“Occupy” protestors in Oakland, California, clashed with local police on Tuesday after the city moved to break up an encampment near City Hall, resulting in 85 arrests and half a dozen people getting injured.

 

The most serious was Scott Olsen, a 24-year-old Iraq war veteran who was listed in critical condition after being struck in the head by a “blunt object.” Police fired tear gas, rubber bullets and beanbags reportedly intended to forcibly remove protestors from the area after rocks and bottles were thrown.

 

Olsen, who served two tours in Iraq as a Marine and now works as a systems administrator at a San Francisco software firm, suffered a skull fracture. On Thursday he was able to respond to his parents, who flew in from Wisconsin, and his condition was upgraded to “fair.” Friends said he was not aware of the international interest in his condition.

 

Interim Oakland Police Chief Howard Jordan defended the tactics of his department, telling the San Francisco Chronicle: “We are committed to allowing free speech, but the First Amendment doesn’t allow violence or endangering the public or property.”

 

A day after the street violence, police removed barricades near City Hall and scaled back their presence in the area. They also promised to allow nightly demonstrations until 10 pm. The protestors, for their part, are calling for a general strike in Oakland on November 2.

-Noel Brinkerhoff

 

Hurt Protester Scott Olsen was “Provoking No One” (by Justin Berton and Will Kane, San Francisco Chronicle)

Occupy Oakland Protesters Regroup - Iraq Vet Hurt (by Kevin Fagan, Justin Berton and Demian Bulwa, San Francisco Chronicle)

Wounded Iraq Vet Awake after Oakland Protest Injury (by Peter Henderson, Reuters)

Video of Scott Olsen before and after being Shot (by Raleigh Latham, Vimeo)

Occupy Oakland Video (by pquegg, YouTube))