Occupy Oakland Attacks Obama Campaign Office

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Protesters damage Obama Oakland office

Protesters smashed a large window at President Obama's re-election campaign office in downtown Oakland late Friday night, tore down a nearby fence and vandalized cars, according to police, witnesses and video footage.

Staffers and volunteers were inside the Organizing for America office at 1714 Telegraph Ave. when it was vandalized after 9 p.m., but no one was hurt, said a staffer who declined to be identified. The office is a joint effort of the Obama campaign and the Democratic National Committee.

When the window was broken, well over 100 people had joined what began as a rally against the city's handling of growing crowds at the first-Friday-of-the-month event called Art Murmur, a gallery crawl centered in the Uptown arts district from 6 to 9 p.m.

Protesters - who included Occupy Oakland activists - said the city was cracking down on vendors and performers who came into the neighborhood during the gallery crawl without permits. Until June, the galleries had closed down a block of 23rd Street, but the approach got too expensive and hectic.

Danielle Fox, who directs Art Murmur and owns a gallery called Slate Contemporary, said of the vandalism: "It's very unfortunate and we're very concerned, because our commitment is that when people come to visit the galleries, they should have a safe and positive cultural experience."

City Councilman Ignacio De La Fuente said the frequency of vandalism at downtown protests was "unacceptable" and hurt restaurants and other businesses.

"It's continuing to be bad publicity for us and the merchants trying to revitalize downtown," he said. "Art Murmur is something that is getting bigger and becoming a destination for people. Obviously, this is something that is not good for the city."

The vandalism happened a little more than a day after someone damaged two Oakland police cars near City Hall and attempted to break a window at a police station early Thursday.

A group calling itself the East Bay Uncontrollables said it was responsible for the attack and called it a reaction to a federal investigation into anarchist activity.

Lauren Smith, a 30-year-old activist, said the goal of Friday's demonstration was to "create a space where people could have their social gatherings without asking permission from the city and the police department."

She said she was not at the rally but watched it live online. She said she did not agree with vandalizing cars, but that the window-smashing at the campaign office was justified.

"People feel betrayed by Obama. ... I'm surprised it hasn't happened before now," she said. "Oakland is a place where people are really struggling. When the pressure is released just a little bit, you see people go after those things that they see as responsible for the conditions."

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/Protesters-damage-Obama-Oakland-office-3763014.php#ixzz22d4OjH7c

Edited August 5, 2012 by The Patriot

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Staffers inside are visibly afraid as a window is broken at an Obama campaign office in downtown Oakland on Friday night.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/protesters-smash-window-obama-oakland-calif-office-article-1.1128878#ixzz22d9PDugg

Edited August 5, 2012 by The Patriot

[Danno 1,228]

It's fun to think back to the emergence of the TEA party and how outraged the MSM was that they had the nerve to speak out of turn at town hall meetings.

[lostinblue 1,989]

"People feel betrayed by Obama."In another 10 years they will be joining the tea party.The whole country has been betrayed the Kenyan.Massive debt,Massive unemployment,Dispair for the young generation.

[X Factor 1,112]

Protesters damage Obama Oakland office

Protesters smashed a large window at President Obama's re-election campaign office in downtown Oakland late Friday night, tore down a nearby fence and vandalized cars, according to police, witnesses and video footage.

Staffers and volunteers were inside the Organizing for America office at 1714 Telegraph Ave. when it was vandalized after 9 p.m., but no one was hurt, said a staffer who declined to be identified. The office is a joint effort of the Obama campaign and the Democratic National Committee.

When the window was broken, well over 100 people had joined what began as a rally against the city's handling of growing crowds at the first-Friday-of-the-month event called Art Murmur, a gallery crawl centered in the Uptown arts district from 6 to 9 p.m.

Protesters - who included Occupy Oakland activists - said the city was cracking down on vendors and performers who came into the neighborhood during the gallery crawl without permits. Until June, the galleries had closed down a block of 23rd Street, but the approach got too expensive and hectic.

Danielle Fox, who directs Art Murmur and owns a gallery called Slate Contemporary, said of the vandalism: "It's very unfortunate and we're very concerned, because our commitment is that when people come to visit the galleries, they should have a safe and positive cultural experience."

City Councilman Ignacio De La Fuente said the frequency of vandalism at downtown protests was "unacceptable" and hurt restaurants and other businesses.

"It's continuing to be bad publicity for us and the merchants trying to revitalize downtown," he said. "Art Murmur is something that is getting bigger and becoming a destination for people. Obviously, this is something that is not good for the city."

The vandalism happened a little more than a day after someone damaged two Oakland police cars near City Hall and attempted to break a window at a police station early Thursday.

A group calling itself the East Bay Uncontrollables said it was responsible for the attack and called it a reaction to a federal investigation into anarchist activity.

Lauren Smith, a 30-year-old activist, said the goal of Friday's demonstration was to "create a space where people could have their social gatherings without asking permission from the city and the police department."

She said she was not at the rally but watched it live online. She said she did not agree with vandalizing cars, but that the window-smashing at the campaign office was justified.

"People feel betrayed by Obama. ... I'm surprised it hasn't happened before now," she said. "Oakland is a place where people are really struggling. When the pressure is released just a little bit, you see people go after those things that they see as responsible for the conditions."

http://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/Oakland-protesters-vandalize-Obama-office-3763014.php

[rocks 494]

She said she did not agree with vandalizing cars, but that the window-smashing at the campaign office was justified.

I have no words...

[Penny Lane 8,159]

What, no picture in the post? You're slipping.

[Ban Hammer 13,555]

I have no words...

even worse, she and many like her can vote.

[X Factor 1,112]

What, no picture in the post? You're slipping.

Here you go

[Penny Lane 8,159]

Thanks, kennard!

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Already posted.

[rocks 494]

even worse, she and many like her can vote.

That is quite worrying!

Her argument is kind of like the old jail code where it is deemed "OK" to steal from a company but not from individuals. How about doing something about the problem rather than supporting people smashing windows..?

[X Factor 1,112]

That is quite worrying!

Her argument is kind of like the old jail code where it is deemed "OK" to steal from a company but not from individuals. How about doing something about the problem rather than supporting people smashing windows..?

Because it makes too much sense it won't work.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

The original thread, not the lame one.