Oakland Dogpiles on Mayor Jean Quan
Categories: Occupy Bay Area, Politics
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| Mayor Jean Quan has had better days |
And let's face it, Quan can't seem to win.
Quan received a letter yesterday from the Oakland police union, which put her in an even more uncomfortable position. Quan had requested for "minimal police presence" during today's general strike, which left local cops in a quandary as to what to do should the protest today turn violent.
"As your police officers, we are confused," the union stated.
Quan's request to scale back on police came after last week's police raid on the Occupy Oakland camp outside City Hall, which resulted in 79 arrests and a violent scene in downtown Oakland where cops lobbed flashbang grenades and tear gassed the area. Scott Olsen, 24, suffered a critical head injury from a police projectile, which put Quan, who signed off on this raid, in a spotlight of criticism.
Today, protesters are planning a general strike, calling on teachers to ditch school and residents to help shutdown banks and other businesses that are part of the 1 percent. The strike will end with a 5 p.m. march to the Port of Oakland -- which they also plan to close down.
To make matters worse for Quan, the city's business community and Chamber of Commerce are asking the mayor to dismantle the Occupy Oakland camp at Frank Ogawa Plaza; they claim it's hurting small businesses in an already struggling economy.
Here's what Quan had to say about the flurry of strikes planned for today:
I am working with the police chief to make sure that the pro-99 Percent activists -- whose cause I support -- will have the freedom to get their message across without the conflict that marred last week's events. Although getting the balance right is never an easy task, in Oakland we are committed to honoring free speech and protecting public safety.We'll keep you posted on today's events.
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