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General Strike Shuts Port of Oakland and Downtown Banks

Press Release: Occupy Oakland | November 2, 2011

Huge, enthusiastic, crowds swarmed through downtown Oakland with half a dozen major marches on banks and corporations that shut down Wells Fargo, Chase, Citibank, Bank Of America and many others. Police stayed clear of the strikers who ranged free from Broadway to Grand Avenue and around the Lake. By late afternoon the crowds had swelled to over 10,000. Waves of feeder marches continued to pour into the Oscar Grant Plaza, including 800 children, parents and teachers who had gathered at the Oakland Main Library.

The evening march to the Port stretched from downtown to the freeway overcrossing in West Oakland and thousands more protestors kept arriving as the third convergence of the day reached its peak. Over 20,000 people joined the march which made its way to the main entrance of the port and shut it down completely. Port officials confirmed that the workforce was sent home.

Back at Oscar Grant Plaza a festive atmosphere continued as the Alameda Labor Council and dozens of representatives from a cross section of unions served barbecue to thousands. Day of the dead altars, a 99% story telling tent, string sculptures and hundreds of posters surrounded the tent encampment of the occupiers. Speeches, impromptu music jam sessions, and rock and roll echoed off the office towers as Oaklanders and Bay Area workers celebrated a hard won victory of the 99%.

As of 8 pm the police remained hidden out of sight.

Seize the Time!

November 3, 2011 - Posted by | Solidarity and Activism

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