Police brutality at Occupy Oakland unjust

During the early morning hours of Oct. 25, the encampment of Occupy Oakland at Oscar Grant Plaza was raided by approximately 500 Oakland police officers. It was reported that the Oakland police department used tear gas and beanbag rounds to disperse peaceful protestors.

According to an Occupy Oakland press release, a Marine veteran was hit by a police projectile at the demonstration later in the evening. Scott Olsen, a member of Iraq Veterans against the war, and a member of the Occupy San Francisco community, was struck in the head with a tear gas canister fired by the police, and suffered a skull fracture and brain swelling. He was in critical condition until Oct. 27 afternoon when it was announced that he was in fair condition and breathing on his own.

The ludicrous nature of these attacks, not only on Olsen but also on the hundreds of others who gathered in downtown Oakland that night, were immediately condemned by millions of Californians, Americans, and citizens all over the world. Action has spread to the international community, with Egyptian activists marched on Tahrir square on Friday, Oct. 28, according to Occupy California. There was also a letter from Cairo in which activists express solidarity with Oakland and all other occupations in the U.S. After the public responded to the mayor of Oakland, Jean Quan, with widespread condemnation via social media, she apologized for the reaction of the Oakland Police towards the protestors through a letter posted on her Facebook.

For those who have been following the national and global Occupy movement, it's obvious that Oakland is not the only city which has been raided or met with police brutality. Occupy Denver, Wall Street, and Portland are just a few other locations which have seen unnecessary force from the police. The Occupy movement is nonviolent; therefore it is unnecessary for authorities to be responding in a violent manner.

Such forceful acts are proof that freedom of speech and expression is slowly dying on our streets. Chicago has yet to see such brutal police force, but the past two attempts to occupy Grant Park and an attempt to occupy the Thompson Center have shown that both Pat Quinn and Rahm Emmanuel will not allow the Occupy Chicago to have a permanent encampment in the city.

It is important to remember this global movement is not about occupying a public space, or putting up tents and sleeping in parks. This movement has been created out of decades of suffering of the working class, the poor, women, immigrants, students, and all of those who have been oppressed by the unjust capitalist system and neoliberal policies that have plagued our country.

What occurred in Oakland was a symbolic gesture, an event which only affirms the injustice the American government has created. The Occupy movements ought to be met with support and encouragement, not violence, as these protestors are standing against the wrong created by American capitalism.