Oakland Workers Back in City Hall After Ransacking
OAKLAND, Calif.—Oakland City Hall is open for business after a group of Occupy protesters broke into the historic building and smashed glass display cases and windows, spray- painted graffiti and burned the American and California flags.
On Monday city workers returned to work two days after Mayor Jean Quan said a protester used a crowbar to pry the main entrance of the historic building open, letting about 50 demonstrators inside. Protesters say the doors were unlocked.
Quan said that vandalism related to Occupy Oakland has already cost the financially-strapped city $2 million, and that occupy-related activities have cost more than $5 million since October.
Police say more than 400 people were arrested on failure to disperse and vandalism charges. At least three officers and one protester were injured.
This kind of action is not in the Occupy movement’s best interests. Time to shut it down if it is merely turning into a gang of vandals. Actions like this remove credibility and purpose from the movement. Bad move, Occupy Oakland. Get it together!