I'm confused how shutting down the Port of Oakland (apparently in solidarity with striking longshoremen in Longview, WA, but there's nothing on the ILWU site about it), or wrecking downtown Oakland accomplishes anything. Throwing rocks through the Men's Wearhouse window does nothing to improve Oakland's horrible unemployment rate. I wish the anarchists would go back to France, or Santa Cruz, and leave Oakland to the people that want to make it a better place.
In better news, Scott Olsen, the protester injured last week by a police tear gas grenade, has seen improvement in his condition, although I believe he's still in the hospital. Update about his condition here.
Update 11/30/11 -- the ILWU did *not* shut down the port. Apparently, only the ILWU decides when to strike or not, not when other people say they should.
The decision to shut down the port was partly due to the police brutality that so terribly injured Olsen, as well as to make a larger statement that the Occupy movement is comprised of many different factions, e.g. working people & unions, not just what major media reports, e.g. scruffy young folks. Unfortunately, there are a minority of violent protesters (self-proclaimed anarchists, the "Black Bloc") who are detracting from what was overall a tremendous, peaceful day, w/an astonishing, diverse turnout. the energy in the streets that day was amazing, and positive. We can't let a few endanger the overall message.
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