Rubber Bullets Used On Oakland War Protesters (page 3)

Robdar

another violent protest in the name of "peace"....it never ceases to amaze me.

Another violent war to bring about "peace" in the middle east....it never ceases to amaze me.

Robyn

dubla

robyn-

will removing saddam make iraq a more peaceful place for the iraqi people in the long run, yes or no?

will throwing rocks and bolts at officers help show how much the protestors long for peaceful solutions, yes or no?

aa

Dubla, how about quoting some other news agency besides Fox? They are the Rights media outlet, period, if you don't believe me, then go read about them taunting anti-war crowds with they're electronic bill boards in New York.

Trauma_Hound

Actually why didn't you post the whole thing?

OAKLAND, Calif. — Police opened fire with non-lethal projectiles at an anti-war protest at the Port of Oakland on Monday, injuring at least a dozen demonstrators and six longshoremen standing nearby.

Most of the 500 demonstrators were dispersed peacefully, but police shot the projectiles at two gates when protesters refused to move and some of them allegedly threw rocks and bolts. The longshoremen, pinned against a fence, were caught in the line of fire.

Police spokeswoman Danielle Ashford said officers fired bean-bag rounds and wooden dowels. They also used "sting balls," which send out a spray of BB-sized rubber pellets and a cloud of tear gas and feel like a bee sting when they hit someone.

Demonstrators said they targeted the port because at least one company there is handling war supplies. They said it was the first time they had been fired upon in Bay area protests since the Iraq war began last month.

"Oakland police are being the most aggressive of any department I've seen in the Bay area since the war began," said protester Damien McAnany, a database manager. "The San Francisco Police Department never used any of this stuff against us."

About 200 of the port demonstrators later marched to the federal building in Oakland, blocking a street and chanting: "Out of the office and into the streets! U.S. out of the Middle East!" They were joined by Oakland City Council members Jane Bruner and Jean Quan.

"They should not have been using the wooden bullets," Bruner said. "Given what's happening in the world today, we're going to be seeing more of this. And we should be prepared to handle it."

Oakland Police said at least 31 people were arrested.

"Some people were blocking port property and the port authorities asked us to move them off," said Deputy Police Chief Patrick Haw. "Police moved aggressively against crowds because some people threw rocks and big iron bolts at officers."

Nevertheless, Police Chief Richard Word said the department would evaluate the officers' tactics. The dowels are supposed to be shot at the ground and carom up to strike their target, Word said, but some of the injured complained that officers took direct aim at them.

Mayor Jerry Brown said police were right in trying to keep order. He blamed the melee on a handful of protesters.

"When a guy picks up a bolt and throws it at a policeman, he's setting in motion a chain of events," Brown said.

Six longshoremen were treated by paramedics, some of whom had bloody welts the size of a silver dollar.

"I was standing as far back as I could," said longshoremen Kevin Wilson. "It was very scary. All of that force wasn't necessary."

Steve Stallone, spokesman for the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, said most of the dockworkers went back to work after the protesters left. A few were too shaken up to return.

Protests also took place Monday at the federal building in San Francisco and at the Concord Naval Weapons Station. And seven people were arrested when they temporarily blocked an exit ramp off Interstate 280 in San Francisco.

Wow they even shot Longshoremen, people supposed to be there, nope dubla the police weren't out of control. Same kind of agressive tactics the police took in Seattle during the WTO, guess how many lawsuits the city of Seattle has had to settle.

dubla

t h-

i realize that fox slants to the right, which is why i almost always quote cnn instead, as they are pretty far left of center.....but, did you even read the article i linked to? its pretty hard on the police force actually, and reads apologetic to the protestors.

as far as the right/left controversy in the media....do you really think that just because fox is right handed, that they simply spew outright lies? i just wonder this, because even though i realize cnn is way over to the left, i dont accuse them of outright lies every time i disagree with their spin on an issue........i just wonder if its simply the left that is so media paranoid..? maybe the right is too, i dunno...ive just never bought into all that crap personally.

aa

(edited because i saw you just posted the whole article, so you did indeed finally read it......you see? its apologetic to the protestors, isnt it? yet it still portrays the truth of why they were fired on at least, which is all i was getting at.)

dubla

Wow they even shot Longshoremen, people supposed to be there, nope dubla the police weren't out of control.

whoa there...back up....when did i say the police werent out of control? i wasnt blanketly defending all actions by the police...i was simply showing that this was another "peaceful" protest that ended up with protestors getting violent......another example of many. the police no doubt overreacted.....but me personally, if i throw a big iron bolt at a police officer, im not going to expect to be ushered calmly into the back of the police car....would you?

aa

Robdar

will removing saddam make iraq a more peaceful place for the iraqi people in the long run, yes or no?

will throwing rocks and bolts at officers help show how much the protestors long for peaceful solutions, yes or no?

Dubla,

In answer to your first question, no. I honestly do not think that Iraq will be more peaceful for the Iraqi people. Also, I think that they will wind up hating the infidels who forced democracy on them.

In answer to your other question. Yes. It gets the point across. Besides, all causes need martyrs.

I know that we do not agree, but I do see the point that you are trying to make. Thank you.

Robyn

avishai

In answer to your other question. Yes. It gets the point across. Besides, all causes need martyrs

. Wha? so your condoning & approving violence meeting violence? Then what's the difference in "getting the point across" W/ a genocidal maniac like Saddam? Yes, US foreign policy w/ genocidal maniacs is abysmal, pol pot, ida amin, hitler, hirohito. For once, We're doing the right thing. I find it so Ironic that the political climate has shifted around so much that LIBERALS are now isolationists & conservatives are not. When the hell did this happen?

Trauma_Hound

LIBERALS are now isolationists & conservatives are not. When the hell did this happen?

Really? Aren't we isolating ourselves from the rest of the world, with this war. LOL Umm I think your poles have shifted, your thinking is backwards.

Robdar

Avishai

I have the blood of my ancestors boiling within me. My ancestors who settled in Jamestown. An ancestor that signed the Declaration of Independence, ancestors who fought and died in the American Revolution, a distant cousin who was president. My family has given their blood, sweat, and toil to keep America free. We have always been considered rebels. You can thank my family as well as others that you can enjoy what little liberties we still have.

I have never said I was a pacifist. Why is it that you pro war people think that we antis are non violent? The revolution, when it happens, is not going to be a love in. Our rights and liberties are being torn away from us. Do you really think that we will take that lying down?

Imagine if guns were to be outlawed in the US. Do you think the NRA people will calmly give up their rights to bear arms? Not likely.

We, as a group, are not prepared to give up our civil liberties either.

Nobody wants it to come down to civil disobedience or violence. But make no mistake, some are prepared to die to ensure that your personal liberties remain.

Robyn

Rubber Bullets Used On Oakland War Protesters

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