The police in Oakland cleared the streets this morning…

Early morning police raid ousts Occupy Oakland

OAKLAND — Before dawn Tuesday, at least 200 police, many in riot gear, tore down the Occupy Oakland encampment in front of City Hall and arrested dozens of people. Early reports from police say the raid went smoothly, with all protesters cleared out of the plaza in less than 30 minutes.

Police said the protest was relatively peaceful with many of the campers leaving on their own. Many were also handcuffed and led away by police from the camp at 14th Street and Broadway.

About three hours later, police descended on a second Occupy camp at Snow Park near Lake Merritt, with the intent of removing that as well.

At the downtown camp, police, armed with billy clubs and some with shotguns, overturned tents, and the campers’ wooden stalls quickly, leaving what looked like a hurricane-struck refugee camp in their wake. They ripped up dozens of cardboard signs, overturned a couch and when it was over there were scraps of carpet, personal belongings and trash all over the plaza.

One police officer said several objects were thrown at police, including bottles, skillets, other kitchen utensils and rocks. They also “threw plates at us like Frisbees,” the officer said.

No police officers were reported injured. Protesters also chanted “Police go home, cops go home” and banged sticks on anything they could find. Some chanted “Police were the biggest gang in America.”

No injuries were immediately reported. Police did not have an exact
count of how many people were arrested.