Oakland police in riot gear attempted to disperse protesters gathered at Frank Ogawa Plaza Tuesday night, citing unlawful assembly. During this removal, tensions flared between the Occupy Oakland gathering and police forces.
According to a press release by OPD spokeswoman Cynthia Perkins, “… objects included glass bottles, rocks, pots, pans, kitchen utensils and plates (were thrown) at Police Officers,” during this attempted closure of the encampment. “Police used a limited amount of tear gas for a small area as a defense against protesters who were throwing various objects at Police Officers as they approached the area.”
Various reports on Twitter suggested that rubber bullet and bean bag rounds were fired at the protesters, despite claims from Oakland Police that no rubber bullets were used and only four bean bags were fired.
BART suspended service to the 12th Street station, and nearby freeway exits were closed.
According to photographers on the scene, at least five volleys of tear gas were launched at protesters.
Various news outlets report that Mayor Jean Quan, who was in Washington D.C. for The United States Conference of Mayors, is currently en-route back to Oakland to discuss the tactics used by interim Police Chief Howard Jordan.
The Occupy Oakland Twitter feed announced around midnight that they will reconvene Wednesday evening at 6 p.m. at the corners of 14th & Broadway Streets, and plan to gather every day after until the plaza is “taken back.”