914, after its predecessor was destroyed in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. Standing at the height of 320 feet, it was the first high-rise government buil... Explore this topic

Police

The police are a constituted body of persons empowered by the state to enforce the law, protect property, and limit civil disorder. Their powers include the legitimized use of force. The term is most commonly associated with police services of a state that are authorized to ex... Explore this topic

Protest

An act of defiance or objection by an individual or group of people. Protests can take many forms: peaceful or violent, direct or indirect, large or small. Protests in the news are often political in nature, as groups of citizens voice their disagreement or dissatisfaction. Pr... Explore this topic

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Occupy movement

Oakland

Occupy Oakland

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