I was wondering how long it would take. When the Oakland police ignored the ACLU's legitimate demands for information, you could just see this coming. And here it is.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California and the National Lawyers’ Guild filed a federal civil rights suit against the Oakland Police Department today alleging repeated violations of OPD's own crowd control policies and asking for an emergency temporary restraining order against Oakland Police.
District Court Judge Richard Seeborg has issued an order requiring the city of Oakland to respond to the lawsuit by 5 PM tomorrow.
The suit is being filed on behalf of Scott Campbell, the reporter who was fired upon as a rather violent way of being told "No!" when he asked "Is this okay?" (as to distance from the police) . Four others are also participating.
This is likely the first of many lawsuits that Oakland taxpayers are going to have to provide settlement money forbased on OPD's actions on October 25th, when Scott Olsen was seriously injured, and November 2nd, the night of the General Strike when Campbell was shot.
In some bizarro news, something like 1000 people are now in Ogawa Plaza / Oscar Grant Park, holding a General Assembly. No, I am not making this up!
abc7newsBayArea abc7newsBayArea
by alyssa011968
#OccupyOakland holding general assembly. Crowd estimated at about 1,000 people.
1 minute ago
»
occupyoakland Occupy Oakland
In case you haven't heard, we're already back in OG Plaza! Explaining our GA process now. Come participate in the revolution! #occupyoakland
If you can't believe what you're reading, here's a tweetpic from Allie123 (who is there) of the crowd at the ampitheatre in the plaza. Believe your eyes.
There does seem to be a psych-ops battle going on -- a police helicopter is reported to be hovering close to the plaza, using it's searchlight and probably making shitloads of noise. Some related tweets:
alyssa011968 Alyssa
#OccupyOakland maybe more than 1000 here this is almost as crowded as last time took it back. But these war like helicopters r spookey.
alyssa011968 Alyssa
#OccupyOakland we r doing 2nd wave peoples mic cuz so crowded. confuses me. MS makes me process slow so this is just noise but still love it
23 minutes ago
JoshuaHol Joshua Holland
by jaspergregory
Unlike most GAs, this one features a police helicopter circling low overhead and illuminating the crowd w it's searchlight.
There is no way I would have predicted that the City would have let them back in today. I'm pretty sure they will try to evict them at 10:00 PM, and I strongly suspect they will send packing or arrest anyone who tries to camp, but I have no idea what the City is thinking here.
Tomorrow's big event is, of course, the UC Day of Action. Will any Kossacks be there? It will commence in the morning with teach-ins, there will be a rally at noon and a march around 2:00 PM. It sure looks like a host from #OccupyOakland will be marching in support, starting at 2:30.
alyssa011968 Alyssa
#OccupyOakland we meet at 2:30 14th Broadway march down Tekegraph to #OccupyCal to be there by ga. Long march
alyssa011968 Alyssa
#OccupyOakland march at UCB we have support strike when we strikes on 11/2. They marched here now our turn. 2:30 meet at 14th & Broadway
That's a long way to march! About 3.5 miles. I suspect it will take them a couple of hours. Maybe I will meet them as they cross the Berkeley line into the People's Republic...
7:10 PM PT:
GonzOakland GonzOakland
by alyssa011968
Based VERY reliable sources, my advice is not to set up a tent tonight at #occupyoakland unless you want it confiscated by OPD.
7:15 PM PT:
alyssa011968 Alyssa
I don't see anyone setting up tent tonight We need tarps etc. #occupyoakland Snow Park is growing & new camps opening
7:31 PM PT: I love it.
alyssa011968 Alyssa
#occupyoakland police and more police. And they hate me cause I walk right up to them & take pic http://t.co/...
7:39 PM PT: The Tree #Occupier, famous from Berkeley, is still there.
alyssa011968 Alyssa
Love it he is still in tree! Only one not arrested. They threatened to shoot him out but didn't
Guess they took my suggestion from a previous diary to just leave him there.
7:50 PM PT: link to actual formal complaint by ACLU
8:09 PM PT: Zounds!
matthai matthai kuruvila
by alyssa011968@
@alyssa011968 There's no curfew for #OccupyOakland. OPD Chief Jordan said folks can be out there 24/7 as long as they don't pitch tents. #oo
8:16 PM PT: Wow. The news just keeps coming.
Deputy Mayor Sharon Cornu has resigned, effective immediately, the second member of the mayor's team to submit her resignation just today. Mayor Jean Quan's legal adviser and longtime friend, Dan Siegel, also resigned today over the mayor's handling of the Occupy encampment.
http://www.mercurynews.com/...
8:19 PM PT:
Cost Estimates
* Preliminary City of Oakland costs spent on responding to Occupy Oakland events total is estimated at $2,402,400.
* Personnel — $1,088,500
* Oakland Police Department: $1.04 million
* Public Works Agency: $31,500
* Information Technology and KTOP: $17,000
* Other Costs — $1,313,900
* Oakland Police Deparment: $100,900
* Public Works Agency: $70,000
* Information Technology security upgrades: $100,000
* Early opening of Winter Shelter by one day: $3,000
* Mutual Aid for 11/14/11: $500,000
* VMA Security Contract for 30 days: $540,000
* These are preliminary costs and are subject to change. The personnel costs are mainly for overtime costs and do not reflect regular staff time. An estimated $100,000 in regular staff time that would have been devoted to other activities was spent addressing Occupy Oakland events.
http://www.dailykos.com/...
9:04 PM PT: Another lawsuit.
A group of University of California at Berkeley students and community protesters who say they were victims of police brutality during a Nov. 9 "Occupy Cal" demonstration announced today their lawsuit against the university and multiple UCPD police officers.
Ronald Cruz, a lawyer with the Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action, Integration and Immigration Rights and Fight for Equality By Any Means Necessary, or BAMN, said today that the organization is planning to file the suit on behalf of seven protesters who claim to be victims of police violence and false arrests.
In the lawsuit, which Cruz said BAMN plans to file later this month, the plaintiffs will also call on Chancellor Robert Birgeneau to resign.
9:04 PM PT: Link for previous update
11:00 PM PT:
susie_c Susie Cagle
#occupyoakland Only about 50 occupiers left on the plaza and maybe half as many cops. Everything is chill. No tents.