Marching in Solidarity with Occupy Oakland
Protestors from Occupy
Boston marching down Boylston Street in solidarity with Occupy Oakland (Photo:
Doug Greene)
On the night of January 28th, a small group of
Occupy Oakland protesters entered an abandoned building, the out-of-use Kaiser
Convention Center. Their intent was to set up a space to be used by the
99%; according to the organizers of this action, they intended to provide
medical, educational and housing services to anyone who asked.
In response to the occupation of the abandoned
building, Oakland police kettled (sectioned off) the entire area and began
arresting participants in the action en masse. Over 400 people were arrested –
including at least six members of the press – and there have been reports of
violence on both sides. A small number of occupiers have been reported to have
thrown bottles and burnt an American flag while the police used flash
bang/concussion grenades as well as tear gas, rubber bullets and bean bag guns.
In support of the Occupy protesters in
Oakland, the occupiers of Boston took to the streets the following night,
January 29th, for a solidarity march. Between 100 and 150 protesters attended
this solidarity march, which was led through the streets by a large police
presence.
The march began at around 7:00 pm at Copley
Sq. after a General Assembly in the nearby Community Church of Boston, and
ended in Dewey Square – the site of Occupy Boston’s former encampment – at
around 10:00 pm. The group moved in a large circle, from Copley all the way
down Newbury St., and eventually back along Boylston St. to the now de-camped
Dewey Sq.
Unlike many marches conducted by the Occupy
Boston protesters, this march was primarily focused upon police brutality
rather than broader economic issues. Numerous chants of “From Oakland to
Greece, disarm the police” and “Hey, hey, ho, ho, police brutality has got to
go” were used by the protesters to express their displeasure at the treatment
of their allies in Oakland.
Overall, tensions were high among the
protesters, due to the perceived injustice of the massive police action on
primarily peaceful protesters. Boston police were also on guard, due to the
perceived danger of an aggressive march in Boston.
Despite the conflict in Oakland increasing
pressure on police and occupiers, there were no instances of violence or
harassment on either side of the march. The police led the march along its
route and diverted traffic so as to prevent traffic build-up, and the
protesters stayed on the appointed route. The only point where the protesters
broke from the route was when they detoured through the Boston Common to Dewey
Square, but this was taken in stride by both sides. Once the march arrived at
Dewey Sq., the protesters stayed a while, played some music, and eventually
dispersed.
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